Since 1500 BC, an Indo-European group called the Slavs were living in a part of Russia. However, when the Vikings arrived in Russia, they lost their territory. The Soviet Union was formed in 1922. At that time, Vladimir Lenin was its head. On his death, Joseph Stalin came to power. He became the dictator of the Soviet Union. However, the concept of Russia as an Empire was established with the arrival of Peter the Great. Post-Soviet Russia underwent a lot of reformations and has risen as a powerful nation.