St. Petersburg Russia: A city of Art Ø The History of the city During the course of the Northern War with Sweden the Russian forces gradually moved from the Lake Ladoga down the Neva River to the Swedish fort of Nienchanz. After an 8-day siege on May 1, 1703 the Swedish army surrendered. To protect the newly conquered lands in the Neva delta Peter the Great needed a fortress, but Nienchanz was small and badly damaged. Looking for …showed first 75 words of 264 total…

…showed last 75 words of 264 total…sets. The city's change in names reflects Russia's often turbulent history. It has been Petrograd and Leningrad and only recently, with the demise of Russia's communist system, has it reclaimed its original title. The story of Russia, from the czars through the totalitarianism of Stalin and to the recent struggles toward democracy and a free-market economy, are embedded in the city. To visit it now is to observe firsthand a crucial period in Russian history.