1. Francisci WG.4

2. Russia and Central Asia are made up of diverse ethnic groups, customs and traditions. Some heritage groups include: Slavic: Indo-European group from Scandinavia that lives in Central Asia Turkic: People from Southeastern Europe Mongol: People of Central Asia from Mongolia

3. Language: Russian (also spoken in Kazakhstan) Major Religion: Russian Orthodox God revealed himself in Jesus Christ. Jesus was crucified and rose from the dead. It is common for the congregation to remain standing during the mass. Churches are typically topped by golden domes. Avoid electric lighting and use candles, creating an otherworldly feel.

4. The Soviet Union and the U.S. engaged in a dangerous war of words and arms build up (1945 to 1991). It was a dangerous time because both countries had developed nuclear weapons. Cuban Missile Crisis (1962): 13- day stand-off between the U.S. and the Soviet Union concerning Soviet missiles deployment in Cuba. President Kennedy and Russian Premier Khrushchev worked out a compromise: Russia would remove its missiles from Cuba if the U.S. would promise not to invade Cuba.

5. Russian Ballet: A style of ballet that developed in Russia in the 1900s and eventually made its way to the western world Matryoskha Dolls: Russian nesting doll; refers to a set of wooden dolls of decreasing size placed one inside the other

6. Oriental carpets from Asia. Samovars: Devices traditionally used to heat and boil water for tea.

7. Traditional Folk Music Icons – religious images in Eastern Orthodox Christianity

8. Faberge Eggs: Jeweled eggs created by Peter Carl Faberge from 1885-1917 Only 50 were made; 43 still left

9. Russian Orthodox Churches with golden domes Red Square: city plaza in Moscow, Russia Houses St. Basil’s Cathedral and mausoleum for Vladimir Lenin

10. Mosques and minarets Soviet-style apartment blocks: Created from 1900 to 1950s Communal Communist apartments Two to seven families shared an apartment

11. Kremlin: a major fortified central complex found in Moscow Houses Russian President Vladimir Putin Siberian Villages