8. The Russian Alaska: A Cold Calculation
Russia’s colonial ambitions took them to the icy wilderness of Alaska in the 18th century. While fur trading posts dotted the rugged coast, isolation and unforgiving conditions stymied Russian settlement. Ultimately, the colony’s struggles led Russia to sell Alaska to the United States in 1867—a move later seen as both pragmatic and, in hindsight, astonishingly shortsighted. Further reading: Alaska History and Cultural Studies.
