With advancements in technology the Russians spread across the lands, incorporating many ethnic minorities along the way. At nearly this same time, the Russian culture began to develop and became more narrowly defined as the language evolved, the foods changed, the lifestyle was altered, and the Christian Orthodox religion became a stronghold in the culture.
Over time the Russians created and defined their culture in numerous ways, but primarily in terms of what it is not. As a diverse land, the people drew comparisons to the Caucus people in the south, the ethnic Turks and Tajiks in the south, and the ethnic Mongol and Chinese in the southeast, plus the many other people, including the Tatars. Eventually, the ethnic Russians dominated these other people and expanded their territory.
As Russian power grew politically, so too did their culture as many czars were from other parts of Europe, introducing European technologies and culture to the people, particularly those in the western part of the country. However, the western European influence never took over Russian culture, although revolutionary thoughts from the west arrived and helped spark the communist revolution.
Communism changed much of Russian culture, while also magnifying other aspects of Russian culture. Religion was outlawed and the government began to define moral questions, the historic town lifestyle was abandoned to a great degree as people urbanized and industrialization expanded, and traditional clothing was destroyed. However, the government also tried to force ethnic minorities to become "Soviet" and this culture was heavily defined using other aspects of Russian culture, such as the Russian language being taught to everyone. More than this though, communism changed the mentality of the people as trust was destroyed, loyalty was redefined, and forced social interactions took the place of the family and religion as social and cultural focus points.
Today Russia remains a misunderstood and confusing place for many visitors as Russian culture is rooted in this diverse and ever-changing past. Today rural life is slowly returning as are cultural aspects tied to this lifestyle, such as their saunas (banya), religion is slowly returning, and the attitude towards alcohol is no longer viewed the same way. However, western influences have also arrived as dance clubs are everywhere, technology is flooding the country, and western entertainment is everywhere. This new money is also making bribery and connections more important than knowledge and hard work, preventing much social fluidity. Russia is ever-changing, yet rooted in the past; it is the land of confusion.