"Have you ever been in Russia?"
I was born in Moscow (thucking USSR) in 1955; and grew up and lived in the aforementioned country till 1981. I suppose it means that have indeed been in Russia. And as for Tolstoy etc. - they are precisely story-tellers, either over the fire or without it.
I am curious, are you an ethnic Russian?
Ok, enough of this crap. Aside the fact that you loath and detest anything Russian. What is your criteria of "great" civilization? Sinfeld? J.Leno? Britny Spears? The Piss Christ? Gay Rights? Feminism? Marxism (another Western invention), Nihilism (another Western invention). What? Inform us stupid people, please.
On another thread you mentioned the Vargars (Vikings) as bringers of civilization. If that is your benchmark, then you must consider Islam at the top of the list.