Final answer:
Russia was isolated from the rest of Europe in the 1500s and 1600s due to geographic barriers and vast distances, the influence of the Mongol domination, religious differences stemming from the Russian Orthodox Church, and political and cultural differences under an autocratic tsarist rule.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the 1500s and 1600s, several factors contributed to isolating Russia from the rest of Europe. Among these, geographic barriers and vast distances (Option 1) played a significant role. The immense size of the Russian territory, along with challenging terrains such as the Ural Mountains, hindered the exchange of ideas and interactions with other European nations.
Moreover, the legacy of the Mongol domination and the Golden Horde (Option 2) left Russia with a different political and social trajectory compared to Europe. This relationship, which lasted for centuries, led to a delayed exposure to Renaissance thinking and technological advances that were spreading through Western Europe.
The religious aspect, particularly the influence of the Russian Orthodox Church (Option 3), also distinguished Russia from the largely Catholic or Protestant Europe. The religious differences fostered a distinct Russian cultural identity that was less influenced by European religious and philosophical thought.
Last but not least, political and cultural differences (Option 4), including the autocratic tsarist rule, marked a departure from the political evolution happening in Europe where, over time, absolute monarchies were giving way to more representative forms of government. These factors, when combined, effectively isolated Russia and shaped its unique path of development during the 1500s and 1600s.