THE RISE OF RUSSIA With information from Susan Pojers and Mrs. Hoff

Russia Today:

Soviet Union Compared to US

Russia’s Time Zones

Topography of Russia

Geographical Features:  Steppe – large grassy, nearly treeless grassy plain, rich farmland  Ural Mountains – considered divider between Asia & Europe  Several large rivers, Vistula, Neman, & Dvina, flow to the Baltic (north)  Dniester & Dnieper flow into Black Sea

Average temperatures of January vary from 0 to -50°C, and in July from 1 to 25°C  Average temperatures of January vary from 0 to -50°C, and in July from 1 to 25°C  150,000,000 population.  A former “gulag” Soviet prison camp. Siberia

 Expansion by conquest.  Need for warm-water ports.  The necessity of a strong, central government. Themes in Russian History

Early Russia

Slavs & Vikings:  Slavs overrun by many other peoples – open plain no natural barriers  Vikings invade from Scandinavia in A.D. 800’s – originally as traders  Trading centers (cities) spring up along trade routes  Major cities were Novgorod (in the north), Kiev (in the south)

Kievan Russia  Rus, lead by Rurik capture Novgorod & Kiev  Kiev became prosperous because of location on trade routes

Government  Each city ruled by a Prince & council of Boyars  First Russian law code – Pravda Russkaia

Religion  Vladimir I – Converts to Eastern Orthodox Christianity

Early Byzantine Influences: Orthodox Christianity

Early Byzantine Influences: Cyrillic Alphabet

Novgorod

Economy  Agriculture & trade most important  Great forests north of Steppe called the Taiga for lumber and other natural resources.

Battle on the Ice (Neva River) Against the Swedes Teutonic Knight Alexander Nevsky:

The Mongols Invade Russia

Mrs. Hoff Invades Russia!

Issues for Russia Today:

Issues for Russia Today