Eastern europe Chapter 16-18

Rule by czars: The first Slav state was Kievan Rus and controlled trade routes from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea. It became wealthy from exporting furs, wax, honey and enslaved people. The princes in the city-states started fighting each other and Kieven Rus split into three regional centers and nationalities (Ukranians, Belorussians and Russians). This led to the many different regions of Russia.

Mongols then controlled most of Russia until Ivan IV (Ivan the Terrible) defeated the Mongols and declared himself czar. After a series of attempts by other czars to turn Russia into a military power, Catherine the Great came to power and encouraged development of Russia through education, journalism, architecture and theater. Russia expanded their empire. During this time Feudalism was the system of their economy. This led to a dissatisfaction of workers. The serfs started a Revolution during WWI due to harsh working conditions and lack of food.

Soviet Union (USSR): A group of Revolutionaries called the Bolsheviks seized control and remade Russia into a Communist state led by Vladimir Lenin and named it the Soviet Union. The Cold War caused a clash with the two superpowers U.S. and Russia. Ordinary citizens were faced with a widespread shortage of food, housing and household goods. By the end of 1991, the Soviet Union was dissolved due to protests and all the republics became independent countries.

Russian Federation: Although there have been many reforms, Russia continues to struggle to recover their economy and create a stable government.

Movement​: How do people, goods and ideas move from one location to another? Few seaports that are free of ice year-round. Ships can move through the Black Sea. Rivers provide freight and passenger traffic. Trans-Siberian Railroad – longest single rail line in the world

Region​: How is its located related to the location of other people, places and environments. Eastern part of Russia, called Siberia is in Asia. Western part of Russia lies within Europe. The Caucasus Mountains are a defining landform to the geographically diverse region. Made up of many volcanoes that have not erupted for thousands of year and now the region is prone to earthquakes.

Human Environment Interaction​: How do people adapt and modify the environment? Most people live in western Russia than in Siberia due to the climate. Fishing and oil in Caspian Sea are important industries. Produces ¼ of world’s fresh and frozen fish.

Location​: Where is it located? Russia is located on both continents of Europe and Asia. Russia stretches to the Arctic Ocean in the North. To the east it is bordered by the Pacific Ocean. The southwest corner touches the Black Sea.

Place​: What is significant about its location? Only ⅙ of land is suitable for farming. More than ⅕ of the world’s forests are in Russia. Lumber, paper and cardboard are important products. Russia is the largest country in the world but over 50% of the country in uninhabitable due to ice. The Caspian Sea is the largest inland body of water in the world. It contains a variety of species, but it is shrinking in size and depth slowly because of decreased inflow from rivers due to evaporation. Oil is abundant in the Caspian Sea.

geography Landforms​: Ural Mountains, Caucasus Mountains, Siberia, East European Plain Water Bodies​: Arctic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Caspian Sea, Black Sea, Aral Sea, Lake Baikal, Volga River, Lena River, Ob River Urban Centers​: Moscow, Kiev, Omsk

government Russia is organized as a Federal Republic. It operates under a constitution that was written in 1993. Voters elect representatives. Power is divided into 3 branches.

government The head of state is a president. During Vladimir Putin’s presidency, he has worked to limit the power of the oligarchs, but to do so he closed television networks (run by oligarchs) that were seen as unfriendly to his government. The president still maintains great control over the country, making it difficult to call it a full democracy. Corruption and dishonesty within the government continue to slow the growth of democracy in Russia.

industry Russia is considered to be an industrialized country, but since many factories used in the Soviet Union were old and outdated, they have been making progress in updating or closing many of them.

Factors of production Natural resources: Russia relies on oil, minerals, precious stones, fossil fuels, timber During Soviet Union, environmental problems (pollution) were ignored (believed resources were abundant). This led to nearly 40% of Russia’s land being classified as under high or moderately high ecological stress. The disaster at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine in April 1986 is one of the world’s greatest environmental disasters and sent radiation into the air.

Factors of production Labor - The unemployment rate is high, so the gap between rich and poor has widened. Capital - Most of Russia’s wealth belongs to a small percentage of the population. Most capital comes from foreign investors. Entrepreneurs - This group emerged in the 1990s after the fall of the communist economic system. Information technology industry has produced entrepreneurs.

Goods and services During communist rule and shortly after, shoppers had to wait in long lines outside of stores. Food and other products often were in short supply and had to be rationed, or divided equally. Since most of the industry during the USSR centered on military hardware and heavy industrial machinery, the country was not prepared to transform into a producer of consumer products that make up a free enterprise system. The transfer of industry to private ownership was a great deal for wealthy individuals who had connections in government. These people are referred to as oligarchs (a small group of people who control the government and use it to further their own goals.)

Goods and services Most of Russia’s wealth belongs to a small percentage of the population. Russia has more billionaires than any other European country. There is a severe gap between rich and poor. Health care is expensive and difficult to afford. More people are dying than being born. Russia does not have enough housing and extended families often live together. Exports have helped Russia’s economy to grow and is a major producer of oil and natural gas.

Free enterprise system Free enterprise system​- Russia shifted to a market economy after the fall of the USSR. They are still struggling to strengthen their economy. The benefits​ of a free enterprise system are: individuals and businesses have the freedom to exchange goods and services and choose a career; free to own and operate enterprises or businesses with little government intervention; ability to make a profit which encourages competition and forces produces to offer high quality products at lower prices. Before the current free enterprise system, Russia was under a communist system​. Under a communist system the government owns all levels of production and distribution of goods and services. There are former republics of Russia that are currently under a socialist system​. Within a socialist system, the government regulates and makes decisions in some industries, but private property and market competition are still found in most industries. Uzbekistan has a socialist system.