The Empire of Protestants

This book is an educational journey through the history of Russian science and culture over nearly four centuries. The focus is on the contributions of people originating from European Protestant countries whose activities were connected with serving Russia. For the first time in this edition, the significant role of Protestants and Evangelical Christians in the development of Russian society, science, culture, and art is shown in detail, in the creation of state institutions—including the army—as well as in defending the interests of the country both on the diplomatic stage and on the battlefields.

The achievements of many of these people helped establish Russia as one of the world leaders and secure its priority in the exact and natural sciences, geographical discoveries, and industrial technologies. The names of some of them have forever entered the history of the Russian Academy of Sciences.