1. RUSSIA official name: Russian Federation

2. Russian Revolution/The Last Tsar Assasinated 1917 Economic Readjustment 1848 Karl Marx Communist Manifesto Romanov dynasty begins - 1613 1945 - 1991

3. Economy Since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991… Russia has tried to develop a Free Market economy. Poverty and famine are still issues. Corruption & crime has spread rapidly. Moscow International Business Center

4. People Majority live in W. part 120 Ethnic groups; majority ethnic Russians Language: Russian (mostly) Religion: Mostly Christian, large # of Russians claim no religion (atheist) 75% urban: Apartments Healthcare & education: free

5. Culture Emphases on GROUP over individual, friendships important. Culture influenced by Europe, until the communist takeover in 1918. Then - communist ideology. Rich cultural tradition – museums devoted to art, literature, music, dance, history, & science, 100’s of churches dozens of notable cathedrals.

6. 1100: 7 million 1796: 36 million 1850: 37 million 1897: 125 million 1917: 170 million Today: 142 million

7. Political 1547-1917: Absolute Monarchy 1917-1991: Communist Government 1991-Present: Democracy

8. Political 1993 constitution: Democratic, federative, law-based state with a republican form of government. Power divided among: legislative, executive, & judicial branches. Diversity of ideologies & religions sanctioned (approved). Multiparty political system upheld.

9. The Kremlin & Red Square Red Square, Moscow The name Red Square has nothing to do with communism, rather red means “Beautiful” red has always been an important symbolic color for Russians.

10. Land and Climate Russia is the largest country in the world. (U.S. x 2) Climate varies. Winters in West last from November to March. Siberia = 9 months of winter Russia consists of plains, dense forests, and tundra. Ural Mts: divide European regions from Asian regions.

11. CHERNOBYL: How Did This Happen? A reactor overheated during a test of the reactors power supply. (4/26/86) Winds carried the radioactive material into northern and central Europe. Soviet leaders concealed this for two days, and refused outside help. Health problems for people and their unborn children continue in this area even today.

12. Kalingrad: Ice Free Port Russia took from Germany after WWII. Railroads connect Kaliningrad to Russia though Lithuania and Belarus but importing food from Russia is not cost effective. However, Kaliningrad is surrounded by European Union- member states, so trade on the wider market is indeed possible

13. The Shrinking Aral Sea 1960’s: Soviet Union diverted two rivers that fed the Aral Sea into the desert as irrigation for farming. Continues to shrink at an alarming rate.