The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a massive country that spanned Europe and Asia for much of the 20th century. It was born from revolution, and followed not long after the desperation of World War I and the collapse of Imperial Russia.
At its height, the USSR rivaled the United States for dominance in science, technology, and global influence. But beneath its power lay contradictions that could not be reconciled. Much of the country’s economy buckled, while political repression stifled creativity.
How, exactly, did the massive Soviet Union come into existence? And what caused its inevitable downfall? Click on to find out.