Most Russian historians divide the Russian culture into several periods:

Culture of Ancient Rus (989-1480)

Main Article: Culture of Ancient Rus

The years of the Middle Ages in Russia are from the adoption of Christianity in 989 until the early 19th century. The period lasted longer in Russia than in Europe. Byzantine heavily influenced Russian culture with the construction of cathedrals but Russia's size let pagan practices last for several centuries in rebellious principalities. The conversion brought with it translated literature which created a renaissance in Russian writing traditions. It also led to closer ties to European countries and the Roman empire which began influencing Russian architecture in the 11th century creating a synthesis of ideas and styles.

An invasion by Batu Khan (1237-1240) established authoritarian rule and quickly adopted Islam, abandoning the animist Mongol beliefs and nomadic culture. This turning point in history continues to influence centralized Russian politics to this day. It took until the late 13th century to recover economically and implement local parliamentarian rule. The early 14th century brought the northeastern lands under the leadership of a Vladimirian border fortress called Moscow which was in competition with Tver for another century. The mid-15th century saw a civil war for the position of Grand Prince in Moscow. Ivan III united Russia around Moscow and defeated the Golden Horde at the Great standing on the Ugra river in 1480 to give rise to the sovereign Russian state.

Culture of Muscovy (1480-1703)

Russian culture of 18th century (1703-1801)

Russian culture of 19th century (1801-1914)

Russian culture of 20th century

Russian avant garde (1914-1932)

Culture of Communist enthusiasm (1917-1932)

Russian emigrant culture

Stalinist period (1932–1953)

Post-stalinist period (1953-1991)

With the death of Stalin, there was a new sense of optimism in the Soviet Union with a brief flowering of a more liberal, open culture.

Post-Soviet period (1991-present)

The Culture of Russia includes:

• List of famous Russians
• Music of Russia
• Russian humour
• Russian literature
  • List of Russian language poets
  • Russian formalism
• Russian architecture
• Russian folklore
• Cinema of Russia
• Soviet art
• Russian cuisine