Chapter 16: Russia and the Caucasus

Section 1: Psychical Geography

Read Section 1 of chapter 16 with a partner or alone and then fill out the questions for chapter 16 section 1 in your note packets

Section 2: History and Culture of Russia

Early History and Empire

AD 800’s Viking traders from Scandinavia invaded the Slavs. These Vikings were called the Rus (Roos) which is probably where the word Russia comes from.

The Vikings shaped the first Russian state among the Slavs; Kiev (now the capital of Ukraine)

Missionaries introduced the Christian faith to Kiev.

Introduced the Greek alphabet Cyrillic as well; Russians adopted this alphabet and still use it today.

1200’s Mongol invaders called the Tartars conquered Kiev.◦ Allowed Russian Princes to rule

over local states◦ Muscovy became the string

central state; its main city was Moscow.

Early History and Empire

Ivan III (Muscovy’s prince) seized control of the Mongols.

In 1540’s is grandson, Ivan IV, crowned himself Czar (emperor) or Russian for Caesar.◦ Cruel and savage ruler

he became known as Ivan the Terrible.

Muscovy developed into the country of Russia; strong czars built Russia into a huge empire and world power.

Remained a country of poor farmers while the czars and nobles had most of the wealth.

1900’s Russians began demanding improvements.

War and Revolution

1914 Russia entered WWI◦Suffered huge loses/Food shortages

When the Czar seemed to ignore peoples hardship they rose up against him and he was forced to give up his throne in 1917.

Bolsheviks (radical Russian communist party) seized power in the Russian revolution ◦Killed the Czar and his family◦1922 formed a new country the USSR (Union of

Soviet Socialist Republics)◦First leader was Vladimir Lenin

The Soviet Union

The Soviet union, led by Lenin, became a communist country.◦The government owns

all property and controls all aspects of life.

◦1924 Lenin died and Joseph Stalin too power ruling as a brutal dictator.

Stalin◦Command Economy-

the government owns all businesses and farms and makes all the decisions.

◦Strictly controlled the people of Russia and the economy.

◦Anyone who spoke out against the government was jailed, exiled or killed. Gulags- Harsh Soviet

labor camps in Siberia

Cold War and Collapse

During WWII Russia fought with the Allies against Germany. ◦ When millions of Russians

died, Stalin wanted to build to buffer around Russia to protect it from invasion so he began to set up communist governments in Eastern Europe.

◦ US opposed communism, this led to the Cold War A period of time of tense

rivalry between the Soviet Union and the United States.

1980’s Soviet economy was near collapse due to high costs of weapons

Gorbachev (Soviet Leader) started to reduce government control and introduce some democracy.

Soviet republics began to push for independence

1991 Soviet Union collapsed (broke into 15 countries including Russia)

Culture

Russia is very diverse with more than 140 million people◦Ethnic Russians◦Slavs◦Tartars◦Ukrainians

Religion:◦Russian Orthodox

Christian (mainly)◦ Islam◦Buddhism◦Other forms of

Christianity

◦St. Basil’s Cathedral In Moscow’s Red Square Ivan IV built it in

honor of Russian military victories.

Culture

Customs◦ Religious holidays like

Christmas and Easter, the main family holiday is New Years Eve.

◦ New Holiday in Russia is Russian Independence Day which marks the end of the Soviet Union on June 12th.

Arts and Sciences◦ Russian Ballet companies

are world famous◦ Space Research-

1957 launched Sputnik (the first artificial satellite in space)

◦ Faberge Eggs- covered in emeralds and rubies

◦ Famous composers Peter Tchaikovsky-

produced “The Nutcracker”

Section 3: Russia Today

Government

Federal Republic- A system in which power is divided between national and local governments. ◦President- voters elect and serves as the

country's chief executive◦Prime minister-(appointed by president) serves

as head of the government◦Federal assembly-makes the country's laws◦Increased democracy led to more freedom for

Russians

Economy

Market Economy- economy based off of free trade and competition.

Russian government has greatly reduced its control of the economy, more businesses and farms are privately owned.

Service industries make up the largest part of Russia’s economy

Exports:◦Oil/Natural Gas/ timber/ metals and chemicals◦Grains/ Fruits/ potatoes/ sugar beets

City and Rural Life

Cities◦75% of Russians live in

cities◦More restaurants and

shops◦Consumer goods such

as TVS are more readily available

◦Russians are becoming wealthier and having a more luxurious lifestyle.

◦Large parks and wooded areas

Rural◦Dachas- Russian

country houses owned buy wealthier Russians throughout Russia

Cultural Regions Jigsaw Activity

You will be split into groups and given a region within Russia to read together as a group (pgs. 390-393)

You need to come up with at least 3 facts that describe your region to share with the class

You will be given 10 minutes to do this and then will be called up to the board to write your facts down for the class

Moscow Region St. Petersburg Region

The Volga and Urals Regions

Siberia

The Russian Far East

Russian Challenges

Section 4: The Caucasus

GeorgiaArmenia

Azerbaijan

History

Located in the Caucasus mountains between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea.

Caucasus’s reflect a range of cultural influences; many people who have invaded the area before left pieces of their culture behind ◦ Persians◦ Greeks◦ Romans◦ Arabs◦ Turks◦ Mongols

Russians took control of much of the Caucasus in the early 1800’s.◦ Ottoman Turks controlled

was is now Western Armenia Overtime Turks began to

distrust Armenians and started to abuse and kill them in the early 1900’s.

During WWI- Turks forced all Armenians to leave (ethnic cleansing)

Turks lost WWI and had to give up Armenia

History

After WWI Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia all gained independence.

1920’s they became part of the Soviet Union

1991 the Caucasus republics achieved true independence.

The Caucasus Today

Had to create new governments and economies once they became independent

Similar governments with an elected president, appointed prime minister and elected parliament that makes laws

The Caucasus Today

Georgia◦ Located east of the Black

Sea

◦ Tbilisi is the capital

◦ 70% of people living in Georgia are ethnic Georgians

◦ Most belong to the Christian orthodox church

◦ Language- Georgian

◦ They have their own Alphabet

Since 1991 they have struggled with unrest and civil war

2003- forced out their president in a peace Rose revolution

Unrest has hurt their economy but international aid is helping to improve it

Economy is based on services and farming

Famous for their wine and resort areas near the black sea.

The Caucasus Today

Armenia◦ Located south of Georgia,

small landlocked country (not much bigger then Maryland)

◦ Capital- Yerevan

◦ Almost all people are ethnic Armenian

◦ Most people belong to the Armenian orthodox church

◦ 1990’s fought a war against neighboring country Azerbaijan, Armenia wanted an area with an Armenian population in Azerbaijan to become apart of Armenia

◦ Cease fire in 1994

◦ War hurt the economy, international aid is helping to restore it Diamonds is becoming a big

industry in Armenia

The Caucasus Today

Azerbaijan◦ Located east of Armenia

◦ Largely Muslim country◦ ◦ Economy based largely on

oil found under the Caspian Sea

◦ Capital- Baku

◦ Strong economic growth due to oil industry; corruption is high though and many people are poor in the country