Martin Sixsmith's history began in the 9th century, when Russia was a collection of warring tribes. He now vividly portrays Ivan the Terrible's iron fist in his bid to find unity. Show more

As the empire expands, the Russian state is in turmoil. Martin Sixsmith examines Russia's Time of Troubles and its troubled rulers before a new, strong dynasty emerges. Show more

The huge spaces of Siberia were opened up in the 17th century. Martin Sixsmith tells how it became a source of wealth, and a place of exile. Show more

Peter the Great, huge in stature and ambition, the architect of Russia's future, brings a new energy to the nation. Show more

Martin Sixsmith visits St Petersburg. Peter the Great's unique memorial is a window on the West, but how European was he really in terms of democracy, justice and the rule of law. Show more

Martin Sixsmith begins his major series, telling the story of Russia's journey from a collection of tribes over 1000 years ago to its present place among the world's nations. Show more

The first selected episode from Martin Sixsmith's history of Russia reflects on the earliest times, in the 10th century, when Kiev was the capital of all the Russian states. Show more

The second of these selected episodes from Martin Sixsmith's history of Russia continues the earliest story of Russia's relationship with Ukraine. Show more

The Mongol invasion changes the course of Russian History. Martin Sixsmith explores the lasting legacy of the fall of Kiev, Mongol rule, and isolation from the Western Renaissance. Show more

Freed from the Mongols, power shifts to Moscow. Martin Sixsmith looks at its significance under Ivan the First as it emerges as the third Rome: a bastion between East and West. Show more

A history of Russia, written and presented by Martin Sixsmith. In 1861, Alexander II promised liberal reforms, but his proposed changes ended in his violent murder. Show more

The last Tzar is crowned in 1896, but weakened by crises at home and abroad, suddenly the mighty tsarist system doesn't look so mighty. Martin Sixsmith hints at revolution. Show more

Socialism is on the rise in Russia as Martin Sixsmith identifies emerging revolutionaries, divided between western and orthodox values. New angry radicals replace cautious liberals. Show more

Martin Sixsmith tells how a fierce rebellion turns Catherine from reformer to reactionary and puts her lover Potemkin to the test. She retrenches as Gorbachev did many years later. Show more

The battleship Avrora fires her guns, the signal to start the Revolution. Martin Sixsmith describes how Lenin seizes the moment, and how Russia missed her last chance at democracy. Show more

Martin Sixsmith plots the events that lead to the Russian Revolution, the roles of politicians, and of Trotsky and Lenin. Had reform succeeded, how different might Russia be today? Show more

Under Catherine the Great, Russia becomes Europe's most feared superpower. But, as Martin Sixsmith shows, an ingrained fear of vulnerability lay beneath this show of strength. Show more

Amid pressure for change at the end of the 19th century, Martin Sixsmith shows Russian autocracy reasserting itself. Revolutionary activity goes underground but it doesn't go away. Show more

Russia needed a huge peasant class to work the land, but as the 19th century came to an end, pressure for reform was becoming intense. Show more

Imperial Russia squanders its final chance to survive as war begins in Europe. Tsarism is rotting from within. Who or what, Martin Sixsmith asks, will trigger its collapse? Show more