1. THE RISE OF RUSSIA With information from Susan Pojers and Mrs. Hoff

2. Russia Today:

3. Soviet Union Compared to US

4. Russia’s Time Zones

5. Topography of Russia

6. Geographical Features:  Steppe – large grassy, nearly treeless grassy plain, rich farmland  Ural Mountains – considered divider between Asia & Europe  Several large rivers, Vistula, Neman, & Dvina, flow to the Baltic (north)  Dniester & Dnieper flow into Black Sea

7. 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. Siberia

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

9. Early Russia

10. Slavs & Vikings:  Slavs overrun by many other peoples – open plain no natural barriers  Vikings invade from Scandinavia in A.D. 800’s – originally as traders  Trading centers (cities) spring up along trade routes  Major cities were Novgorod (in the north), Kiev (in the south)

13. Kievan Russia  Rus, lead by Rurik capture Novgorod & Kiev  Kiev became prosperous because of location on trade routes

14. Government  Each city ruled by a Prince & council of Boyars  First Russian law code – Pravda Russkaia

15. Religion  Vladimir I – Converts to Eastern Orthodox Christianity

16. Early Byzantine Influences: Orthodox Christianity

18. Early Byzantine Influences: Cyrillic Alphabet

19. Novgorod

22. Economy  Agriculture & trade most important  Great forests north of Steppe called the Taiga for lumber and other natural resources.

23. Battle on the Ice (Neva River) Against the Swedes Teutonic Knight Alexander Nevsky: 1220 - 1263

24. The Mongols Invade Russia

25. Mrs. Hoff Invades Russia!

30. Issues for Russia Today:

31. Issues for Russia Today