This revised edition is a concise, yet comprehensive narrative of the history of Russia from the reign of Vladimir I the Saint, through to the reign of Ivan IV the Terrible. Supplementing the original edition with results of recently published scholarship as well as her own research, Janet Martin emphasizes the dynamics of Russia's political evolution from the loose federation of principalities known as Kievan Rus' through the era of Mongol domination to the development of the Muscovite state. Her analyses of the ruling dynasty, of economic influences on political development, and her explorations of society, foreign relations, religion, and culture provide a basis for understanding the transformations of the lands of Rus'.

《金帐汗国兴衰史》是一部记述十三至十四世纪朮赤的汗国兴衰史的书籍。本书第一部介绍了金帐汗国的形成与发展是，第二部介绍了金帐汗国与俄罗斯的关系，第三部研究了金帐汗国的衰亡过程。作者在书中详细描绘了蒙古封建上层统治俄罗斯人民，带给俄罗斯劳动人民的苦难，蒙古统治阶级通过中央集权制建立了统一俄罗斯的过程及贡献，并众多政治事件、军事斗争等内容。