1. History Culture Issues Economy
Russia
History
Culture
Issues
Economy

2. History Slavs were the main group to settle in Russia
Scandinavian traders settle in Kiev (800 C.E.) they are known as Rus (ROOS)
Word Russian comes from this
Christianity (Eastern Orthodox) spread through region early on
Mongols take over in 1200’s
1547 Ivan IV wins control
Crowns himself czar, or tsar. (comes from Latin word meaning “emperor”)

3. Kremlin: example of early forts found in Russia

4. History
Ivan the Terrible and Peter the Great both left notable marks in history that would forever change Russia
Czar’s would stay in power until the early 20th century

5. History Russia starts to industrialize in the late 1800’s Largely poor
Serfs: work for lords, gain freedom in 1860’s
Poverty doesn’t end
Food shortages
WWI ends the reign
Bolsheviks overthrow czar
Russian Revolution
Nicholas II
Vladimir Lenin

6. Infamous Leaders of Soviet Union

7. Soviet life
Communism would give power to worker elected governing bodies known as “soviets”
Soviet Union
Harsh conditions
Ends in 1991

9. Culture Diversity: Russia has over 60 ethnic groups
85% speak Slavic languages
25% of Russia lies in Europe, yet 80% of its total population lives here
Eastern Orthodox Christianity main religion

10. Economy Moscow is Russia’s most important economic region
Move from heavy to light industry
Oil, copper, and coal - smelting
Lumber – Siberia

11. Current Issues Economic disparities growing
Moving business form government to private hands
Organized crime
Lack of modern infrastructure
Corruption
Environmental disasters

12. History Culture Region Today
Central Asia
History
Culture
Region Today

13. Central Asia, is Very Nice! You Like?

14. History Key area along the Silk Road
Turkic kingdoms first to settle area
Power changes over many centuries
Mongols, Persians, Chinese
Europeans begin to sail, Silk Road no longer used
isolation
Czars of Russia conquer and colonize area
Create infrastructure
Migration into area
Cotton “monoculture”
1991 independance

15. Silk Road

16. Culture Area sometimes called Turkistan Nomad roots – live in Yurts
“stan” means place or land
Nomad roots – live in Yurts
Turkic language mainly spoken
Persian and Russian
Mix of Islam and Christian Orthodox
Relatively high literacy rates
Agrarian economy

17. Yurts
Kazak Nomads

18. Culture
The Uzbek Doppa is more Turkic. While the sheepskin Turkmen hat has Mongol roots

19. Current Issues Isolation from others, lack of trade
Kyrgyzstan political coup
Poverty
Many natural resources but lack of capital to get to them
Pollution
Change from command to market economy
Radiation