3. Scan the text. Political Situation in Russia in the 17th Century and Prerequisites for the Exploration of the Far East

After the Battle of Kulikovo in 1380, the consolidation of the Russian lands was the main idea of the Moscow tzars.

Ivan IV * ('the Terrible') was the most successful in realizing this idea. He greatly expanded the territory of Muscovy to the south, east, and to a lesser extent, to the west. European West was still an unshakeable stronghold for Moscow, so all of Russia's attempts to be the members of European community were in vain. But the political activity of Ivan the Terrible demanded release of accumulated energy of the Russian people. There was nowhere to go except to the east, at that time the most weak and undeveloped part among the Russian lands.

In 1582-1585 Ermak*, a very brave and warlike leader, during his marches in Siberia smashed Khanate of Kazan, which was an obstacle to the development of Russian Siberia. Thus, he freed the way for research and development not only in Siberia, but also the Far East. Ivan the Terrible willingly handed out the conferring papers for the lands on the rivers of Kama, Chusovaya, Tobol, Irtysh, etc.

Boris Godunov* replaced Ivan the Terrible on the throne. Russian people did not like and did not trust him, because it was a cruel and suspicious person without tzar descent that was the cause of a very complicated political situation in Russia. In 1605, his death marked the beginning of the Great Tumult and ravage of Russian lands by the Poles.

False Dmitry succeeded Godunov. He was a protege of the Poles, who wanted to join the Moscow State to their possessions. His reign lasted only one year because he was brutally murdered by people.

Later from 1606 till 1610 the country was ruled by a rich boyar and famous military leader Vasily Shuisky. He also had no tzar descent. In 1610 Moscow was occupied by Polish invaders and Shuisky was captured and died in a Polish prison. Thus Russia was in a very dangerous situation and the Russian people rose in revolt.

In 1612, People's Army, led by a citizen of Novgorod, Kuzma Minin and Prince Dmitry Pozharsky liberated Moscow and restored the Russian statehood.

The period of the Great Tumult ended in 1613 after the accession to the throne of Tzar Mikhail Romanov*. The new governor faced extreme difficulties. Relations with neighboring countries: Poland, Sweden and the Crimea demanded immediate action; people were tired of terror, persecution and famine; economy had been destroyed; treasury was empty, since there was nothing that Russia could offer to trade in Europe and fill the treasury. His reign in the years 1613-1645 brought peace and stability to Russia.

At that period of time sables were very prized in western countries. Russia could get the silver coins, precious metals, jewelry, wine, expensive fabrics, and many other goods in exchange for sables. Only Siberia had such treasures. It was necessary to find new ways to the east, to get as many sables as possible. And the Russian tzars gave orders to organize special teams to find new lands, full of sables and other riches.

Thus, the path to the Pacific Ocean had been found and traced. Russian explorers crossed the Urals to the Pacific, made numerous great geographical discoveries, broadened the Russian possessions, settled and developed them.