General Information About Russia n Official Name RUSSIAN
General Information About Russia
n Official Name: RUSSIAN FEDERATION n 17, 075, 200 square miles (1. 8 times the size of U. S. A. ) n Capital – Moscow, made up of 8, 369, 000 people n Total Population– 140, 041, 247 n Main Language– Russian
n Religions: 15 -20% Russian Orthodox, 10 -15% Muslim, 2% other Christian n Current Leader: Vladimir Putin n Currency: RUBLE (31. 60 rubles= $1) n Average Income: $7, 700 (U. S. is $27, 108)
n The former Soviet Republics, although independent, have formed the COMMONWEALTH OF INDEPENDENT STATES (CIS) n Russia is the figurehead leader of the CIS
The Rise of Russia n 500 B. C. E. (Roman Times) a people called the SLAVS moved into southern Russia n 800’s C. E. – Missionaries from Constantinople converted Slavs to Eastern Orthodox Christianity
n 863 C. E. – Cyrillic alphabet created to translate Greek bible n An educated class forms
n 1200’s C. E. – Mongols conquered Russia and cut it off from Western Europe n 1462 -1505 C. E. – Ivan III (Ivan the Great) n The first CZAR (Russian word for Caesar), brought Northern Russia under his control n Was an AUTOCRAT – ruler with unlimited power
1533 -1584 C. E. –Ivan the Terrible n Ruled with ABSOLUTE POWER n Centralized royal power n Bound serfs to land & cut BOYARS’ (nobles) privileges
n SERF – landless peasant who worked the nobles’ land for “free”
n Created a secret police force n Reign of terror against powerful Boyars to crush them – earned his nickname n Introduce reforms like a new law code n Encouraged FEUDALISM – Boyars given land by czar to strengthen their bonds w/him
1598 -1613 C. E. – Time of Trouble n There was no MIDDLE CLASS n Boyars feuded over the throne n Peasants revolted & foreign invaders entered Russia n Michael Romanov finally elected by Boyars and began the Romanov Dynasty (ruling family), which ended in 1917
1682 -1725 C. E. - Peter the Great n Westernized Russia n Modernized the army & navy n Made government more efficient n Built capital of St. Petersburg – ”window on the West”
n Used force and terror to make people follow his orders (men had to shave beards, all had to wear western-style clothing) n Although Russia strengthened, large gap still existed between Russia and Western Europe
1762 -1796 C. E. –Catherine the Great n Obtained Boyars’ support by exempting them from taxes & giving them complete control over the serfs n “Enlightened” ruler– encouraged Western thought
1762 -1796 C. E. –Catherine the Great n Successful foreign policy: expanded Russia’s border to the Black Sea and defeated Ottoman Empire n Also took over part of Poland
1801 -1825 C. E. – Alexander I Made many liberal reforms: partial liberation for serfs n Eased censorship & promoted education n Drew back from reform after Napoleon’s invasion n
Napoleon and Russia Tried to invade Russia after the French Revolution n 1812 – Battle for Moscow n 75, 000 died in one day n Russians burned Moscow to the ground n Napoleon got stuck in the Russian winter n Lost 500, 000 men n
1825 -1855 C. E. – Nicholas I n “Orthodoxy, autocracy, & nationalism” n Put down Decembrist Revolt (liberals) n Strict, harsh ruler – used police spies n Militarized Russia
1825 -1855 C. E. – Nicholas I n Outlawed Western philosophy – banned books n Jailed or institutionalized those with liberal or revolutionary ideas n Lost Crimean War to France/Britain
1825 -1855 C. E. – Nicholas I n Realized Russia needed reform n Issued new law code & made some economic reforms n Even tried to limit power of landowners over serfs (but didn’t want to anger nobles)
1855 -1881 C. E. – Alexander II n 1861 - Abolished serfdom n Brought problems – serfs too poor to buy land & lands allotted to peasants too small to support a family n Discontent festered
1855 -1881 C. E. – Alexander II n But peasants moved to cities & helped build industries n Local gov’t set up – ZEMSTVOS (elected assemblies)
1855 -1881 C. E. – Alexander II Introduced trial by jury, eased censorship & tried to reform military n Women left homes to study abroad n Sold Alaska to the U. S. n Assassinated by terrorists n
1881 -1894 C. E. – Alexander III n Turned against reform and returned to repression n Revived secret police, restored censorship, & exiled critics to Siberia
1881 -1894 C. E. – Alexander III n Launched program of RUSSIFICATION (suppress cultures of non. Russians) n One language & one church
1881 -1894 C. E. – Alexander III n Persecuted Russian Jews n POGROMS – violent mob attacks on Jews n Many Jews fled Russia as refugees
1881 -1894 C. E. – Alexander III n Russia did enter an industrial age n Railroad building occurred & foreign capital invested in industry n Social problems increased
1881 -1894 C. E. – Alexander III Workers faced long hours, low pay, poverty, disease, and poor housing n Marxism began to appeal to these workers n Plot to kill czar was foiled (Lenin’s brother executed) n
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