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Built during the expansionary period that lasted from the 16th to the 19th century, the Russian Empire, a true Continent-State of 22 million km2, was characterized by a centralized, authoritarian political regime (an autocracy), a uniform administrative structure (enforced through general governments), and a state religion, the orthodox church. Yet, beyond this apparent unity, one could observe a wide variety of statuses and rights across social classes, nationalities and regions. However, the Russian Empire was unable to adapt to the new aspirations and claims that emerged in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries and died out the victim of a slow erosion.