Russia Russia Spans on TWO continents Asia and

Russia

Russia • Spans on TWO continents Asia and Europe • Largest country in the world • Climate ranges from humid continental to arctic • President – Vladimir Putin • Largest city Moscow • 145. 5 million people; 80% live on the western side • 100 ethnic groups; 75% Slavic • Main religion Russian Orthodox • Home of the oldest mountains in the world “the URALS • The deepest lake in the world – LAKE BAIKAL

Beginnings of Russia - Kieran Rus • Slavic people • Eastern Orthodox

Early Russiaruled by Princes • Very prosperous • Center of trade with between Scandinavia and the Byzantines

Vladimir the Great First Prince of Russia Converted to Christianity HONORED AS FOUNDERS OF RUSSIAN CHRISTIANITY

HERITAGE • The Slavs came from Carpathian mountain region and spread throughout Europe

Define Westernization • TO BECOME MORE LIKE WESTERN EUROPE – Western Europe and the Renaissance • • Learning Books Education Arts Science Exploration Humanism

Define Czar – Emperor of Russia who ruled an autocracy. An Autocracy is a single ruler with unlimited power First Czar = Ivan the Terrible Last Czar = Nicholas II

Catherine the Great -Empress of Russia for 34 years -Increased Education -Expanded Russia’s borders -She loved the arts. The ARTS flourished during her reign

Golden Horde Mongol conquerors of Russia

*Founder of Mongo Empire *United tribes into a nation *Largest land empire the world has ever known * He lived to the age of 60. No one knows how he died. His grave is not marked to discourage looting —and no one has ever found it.

• Ivan the Great challenged Mongol control and took back control of Russia!

Peter the Great -Strong leader -Westernized Russia -brought western culture and ideas -he sent Russian officials to visit Western Europe -Started new schools -Reorganized government and the army -Hired foreign professors, scientists and advisors -Enlarged Russia -Under his rule, Russia became an Empire

Nicholas II Last Czar of Russia; weak ruler Responsible for Bloody Sunday -hundreds of people killed during protest -peaceful demonstration including women and children. Police opened fired and pursued them on horseback. Many were trampled. Hundreds to thousands died. - People saw this as a sign that the Czar didn’t care about his people -This started the Russian Revolution -As a result of the revolution, Nicholas abdicated in 1917. He and his family were imprisoned and later executed.

3. What territories did the princes of Muscovy and the czars take to expand Russian territory? Poland, Turkey, China, Sweden Land on the Baltic and Black Seas

How did Russian czars treat the serfs? Serf means slave Serf were treated harshly Serfs were poor Serfs had little freedom

Which rulers did the most to westernize Russia? Peter the Great Catherine the Great

The Rise and Fall of the Soviet Union

Revolutionary • Causing or trying to cause the overthrow of a government

Communism • A theory that says the government should own the farms and factories for the benefit of all the citizen • Everyone should share the work equally and receive an equal share of the rewards

Civil war • War between groups inside a country

Dictator • Leader with absolute power

Cold War • Time of tension without actual war

Consumer goods • Goods a person might enjoy like cars and blue jeans • One of the reasons Soviet people lost faith in the communist system was it lack of producing enough consumer goods. – There were often food storages – Little attention was paid to consumers goods and variety that a person might enjoy

Vladimir Lenin –Led the Russian revolution. Leader of Russia who started communism

Josef Stalin • Russian dictator • All of Russia lived in terror during Stalin’s reign • Workers pay was poor and there was barely anything to buy even if they had any • 50 Million killed in death camp, Executions and starvation

Mikhail Gorbachev- soviet leader who increased personal freedoms • • Increased personal freedom Reduced government control of economy Perestroika – economic restructuring Glasnost - openness

3. How did Lenin become leader of Soviet Union? • He and his supporters overthrew the weak government that was in place at the time

4. Why was Josef Stalin feared? • He had millions of people jailed or killed for not supporting his programs • The Great Terror – Collective farms (persuasion by force)- small farms would be gather (taken) to make one massive one. • • • Killed or sent to exile if you refused Killed if successful Many educated killed; intellectuals Anyone associated with previous political party To maintain control, Stalin had Secret Police; Everyone watched

5. Why were the people of the Soviet Union unhappy with the communist government. ? • The government invested most of its money in heavy industries and paid litter attention to the needs of the people • Food shortages • Lack of consumer goods • Lack of personal freedom • It did not improve their daily lives nor give them a future