Trans-Siberian Railway

By John Pennington

RUSSIAN EMPIRE EXPANSION

Up until about 1580 the Russian State/Empire was confined to the land area west of the Ural Mountains. By then, most other European countries had started to explore, conquer and trade with overseas territories. Russia saw vast lands to the east in Siberia, lightly populated by indigenous peoples and fur trappers. This was an ideal opportunity to develop an empire.

Rasputin

By Dick Palframan

First, a health warning. It has been stated that little about Rasputin’s life and influence is certain, as accounts have often been based on hearsay, rumour and legend. Perhaps Rasputin’s significance in Russian history is based more on what he was thought to be, rather than what he actually was.

Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin was born to a peasant family in the village of Pokrovskoye in Siberia in January 1869. He was probably one of several children, but only he, and possibly one other survived to adulthood. Certainly he retained ownership of the family home until his death.