Russia Today

Former Soviet Region Compared in Latitude & Area with the United States

Russia’s Time Zones

Topography of Russia

Rich Soil of the Steppes Chernozen Soil

Siberia  “Permafrost” 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.

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

Early Russia

Early Byzantine Influences: Orthodox Christianity

Early Byzantine Influences: Cyrillic Alphabet

Novgorod

Russian Boyars

Russian Expansion

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

The Mongols Invade Russia

Ivan the Great (r ) Ivan III Tearing the Great Khan’s Letter Requesting More Tribute in 1480.

Russia in the Late 1500s

Michael Romanov (r )

Romanov Dynasty ( ) Romanov Family Crest

The Pendulum of Russian History Pro-West For Progress & Change Encourage New Ideas, Technologies, etc. Anti-West Isolationist Xenophobic Ultra-Conservative  Most Tsars  Russian Orthodox Church  Military  Boyars  peasants  A few Tsars  Intellectual elites  Merchants/businessme n  Young members of the middle class. REFORM-MINDED LEADER DEMAGOGUE

Contrast with Europe –Nobles still retained a lot of power and influence –Still used serfdom –Serfs treated as slaves –Mongol rule cut them off from Western Europe and the age of Exploration and Renaissance –Geographic barriers isolated them –Eastern Orthodox main religion which created divisions (viewed as heretics)

Peter the Great (r )

Took power at the age of 10 Had to battle with his siblings to maintain power. Had a great interest in Western Europe and wanted to increase contact with the West Grand Embassy –Traveled throughout western Europe –Consulted monarchs, military officials –Brought back ideas on military, government, dress, etc. –Created 1 st Russian navy based on what he learned.

Reforms –State control of church –Recruited low-ranking men to serve in his court and gave them land –Modernized the military using new weapons –Expanded Russia to obtain a warm water port –Engaged in a huge war with Sweden over the Baltic Sea –Imposed heavy taxes

Westernization –Goal was to make Russia more like Europe –potatoes – newspaper –Women’s rights –Western clothing and shaved beards –New schools –New capital at St. Petersburg to increase western trade Built the city from scratch Built by serfs Nobles ordered to move there

Russia & Sweden After the Great Northern War