Dear Patti,
Though it seems impossible to cover the history of Times of Troubles in Russia (1600s) it would be interesting to try to make some important sketch of the times in terms of so called meta-historic view. According to Daniel Andreev, author of the Rose of the World, we can understand historic events better and deeper through meta-history which operates not only with 'real facts' as common 'written' history does but also with people's thoughts and the fight of ideas known as facts of 'unwritten' history. By means of meta-historic method we can have a better and more precise explanation indeed for actions of great leaders, causes of wars, peoples' migrations and so on than when we restrict ourself to 'pure' facts which also can not be always interpreted inambiguously. The source where we can pick up facts for meta-historic investigation lie also in the planes of divine knowledge: revelations of Saints, the Holy Bible, spiritual and intellectual observations of many wise and famous people.
The Times of Troubles in Russia began after the death of Ivan the Terrible, first Russian czar in the end of XVI century. It seems hard to perceive the meaning of the period at this time-spatial fork of choice for Russia if you do not have somewhat clear understanding of the meta-historic mission of Russia in the world's evolution. We can not put forward a scientific treatise on the historic mission of Russia -- we just suggest according to several readings from spiritual books that the mission of Russia was (and is) to synthesize high spiritual (not just religious) teachings of the East and the best material achievements of the West. In other words -- to join together Asia and Europe. In a certain sense the same mission is up to the New World (America) beginning from the same time of 1600s when conquerors from Europe have begun to fuse spiritual values of native American tribes, Indians, with the their own civilization. Russia also began to expand its territories -- to the East (Ural, Siberia, Far East and eventually Alaska(!)), to the North and South of Asia ... Expansion was a necessary part of the mission which would bring into the effect natural mechanism of inter-cultural exchange and mutual development.
The successful fulfillment of the mission would be greatly important for progress of humanity and, vice versa, the failure in the mission execution would influence in the most negative way life of the whole globe. Isolated in its territories greedy materialism throws the planet into ceaseless wars and poverty in all aspects. And doomed by physical poverty spiritual regime would not be able to promote true Harmony of global evolution. We can now guess that Russia (Soviet Union) and States have fulfilled their 'united' mission only partially probably bringing most close the Bible Revelation, Apocalypsis, and its Omens -- Russian (Ukrainian, Belorusian) Chernobyl that became a source of radioactive contamination for large territories and caused many deaths, war in Jugoslavia, war in Chechnya etc. The special topic could be the discussion of historic role of London (the United Kingdom) still governing many important visible and invisible processes of the planetary life.
The beginning of XVII century can be considered as a key or the time of choice for the next three hundreds of years of Russian history. The Time of Trouble mirrored the battle of two trends -- mankind progress and its anti-progress in the field of spiritual leadership and mundane ownership. Russian land as a probable future Mother of new purified Teaching, of new outlook of Light, of New Era Community represented a serious threat to existing power of the Roman Catholic Church. In this very light we can see why Polish and Baltic countries as tools of the Catholic Church and the Pope have led the policy of continuous attempts to take over the Russia by any available means. After the death of Ivan IV his son Fedor Ivanovich became a Russian czar. He was a good religious man, yet weak and unhealthy. In fact Boris Godunov, brother of czaress Irina, ruled in the country. In 1591 under unknown circumstances tsarevich Dmitry was killed. Rumors said that this was Boris Godunov who ordered to kill the tsarevich as a most probable heir of throne. After the death of Fedor Ivanovich Boris Godunov took the throne himself. It was the very time when Polish and Lithuanian elite unsatisfied by the results of the previous war accepted the assistance of the Catholic Church and began to work out plans of conquering Russia again. In Russia boyars were also discontented with Boris Godunov and would want to throw him down. In order to fulfil their plans they chose a monk, Grigory Otrepiev who fleed from Chudov monastery, Moscow, and claimed himself to be tsarevich Dmitry that allegedly escaped death by lucky chance. He married Marina Mnishek, daughter of a rich Polish magnate, and in August, 1604, went off to Moscow at the head of an army. Boris Godunov suddenly died and pseudo-Dimitry entered Moscow in June, 1605. Russia and its cultural traditions were subdued. However, Russian people could not endure this long and in June, 1606, dukes Shooiskiis arranged a rebellion, stormed Moscow Kremlin, killed the trickster and Vasily Shooiski became the next Russia czar. Nevertheless the fight between Poland and Russia continued. In 1010 a group of 7 boyars threw down Vasily Shooiski and ratified a treaty with Polish king inviting his son Vladislav to rule in Russia. Only on October 22, 1612 Russian army headed by Minin and Pozharsky brought the freedom to Moscow and Russia back. Then in 1613 Michael Fedorovich Romanov was crowned as Russian tsar ... This was the beginning of new period in Russian history full of meaningful events, intrigues, fights as well as full of many achievements and developments...
Once more take our apologies for delay in sending the material (your assignment on history of 1600s in Russia), best wishes and warmest greetings to all friends,
Olya