For nearly a century the two most powerful nations on earth, victorian britain and tsarist Russia, fought a secret war in the lonely passes and deserts of central asia. Those engaged in this shadowy struggle called it "T...For nearly a century the two most powerful nations on earth, victorian britain and tsarist Russia, fought a secret war in the lonely passes and deserts of central asia. Those engaged in this shadowy struggle called it "The great game," A phrase immortalized by kipling.