The Russian colonization of Alaska began in 1784 when Russian fur traders established permanent settlements in the region. This expansion marked the first significant Russian presence in North America and was driven by the lucrative fur trade. The colonization had profound effects on the indigenous populations and set the stage for future geopolitical dynamics between Russia and the United States.

The Russian colonization of Alaska initiated a wave of exploration poetry that captured the vastness and isolation of the Arctic. Poets like Anna Akhmatova and later Russian writers reflected on the imperial ambitions and the human experience in these remote frontiers, often critiquing the consequences of such expansion.