Russia began as a small territory that expanded under strong rulers to become the world's largest country. While its government underwent many changes, Russian culture and traditions remained strong. The Soviet Union was formed after the Russian Revolution but collapsed in 1991, leading Russia to attempt building a democracy and market economy. Russian culture is influenced by its vast area and cold climate, and includes traditions like Maslenitsa celebrating the end of winter.

1. History and Cultures of Russia

2.  Today, Russia is the world’s largest country.
Early in its history, however, it was a small
territory on the edge of Europe. Strong rulers
gradually expanded Russia’s borders. While
Russia’s government has undergone a
number of changes, the country’s culture and
traditions have remained strong.
 Why do countries often wish to expand their
territory?

3.  The characteristics and movement of people
impact physical and human systems.

4. 30 minutes- 3 paragraphs- 30 points

6.  Strong leaders
made Russia a vast
empire, but
widespread
suffering eventually
led to Revolution.
What causes people to rise
up and overthrow their
government?

7.  Russians descended
from Slavic peoples
 Earliest city was
Kiev
 Prospered on trade
 Eastern Orthodox
Christianity
 Conquered by
Mongols in 1200s.
Missionaries: people
who move to another
area to spread their
religion.

8.  Ukrainians descended from Slavs.
 Civilization called Kievan Rus was settled by
early Slavs.

9.  Slavs move north
and create city of
Moscow
 Slavs declare
independence from
Mongols under Ivan
the Great.

10.  1547: Ivan IV
declares himself
Czar.
 Ruled harshly, know
as Ivan the Terrible
 Russia expands to
expand trade with
Europe
 St. Petersburg
becomes capital.
Czar: another term
for emperor.

11.  Ivan IV – expands Russian Empire by
conquering neighboring territories.

12.  As empire grew,
many Muslims
became part of
Russian Empire
 Largely rural &
agricultural
 Most citizens poor
peasants or serfs.
Serfs: farm laborers
who could be bought
and sold with the land.

13.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlROOBF
Kz4I

14.  Cold climate
repelled Napoleon’s
invasion in 1812.
 1861 40 million
serfs freed.
 Russia started to
modernize.

15.  1914: Russia
enters WWI with
France & Britain.
 Russia suffers
defeats
 Vladimir Lenin
leads a revolution
against the czar.
 Creates a
communist state.
Communist State: the
government controlled
the economy & society

16.  Lenin created the USSR.

17.  Describe the development of Russia.

18.  The Communist
system controlled
many aspects of
people’s lives, but
democratic ideas
eventually took
hold.
What would it be like if the
government told you what job
you had to do and also greatly
limited the choices of products
you could buy in stores?

19.  Lenin creates the
USSR (Union of
Soviet Socialist
Republics)
 Russian ethnic
group dominated.
 Lenin followed
teachings of Karl
Marx

20.  Marx believed factory owners had too much
power & factory workers too little power.

21.  no private
ownership
 Policies continued
by Joseph Stalin, a
harsh dictator
 Religious property
seized
 Imprisoned any
who disagreed with
him.

22.  Stalin = dictator after 1924.
 Lenin ended private ownership.

23.  Command economy
 Collectivization: system in which small
farms were combined into large, factorylike
farms run by the government.
 Many turn to factory work
 Not enough food produced
 Huge factories produced steel, military
equipment, & machinery.
 No competition led to poor-quality goods.

24.  Soviet government eliminated competition in
economy.

25.  Fought with Allies during
WWII
 Stalin establishes
communist regimes in
eastern Europe
 Cold War: conflict
between U.S. & USSR that
never led to actual war.
 Soviets endured lack of
basic goods during this
period.

26.  Yuri Gagarin = 1st man in space.

27.  1985: Mikhail
Gorbachev comes to
power
 Glasnost: Soviet
citizens could say or
write what they
wanted without fear
of being punished.

28.  Glasnost = policy of openness

29.  Perestroika: gave more freedom to
business owners in economic decisions.
 caused Soviet people to doubt
communism
 Communist governments begin to
collapse.

30.  Perestroika = Gorbachev

31.  Many felt Gorbachev
was not making
enough changes
 Boris Yeltsin comes to
power.
 1991—Soviet Union
collapses
 Attempting to build a
democracy & market
economy

32.  Boris Yeltsin = 1st president

33.  What were Gorbachev’s reforms?

34.  Culture groups shape human systems.

35.  Russia’s many
ethnic groups and a
tradition of great
achievements in the
arts and sciences
contribute to the
country’s cultures.
Have you ever watched the
graceful motions of a ballet
dancer?

36.  As the Russian
Empire expanded,
many different
peoples came
under its control.
 Many practice their
own culture under
Russian rule.

37.  Yakut people herd reindeer in eastern Siberia.

38.  After fall of
communism,
freedom of religion.
 Eastern Orthodox
main religion
 Also have Muslims,
Catholics,
Protestants, & Jews.

39.  Strong oral tradition: passing stories by
word of mouth from generation to
generation.
 Strong sense of nationalism: feelings of
loyalty toward their country.

40.  Long history of music & dance.
 Swan Lake & The Nutcracker = famous
ballets
 War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy = famous
novel.
 Faberge eggs

41.  Peter Faberge = jewel-encrusted eggs.
 Alexzander Solzhenitsyn = author who wrote
about harsh conditions in a Communist
society.
 Bolshoi of Moscow & Kirov of St. Petersburg
are ballet companies.

42.  Long emphasis on the sciences.
 1961: put first man in space—Yuri Gagrin
 Helped U.S. build International Space
Station.

43.  How have religious practices changed since
the fall of communism?

44.  Russian lifestyles
are influenced by
the region’s cold
climate and vast
area, as well as the
country’s changing
economic system.
Do you like to celebrate the
arrival of spring after a long,
cold winter?

45.  Most Russians live
in cities west of
Ural Mountains.
 Housing is scarce,
most live in
apartments.
 Wealthier people
have country
homes.

46.  Ice hockey, figure
skating, &
gymnastics
 Maslenitsa: marks
ends of winter with
snowball fights,
sleigh rides &
parties.
 June 12—celebrate
autonomy
Autonomy =
independence from
Soviet Union

47.  Vast distances of
Russia require good
rail system.
 Trans-Siberian
Railroad—longest
rail line in world.
 Provides access to
Siberia’s resources.

48.  Trans-Siberian railroad connects Moscow
with Vladivostok.

49.  No effective
highway system.
 Few gas stations.
 However, Russian
car ownership is
rising.
 Many areas lack
phone service.
 Internet only now
spreading around
country.

50.  How does the Maslenitsa celebration reflect
Russia’s culture and environment?