ABSTRACT
In 1838, Mikhail Pogodin had the following to say about the Russian Empire:
Ten thousand versts in length, extending almost from the middle of Europe … to the faraway lands of America! And five thousand versts in width, running from Persia to the Polar Circle. What other state can compare to her in size? To half of her? How many states can even amount to a twentieth or fiftieth of her territory? 1
