Baranov is the leading figure of the Russian era. For nearly 30 years, he led the Russian colony, first as manager of Shelikhov's fur company and then later as the governor of Russian-America. This period, called the Baranov Era, was the formative time for Russian America. 

When Baranov arrived in Alaska in 1790, the colony was just being born. Its first permanent settlement had been founded only six years earlier and was no more than a village. Outposts were scattered and isolated from each other. There was not a single church in the colony. Competing Russian companies battled each other for control of trade. There was no central authority or enforced rules to govern the young society. 

When Baranov retired as manager in 1819, Russian-America was mature. It was united under one single authority. It had nearly reached its maximum expansion, with outposts as far away as California and Hawaii. Its capital was the largest city on the Pacific coast north of Mexico. It had well-ordered norms of society and Native relations. An extensive network of Russian churches and missions had been established. It had libraries and museums. Hundreds of students, Russian and Native, attended schools. 

Baranov was not solely responsible for all of these changes. But his stamp was on many of them, and his leadership provided the energy and direction under which the colony grew. However, the growth of the Russian-American colony brought much hardship and loss to the Aleut and Alutiiq communities, which were the colony's main workforce. 

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