Role of geography in Russian history

Consider the role of geography in Russian history from 1613 to 1917. How did the nature and extent of Russia’s territory—and the many changes to its borders—impact the form and practices of the state and the lives of the empire’s people, especially non- Russians? Give examples of several moments of change in Russia’s geography, explaining the impact of each, and give examples of other, unchanging aspects of Russia’s geography that constrained or otherwise affected the policies and methods of Russian rulers. Pay particular attention to the ethnic, linguistic, and religious diversity of the empire (and how this changed over time) and detail several of what you think are the most important ways various Russian rulers handled this diversity or the empire was affected by it. Consider at least one pair of contrasting geographical settings and how at least one major event was shaped by these contrasts (for example, urban/rural, center/periphery, Russian/non-Russian, Moscow/Petersburg, north/south, east/west: how did any significant event you choose play out differently in each of two contrasting settings, and why?)