Book Review: Siberia: Its Conquest and Development Essays -- essays re

Ronald Frank2004-05-03T005800Beyond the UralsSemyonov, Yuri. Siberia Its Conquest and Development. Baltimore Helicon Press, 1963. 414.What would motivate men to venture into some of the harshest argonas on Earth, often with a small amount of supplies and an whelm chance of not returning alive? Plenty, argues Yuri Semyonov, plenty of freedom, plenty of natural resources, and little authority (86). Yet, Siberia Its Conquest and Development if far from a simple retelling of several(prenominal) adventure tales. What the author presents is a comprehensive history of Siberian exploration spanning roughly 500 years, complete with thorough analysis of the political, cultural and economic factors that were at play throughout.Semyonov begins with a brief introduction of Russian history prior to Ermaks journey, discussing key forces ultimately responsible for Siberias conquest. All the important expeditions from Ermak, to Deshnev, to Bering are discussed in great detail. Certainly the story of Ermak drowning in his heavy armor has not gone untold throughout the book Semyonov gives both historical facts and conventional legends in order to create a more complete picture. Siberia covers a broad range of geographical locations, including Siberia, Alaska, and even touches on Hawaii and Japan. In effect, every area related to Siberian conquest is given attention. Yet, just as the title would have you believe, Siberia Its Conquest and Development, at its heart is still...