Introduction
Part I: Kievan Rus
Byliny
Volkh Vseslavevich
Ilia Muromets and Nightingale the Brigand (excerpts)
Translated Literature
Flavius Josephus, The Jewish War (excerpt)
The Primary Chronicle
The Founding of Kievan Rus in 862
Historical Commentary: Tatishchev, Karamzin, Solovyov, Kliuchevsky, Pokrovsky, Vernadsky, Gumilyov
Conversion to Christianity
Boris and Gleb
The Instruction of Vladimir II Monomakh; Appendix to Primary Chronicle
Novgorodian I Chronicle
1. Version One
2. Version Two
The Song of Prince Igor's Campaign
The Battle on the River Kalka
Further Reading
Notes
Part II: The Mongol Lordship
Tale of the Destruction of Riazan by Batu
Tale of the Life and Courage of the Pious and Great Prince Alexander (excerpts)
The Tale of the Battle with Mamai
The Tale of Tamerlane
Further Reading
Notes
Part III: Muscovy
The Consolidation and Expansion of Muscovy to the Death of Ivan IV
Baron Sigismund von Herberstein, Notes on the Muscovites
The History of Kazan (excerpts)
The Tale of Stefan Batory's Campaign against the City of Pskov (excerpt)
The Time of Troubles up to the Reign of Peter the Great
The Tale by Avraamii Palitsyn of the Siege of the Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra (excerpts)
Song about Stenko Razin (Dralyuk)
The Tale of Savva Grudtsyn (excerpt)
Further Reading
Notes
Part IV: The Eighteenth Century
Aleksandr Vasilievich Suvorov
Suvorov's Letter to his Godson
Three Arts of War (excerpt)
Byron on Suvorov
Andrei Timofeevich Bolotov
The Life and Adventures of Andrei Bolotov, Written by Himself for His Descendants
Army Life: The Good and The Bad
A. N. Radishchev, Journey from Petersburg to Moscow (excerpt)
A Soldier's Petition, anon., mid 1770s
Odes
M. V. Lomonosov, Ode on the Taking of Khotin (excerpts)
G. R. Derzhavin, Ode on the Storming of Izmail (excerpts)
Play
A. P. Sumarokov, Khorev (excerpts)
Epic
M. M. Kheraskov, Preface to epic poem Rossiada
Novella
N. M. Karamzin, Preface to novella Marfa Posadnitsa
Further Reading