RUSSIA An early history

Russian Czars Ivan the Great The first “Great” leader of Russia Ivan the Great built the Kremlin

Russian Czars In 1533 Ivan IV was the first person to refer to himself as “Czar” also known as Ivan the Terrible ordered the building of St Basil’s Cathedral Legend has it that he blinded the architects so they could never, again, build such a beautiful crushed all his opposition added Siberia to Russia’s territory.

The Kremlin

Russia During the late 1600’s Great another Czar came to power Czar Peter I …. Also known as Peter the Great He modernized Russia expanded territory strengthened military developed trade with Europe

The Last Czar Nicholas II During his rule there was a huge separation between rich and poor. Nicholas makes famous “Faberge Eggs” for his wife as gifts. His son Alexei is sick family turns to “wacky” healer named Rasputin. Public doesn’t like that WW I occurs - many Russian killed. Unhappy people throw Nicholas out Bolshevik Revolution. Russia becomes “Soviet Union” and Vladimir Lenin is the first leader.

Faberge Eggs The most important feast of the Russian Orthodox church calendar is Easter. It is celebrated with the exchanging of eggs and three kisses. The Faberge eggs began in 1884 with an Easter egg made for the czar that became a gift for his wife, Czarina Maria. The egg reminded the empress of her homeland, and so from then on it was agreed that Faberge would make an Easter egg each year for Maria. Faberge designed Easter eggs for another eleven years until Alexander III died. Then Nicholas II, Alexander's son, continued the tradition. It was agreed that the Easter gift would always have an egg shape and would hold a surprise. These projects became top priority of the company and were planned and worked on far in advance--a year or longer. The surprise was always kept secret. The designs for the Imperial eggs were inspired by historical art works that Faberge imitated or copied from his travels or from the Hermitage. However, there is a poignant representation of what is now Russian history in the design of a number of these eggs. There were eggs to commemorate the coronation of Czar Nicholas II, the completion of the Trans Siberian Railway, and anniversaries. There were eggs depicting the Imperial yacht-Standart, the Uspensky Cathedral, the Gatchina Palace, and during the time of war, the Red Cross and the military.

Examples

Examples

Examples

Examples

Examples

The Soviet Union (USSR) COMMUNISIM The Soviet Union (USSR) Bolshevik Revolution 1917: Communists overthrow the Czarist Government

Communism Definition: Communism- theory of a classless, stateless society. Command Economy- government controlled economy Symbolic Color: Red

Enemies of the STATE Those who do NOT believe in the Communist Dream are selfish capitalists and must be removed from society. If YOU do not turn in people who “disagree” with the STATE then you are being selfish and keeping the Communist dream from coming true. This makes you an “enemy” also.

COLD WAR USSR vs. USA 1950 - 1990

The Cold War Communist vs. Capitalist…… it lasted for 4 decades 1950’s – 1990’s USA and USSR fighting for world influence and power Eastern Europe was under USSR influence

The Cold War Arms Race Space Race USA and USSR start to build up their nuclear arsenal Cuban Missile Crisis Space Race Sputnik – 1957- first artifical satellite sent into space Put pressure on America to match USSR

Chernobyl Heart Preview

Chernobyl Disaster Nuclear powerplant near Soviet city of Chernobyl had a massive explosion on April 26th, 1986.   It released Approx 400X the radiation as bombs dropped on Japan in 1945 High levels of radiation cause a large number of deadly illnesses.

Chernobyl Clean up Fire burned for about 2 weeks releasing radioactive dust into atmosphere   Covered the damaged reactor with a sarcophagus by November 1986 Rushed clean up = lots of leaks

Chernobyl Today In modern day Ukraine (near Belarus) 99% of Belarus is Contaminated Many people have radiation related illnesses Thyroid Cancer, Birth defects, Heart disease, Soviet Union Collapse = poor countries (Ukraine & Belarus)