The Russian Empire vs. the Soviet Union - a geographic/territorial comparison

[Farsala]

VGPolyglot said:

Farsala said:
Always love history.

I will add an argument, some of these territories they didn't control at all. They had official claims, but I don't think they could enforce any laws or rules for many of these places. And so just because they were considered european, all the world powers decided to agree to their claims and thus when they had to give up some of these territories, most of it were to greater powers then they were.

Which territories did they not control?

Alaska for example, I don't think they could tax any of the residents there like the other european countries did with their claims.  Of course USA took advantage of that by purchasing it, thus making an official record of ownership, but it really wasn't anyones territory at the time imo other then the people living there.