Which of the following best identifies the starting point for the expansion of the Russian Empire?
O Moscow
• St. Petersburg
• China
• Persia
• Moscow is the correct answer.
The starting point for the expansion of the Russian Empire was Moscow.
The starting point for the expansion of the Russian Empire can be identified as Moscow. To determine this answer, we can analyze the historical context and the locations mentioned.
The Russian Empire's expansion began in the late 15th and early 16th centuries, during the rule of Ivan III and Ivan IV, also known as Ivan the Terrible. During this period, Moscow transformed from a small principality to a central power, gradually asserting control over neighboring regions. Moscow's strategic location at the crossroads of important trade routes and its political stability contributed to its rise as the starting point for the empire's expansion.
St. Petersburg, on the other hand, was founded much later in 1703 by Peter the Great and became the new capital of the Russian Empire in 1712. While St. Petersburg played a significant role in Russian history, it was not the starting point for the empire's expansion.
China and Persia, while neighboring countries with historical connections to Russia, were not the starting points for the expansion of the Russian Empire. Russia did have interactions and conflicts with these nations throughout its history, but their territories were not the initial target of Russian expansion.
Therefore, among the options provided, Moscow is the best choice that identifies the starting point for the expansion of the Russian Empire.