Death of a Great Power - The Partition of Poland

In 1795, the Polish people, who once controlled immense power in Eastern Europe, saw their country disappeared from the face of the world, devoured by its aggressive expansionist neighbors.

What was the British East India Company? - Part 2

It was one of the most powerful and influential company in the world. An agent of commerce and imperialism of the British Empire, explore the history of the British East India Company.

Who was Johann Struensee?

Enlightened absolutism, an idea where the ideas of the Enlightenment championed and implemented by monarchies ruling through divine right, spread across Europe in the 18th century. From Russia to Spain, monarchies called for rule of law, reason, and liberalism. Denmark on the other hand experienced absolute absolutism under a strange circumstances. Reforms aligned to the Enlightenment movement befell Denmark under the hands of a foreign German doctor named Johann Struensee. 

Who were Russia's Benevolent Despots? (Part 1): Catherine the Great

In 1762, Russia had a new ruler, a German Princess who rose up to the position of Tsar and autocrat. Her rule espoused a new type of leadership – Benevolent absolutism – which became the model of future Romanovs. Explore the reign of Russia’s benevolent despots with Catherine the Great as the first to embrace it.

Great Leaders: Who was Peter the Great? (Part 7): Opposition and Last Years

With his huge wave of reforms and his new gained prestige, Peter the Great also had detractors who opposed his ways and views. Explore how the Russians opposed their Tsars and how did Peter the Great lived his last years of rule.

Great Leaders: Who was Peter the Great? (Part 6): Reforms

Peter shaped his reforms to match his ambitions, but he also made contribution that were less violent. Explore how Peter contributed to Russia’s education, culture, religion and society.

Great Leaders: Who was Peter the Great? (Part 5): Reforms

Following his reforms in the military, Peter needed to change also the state which his new army must defend. Explore how Peter the Great reform Russia beyond its military.

Great Leaders: Who was Peter the Great? (Part 4): Reforms

As the Great Northern War dragged, Peter also fought hard back home, enacting reforms after reforms. Explore how Peter the Great transformed his Tsardom.

Great Leaders: Who was Peter the Great? (Part 3): The Great Northern War

With the Battle of Poltava, Russia stroke a crippling blow to Sweden and its King. But the war was not over, it dragged on for another decade, and even threatened to erase what Peter had built. Explore how Peter led his country for the following decade of the Great Northern War.

Who were the Romanovs? (Part 3)

After the reign of Catherine the Great, the ideas of Enlightenment unleashed a new wave of call for reform. Explore the reign of the last Tsars of the Romanov Dynasty.

How Catherine the Great Annexed Crimea?

In 2014, Vladimir Putin took Crimea as part of the Russian Federation. But about two centuries ago, Russia, under Catherine the Great, did the same. Explore how Catherine the Great annexed the Crimean Peninsula more two centuries before Putin did.

Great Leaders: Who was Peter the Great? (Part 2): The Great Northern War

For his dream navy, Peter the Great declared war on Sweden that dragged the whole region into ablaze for the two decades. Explore how Peter the Great led Russia through the Great Northern War.

Who were the Romanovs? (Part 2)

Explore one of the most powerful families that rule the largest country in the world. Following the death of its enigmatic leader and his failure to name and heir, what happened to Romanov Dynasty?

Who was Alexander Menshikov?

The man who virtually ruled Russia for about two years and amassed power and fortune that stood second only to the Tsar. Explore the life of Alexander Menshikov.

Warriors: Who were the Streltsy?

Explore the story of the notorious military units that scared the life of Peter the Great – the Streltsy.