Russia and the Western Republics Ch. 16-1

A History of Expansionism The Russian state began in the region between the Baltic and Black Seas. Today this area is made up of these countries: Belarus, Moldova, Ukraine and the Baltic Republics -Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania

Orange-Varangian Trade Routes Orange-Varangian Trade Routes Red-Volga Trade Route Purple-Trade Route from the Varangians to the Greeks

Birth of an Empire Vikings established settlement near Kiev. Settlement expanded and flourished, adopted Slavic customs from locals

1200s-Mongols invaded, halted Russian growth Mongols controlled region until late 1400s

Genghis Khan

Extent of Mongol Empire in 13th Century

Ivan the Great ends Mongol rule Russia expands again By 1700s, empire extends to Pacific Ocean

Russia Lags Behind Western Europe Science and technology inferior to European rivals Peter the Great (czar-emperor) sought to change this Lived 1672 – 1725, ruled from 1682 and solely from 1696

Action: Moved capital from Moscow to St. Petersburg Russians called it the “window to the west”

Peter made impressive strides, but the empire couldn’t keep up with Western European countries When Russia industrialized, it led to poor working conditions and low wages

The Rise and the Fall of the Soviet Union WWI-(1914-1918)-Russian Revolution-people’s anger exploded into a revolt that ended the rule of the czars. Communist Party, led by Vladimir Lenin, took control of government and economy.

WWII-(1939-1945) Joseph Stalin leads USSR. 1922, Communist Party organizes the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics or USSR WWII-(1939-1945) Joseph Stalin leads USSR. Lenin died in 1924 of failing health related to assassination attempts and multiple strokes Lenin lived, Lenin is alive, Lenin will live

Иосиф Виссарионович Сталин WWII-USSR and US fight together against Nazi Germany. As war ends, relations are strained between the countries. Stalin creates pro-Soviet govts in Eastern European countries

Soviets and Americans end World War II

US fears that Stalin will spread communism all over the world. The ensuing conflict is called the Cold War The war never grew into an open conflict

1980s-Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev gave Soviet people more economic and political freedom Leads to the fall of the Soviet Union finally in 1991.