What were the achievements of Ivan IV?

Question

What were the achievements of Ivan IV?

Answer 1

He successfully fought the Swedes, Poles, Tartars, Kazan, Astrakhan, and began the process of taking Siberia. The bodyguard of Opritchniki was the begining of a standing army, and since its first duty was to 'sweep treason from the land' it became inspiration for the later KGB. He negotiated a commercial treaty with England, something that began an ongoing positive connection between those two countries after English explorers demonstrated the Archangel shipping lanes. He also brought in Germans to teach and demonstrate art and culture.