Russia and Central Asia Cultural Characteristics

Russian Ethnic Groups The vast country of Russia is made up of many ethnic groups.

Ethnic Groups of Russia

Ballet n St. Petersburg’s Kirov Ballet became one of the world’s largest dance companies-- government sponsorship was a key to the success of the ballet. n Bolshoi Ballet, Moscow

Ballet Cultural Heritage / Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Swan Lake (1876) 1812 Overture (1880) Sleeping Beauty (1889) The Nutcracker (1892)

Mikhail Baryshnikov Danced with the Kirov Ballet until he defected to Canada and then settled in the US.

Matrioshka Dolls n Russian nesting dolls n Translation: “ little mother”

Matrioshka dolls Cultural Heritage

Oriental Rugs n Oldest rug found in Siberia n Major manufacturing in Central Asia, Turkey and Caucasus Mountains. n Famous textiles in Asian Russia and the “Stans”

Oriental carpets Cultural Heritage A Turkman rug (Turkmenistan) Afghan rug (Afghanistan)

Samovars n Russian tea urn n Early ones made of brass or copper and heated by burning coal n Center of home —family heirloom -often the only item taken by refugees

Samovars Cultural Heritage

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky “Swan Lake” Igor Stravinsky – Violins “Violin Concerto” Bolshoi Theater, Moscow Russian Composers and Music Russian Guitar - Balalaika

Icons Religious Paintings †Representations of Christ, the Virgin Mary & the Saints †Play a major part in church life - they are kissed, and expected to heal, and work miracles.

Russian Icons From the Novosibirsk Art Gallery Cultural Landscape

Fabergé Eggs n Peter Carl Fabergé (FA-ber- zhay) – was a jeweler n Made Easter eggs for Russian czars (Alexander III, Nicholas II) n 50 original Faberge eggs – they are very expensive today revolution/videos/the-faberge-eggs

Fabergé Eggs Cultural Heritage

Examples of Cultural landscape

Russian (Eastern) Orthodox Church (Christianity) Split from the Roman Catholic Church

Russian Orthodox Churches The Orthodox Church has different rituals from a Catholic or Protestant Christian service. The congregation is separated from the priest by a door and the walls are covered with icons.

Red Square  Once served as a market place for the people of Moscow  500,000 square feet of open land  Place to gather to celebrate state events  Monument and tomb of Vladimir Lenin (since founder of the Soviet Union)

St. Basil’s Church Kremlin Red Square

The Kremlin “Walled City”or “Fortress”  Located in the Red Square in Moscow  triangular shaped (was once a fort)  political & administrative center  seat of the Russian government

Ordered to be built by Ivan the Terrible.  Legend says he blinded the architects so they would never build anything as beautiful again.  Located in Moscow ’s Red Square St. Basil’s Church

St. Basil’s Church Cultural Landscape Was built in and is composed of nine separate churches that share one foundation. There are no seats or pews-parishioners stand. The building stands outside the Kremlin wall, at one end of Red Square. ng-st-basils-cathedral#building-st- basils-cathedral

Mosques  Islamic house of worship  Found throughout Russia and Central Asia Minarets

Cultural Landscape The minaret is a traditional part of a mosque. It is generally used by the muezzin, who calls people to prayer by chanting from the top of the tower.

Yurt (Tent) n Used by nomadic peoples of Central Asia (Mongolia) n Portable n Not widely used anymore – mostly tourist attractions

Siberian Villages n Siberia stretches from Ural Mountains Eastward n Siberians either fish or herd reindeer n Built during construction of Trans-Siberian Railroad

Siberian villages

Cultural Landscape

Soviet-style Apartments n Ordered to be built by the communist government -more about quantity than quality n Family usually had only 1-2 rooms n Drafty, leaky plumbing

The Grand Tour Hmmm…not so nice…

Here is your bathroom, you share with the other people on your floor

Moscow Important Cities The capital and largest city in Russia.

St. Petersburg Important Cities St. Petersburg was the capital of Russia at one time. Named after Peter the Great. It is known as the “Venice of the North”. It is also referred to as Russia’s “Window to the West”.

The State Hermitage Museum (Winter Palace) The Winter Palace was built between 1754 and 1762 for Empress Elizabeth, the daughter of Peter the Great. It was the main residence of the Russian Tsars. Many visitors also know it as the main building of the Hermitage Museum. The green-and-white three- story palace is a marvel of Baroque architecture and boasts 1,786 doors, 1,945 windows and 1,057 elegantly and lavishly decorated halls and rooms, many of which are open to the public.

Novosibirsk Important Cities An important trade center along the Ob River and the Trans-Siberian Railroad.

Vladivostok In 1916 became connected to Moscow via the Trans-Siberian Railway. Located not far from Russia's borders with China and North Korea. Largest Russian port on the Pacific Ocean.

REVIEW! 1)Russia is located on which 2 continents? EUROPE & ASIA

REVIEW! 2.) What is chernozem? “BLACK EARTH”, VERY FERTILE SOIL

REVIEW! 3.) What 2 natural resources can be found below the Caspian Sea? OIL & NATURAL GAS

REVIEW! 4.) What is the longest river on the European continent? VOLGA RIVER

REVIEW! 5.)How could we describe the climate of Central Asia? MOSTLY ARID & SEMI-ARID