Moscow
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What is Moscow?
Moscow, the capital of Russia, is in the country's far western region. It was first mentioned in 1147 and has since been a vital part of Russian history. In the late 13th century, it became the capital of Muscovy (the Grand Principality of Moscow), and its residents are known as Muscovites.
Moscow is Russia's most populous city and serves as its industrial, cultural, scientific, and educational center, as well as the political center. For over 600 years, Moscow has been the spiritual center of the Russian Orthodox Church. The city's layout features concentric rings and radiating spokes, reflecting its historical growth.
Moscow attracted global attention as a center of communist power as the capital of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (U.S.S.R.) until its dissolution in 1991. The Kremlin, the seat of the former Soviet and current Russian government, became synonymous with Soviet authority. The dissolution of the U.S.S.R. brought significant economic and political change and a concentration of Russia’s wealth in Moscow.
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Where is Moscow located?
Moscow, the capital of Russia, is in the far western part of the country. It is about 400 miles (640 km) southeast of St. Petersburg and 300 miles (480 km) east of the border with Belarus. Moscow stands on the Moscow River, a tributary of the Oka and thus of the Volga, in the center of the vast plain of European Russia. Moscow is not only the political center of Russia but also the country’s most populous city and its industrial, cultural, scientific, and educational capital.
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Why is Moscow important to Russia?
Moscow has been vital to Russia's history since 1147, serving as the capital of Muscovy in the late 13th century and the Russian Orthodox Church's spiritual center for over 600 years. Today, Moscow is the political center of Russia, its most populous city, and its industrial, cultural, scientific, and educational capital.
Moscow's economy has undergone dramatic transformations since 1991, with a significant concentration of national wealth. It is the country's chief commercial and financial hub, with most foreign investment passing through its financial institutions. The Kremlin in Moscow is the symbol of Russian power and authority and has served as the official residence of the Russian president since 1991.
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What famous landmarks can be found in Moscow?
Moscow, the national capital of Russia, boasts several famous landmarks that reflect its rich history and culture. The Kremlin, a historic fortress, serves as the center of the Russian government. Adjoining the Kremlin is Red Square, a large open square that has been a focal point in Russia's social and political history since the late 15th century.
Other notable buildings include Moscow State University, one of Stalin’s "seven sisters," and the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, which was rebuilt in 1997 after being demolished in 1931. These landmarks showcase Moscow's architectural heritage and its significance in Russian life.
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How has Moscow’s history influenced its culture?
Moscow's history has significantly shaped its culture. Founded around 1147, the city's strategic location on trade routes fostered its early growth. The Kremlin, established in 1156, symbolizes Moscow's role as a defensive and political center.
Moscow became the heart of Russian Orthodoxy in 1326, further solidifying its cultural importance. Over time, Moscow grew, incorporating surrounding areas and evolving into a vibrant center for artisans and trade. Despite facing destruction and attacks, such as the Tatar invasions and the Time of Troubles, Moscow rebuilt and expanded, with each era adding to its unique architectural mix.
Today, Moscow is a vibrant city where remnants of its Soviet past blend with modern capitalist influences. Restored churches, revived markets, and a thriving cultural scene reflect Moscow's resilience and its embrace of tradition alongside modernity.
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What role does Moscow play in government, business, and transportation in Russia?
Moscow serves as the political center and capital of Russia. The Kremlin, the official seat of the Russian government, is located in Moscow. The city is also the headquarters for most national bodies and organizations.
Moscow is Russia's chief commercial and financial hub, with most foreign investment passing through its financial institutions. Since 1991, Moscow's economy has undergone a dramatic transformation, with a significant concentration of national wealth.
Moscow is the core of Russia's transportation network. Trunk lines radiate from the city in all directions, making it the hub of the Russian rail network. The Moscow Metropolitan subway is a crucial element in the city's transportation system.
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News •
Moscow, city, capital of Russia, located in the far western part of the country. Since it was first mentioned in the chronicles of 1147, Moscow has played a vital role in Russian history. It became the capital of Muscovy (the Grand Principality of Moscow) in the late 13th century; hence, the people of Moscow are known as Muscovites. Today Moscow is not only the political center of Russia but also the country’s most populous city and its industrial, cultural, scientific, and educational capital. For more than 600 years Moscow also has been the spiritual center of the Russian Orthodox Church.
The capital of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (U.S.S.R.) until the union dissolved in 1991, Moscow attracted world attention as a center of communist power; indeed, the name of the seat of the former Soviet government and the successor Russian government, the Kremlin (Russian: Kreml), was a synonym for Soviet authority. The dissolution of the U.S.S.R. brought tremendous economic and political change, along with a significant concentration of Russia’s wealth, into Moscow. Area 414 square miles (1,035 square km). Pop. (2010) city, 11,738,547; (2020 est.) city, 12,678,079.
Character of the city
If St. Petersburg is Russia’s “window on Europe,” Moscow is Russia’s heart. It is an upbeat, vibrant, and sometimes wearisome city. Much of Moscow was reconstructed after it was occupied by the French under Napoleon I in 1812 and almost entirely destroyed by fire. Moscow has not stopped being refurbished and modernized and continues to experience rapid social change. Russia’s Soviet past collides with its capitalist present everywhere in the country, but nowhere is this contrast more visible than in Moscow. Vladimir Ilich Lenin’s Mausoleum remains intact, as do many dreary five-story apartment buildings from the era of Nikita Khrushchev’s rule (the mid-1950s to the mid-1960s), yet glitzy automobiles and Western-style supermarkets, casinos, and nightclubs are equally visible. Many Orthodox churches, as well as some synagogues and mosques, have been restored, Moscow’s novel theaters have reclaimed leadership in the dramatic arts, and traditional markets have been revived and expanded. These markets, which under the Soviets were known as kolkhoz (collective-farm) markets and sold mainly crafts and produce, are now more sophisticated retail establishments.
It has become habitual to compare Moscow with St. Petersburg, its rival and the former (1712–1918) capital of Russia. While St. Petersburg has absorbed western European influences, Moscow is viewed as a traditional Russian city. Unlike its rival, Moscow has a well-defined city center marked by the Kremlin. Other characteristics of Moscow are its physical layout in radial spokes and rings that have been extended over time, its hodgepodge of architectural styles, and its historical buildings that were mainly built by Russian architects. Moscow’s buildings were predominantly wooden until the 1920s, when brick and stone came into use.