Description

This six-volume work, Novyi i polnyi geograficheskii slovar' Rossiiskago gosudarstva (New and complete geographical dictionary of the Russian state), published in Moscow in 1788‒89, was intended as a comprehensive source of information about places in the Russian Empire, including cities and towns, rivers, islands, mountains, and other geographic features. Tsar Peter the Great (reigned, 1682–1725) identified a need for more detailed and complete knowledge about his realm. Throughout the 18th century, Peter and his successors commissioned scientific compendia about the empire. Empress Catherine the Great (reigned, 1762–96 ...