Major military invasion in every century since the Viking founding of Kievan Rus. 2. Brutal autocratic governments regardless of the nominal label 3. Modernization: two steps forward, two steps back. 4. European and Asian influence on all aspects of society. Scratch a Russian, you'll find a Mongol 5. World Class Cities v. Rural Country Villages. St. Petersburg v. the Russian steppes 6. Russian v. ethnic minority demographics; vodka, lifespans, and the declining birthrate of the Russian family