Expansion of Russia (1500–1800)

From 1500 to 1800, the steppe and forest-steppe of Ukraine and southern Russia, traditionally held by pastoral nomads, came under Russian control. The region provided advantageous agricultural opportunities, which meant that states able to settle the land with tax-paying peasants could significantly increase their power.

In this article, locations will be given as the approximate distance in kilometers directly south of Moscow and east or west of that. Thus, Kiev is about 600 south and 500 west, while Perekop, at the head of the Crimean peninsula, is 1100s and 250w. In contrast, France is not quite 1,000 kilometers from north to south and Moscow is about 1,000 kilometers south of the White Sea.