Guberniya was an administrative division in the Russian Empire, similar to a province or region. Established in the 18th century, it served as a way to organize the vast territories of the empire into manageable areas for governance. Each guberniya was overseen by a governor, who was responsible for local administration, law enforcement, and tax collection. The concept of guberniya continued into the early Soviet period, although it was eventually replaced by different administrative units. The term is still relevant in discussions about the historical governance of Russia and its administrative evolution over time.