1890s: Russia is under the reign of the czars Alexander III (1881-1894) and Nicholas II (1894-1917). Russia is in the midst of social unrest, as a series of massive strikes take place between 1885 and 1903, culminating in the failed revolution of 1905-1906. In 1917, however, socialists succeed in waging a revolution that profoundly changes the social and political structure of the nation.

1990s: When Gorbachev came into power in 1985, he instituted the policy of "glasnost" (openness) in contrast to the oppressive atmosphere of Soviet Russia. Since the fall of the Berlin wall in 1989, the Soviet Union, or United Soviet Socialist Republic (U.S.S.R.), has been restructured, leading to a wide range of social, economic, and political reforms. Russian political structure has changed from communist to a form of democracy, headed by a president and a prime minister.

1890s: The experimental Moscow Art Theater, formed...