> In 1917, Russia was one of the most backwards countries in Europe, practically a feudal agrarian society. That "feudal society" had built the Trans-Siberian

> In 1917, Russia was one of the most backwards countries in Europe, practically a feudal agrarian society. That "feudal society" had built the Trans-Siberian railway. While it certainly was lagging behind the Western Europe in industrialization, it was a solid second-tier country, like Japan or AH.