What was Russia called before it was Russia???

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wschmerz

Russia was a part (main part) of USSR (Soviet Union) under name "RSFSR" that meant "Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic".

before that Russia was a part (main part) of the Russian Empire and called Velikorossia (Large Russia).

before that Russia was called Moscow Principality (officially) and Muscowy (unofficially).

before that Russia was a part (lesser part) of Kievian Rus' and was called Zalissya (smth like "Land behind woods").

before that Russia was populated by various tribes. They all were illiterate, so nobody knows how did thay call their land.

wkevinc

I'm assuming you don't mean the Soviet Union because that seems too obvious, so I'll give you the ancient history before Russia was a country.

Prior to the first century, the vast lands of southern Russia were home to scattered tribes, such as Proto-Indo-Europeans[4] and Scythians.[5] Between the third and sixth centuries, the steppes were overwhelmed by successive waves of nomadic invasions,[6] led by warlike tribes which would often move on to Europe, as was the case with Huns and Turkish Avars.

During the period from fifth century BC to seventh century human settlements are represented by Dyakovo culture of Iron Age which occupies the significant part of the Upper Volga, Valday and Oka River area. Dyakovo culture was formed by Finno-Ugric peoples, ancestors of Merya, Muromian, Meshchera, Veps tribes. All regional Funno-Ugric toponymy and hydronym names go back to those languages, for example Yauza River which is a confluent of the Moskva River, and probably the Moskva River itself too.

A Turkic people, the Khazars, reigned the lower Volga basin steppes between the Caspian and Black Seas through the 8th century.[7] Noted for their laws, tolerance, and cosmopolitanism,[8] the Khazars were the main commercial link between the Baltic and the Muslim Abbasid empire centered in Baghdad.[9] They were important allies of the Byzantine Empire,[10] and waged a series of successful wars against the Arab Caliphates.[11][7]

Kievan Rus' in the 11th century.In this era, the term "Rhos" or "Rus" first came to be applied to the Varangians and later also to the Slavs who peopled the region.[12] In the tenth to eleventh centuries this state of Kievan Rus became the largest in Europe and one of the most prosperous, due to diversified trade with both Europe and Asia. The opening of new trade routes with the Orient at the time of the Crusades contributed to the decline and fragmentation of Kievan Rus by the end of the twelfth century.

In the eleventh and twelfth centuries, the constant incursions of nomadic Turkish tribes, such as the Kipchaks and the Pechenegs, led to the massive migration of Slavic populations from the fertile south to the heavily forested regions of the north, known as Zalesye. The medieval states of Novgorod Republic and Vladimir-Suzdal emerged as successors to Kievan Rus on those territories, while the middle course of the Volga River came to be dominated by the Muslim state of Volga Bulgaria. Like many other parts of Eurasia, these territories were overrun by the Mongol invaders, who formed the state of Golden Horde which would pillage the Russian principalities for over three centuries. About half of the Russian population died during the Mongol invasion.[13] Later known as the Tatars, they ruled the southern and central expanses of present-day Russia, while the territories of present-day Ukraine and Belarus were incorporated into the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and Poland, thus dividing the Russian people in the north from the Belarusians and Ukrainians in the west.

Similarly to the Balkans, long-lasting nomadic rule retarded the country's economic and social development. However, the Novgorod Republic together with Pskov retained some degree of autonomy during the time of the Mongol yoke and was largely spared the atrocities that affected the rest of the country. Led by Alexander Nevsky, the Novgorodians repelled the Germanic crusaders who attempted to colonize the region.

wcsc12

Kievan Rus'

Cossak

The Saint Kiev Rus'...ohh..Jeez,People of Earth,think about question ,after answer!!!.....how ignorance,ohhh...mother Russia,before Russia was the Saint Kiev RUS

Judi

As far as I know Russia, the country, was always called Russia. Russia was part of the Soviet Union which consisted of other communist block nations.

Matrixcm

Russia has always been called Russia. Before Russia was a nation, they were barbarians. In 1917 when the communist took over, it was still called Russia but later changed it to USSR (Union Soviet Social Republic). After the breakup of the USSR, it is back to Russia. Just a simple explanation. There are a lot more details and if you want to find out more, go to the library.

knowledgebase

The Soviet Union.

worldneverchanges

The Union of the Soviet Socialistic Republic. U.S.S.R. Comprised of a lot of countries. The name was still Russia for that part of the union.