The Russian Revolution of 1917 was one of the major turning points of the last century and its reverberations continue to be felt in the 21st century. Analyses the principal causes of the Revolution - the economic and social aspects of 19th century Russian society, the decline of Tsarism and the crucial influence of Marxist/Leninist ideology. The Bolshevik seizure of power and the actions of its principal players, Lenin and Trotsky, are discussed in detail, as well as the aftermath of the Revolution - the catastrophic civil war of 1918-1920, the rise of Stalinist dictatorship and the enduring impact of the Revolution on East-West relations and world history.