Introduction to Northern Eurasia

Northern Eurasia is made up of those countries that were once part of the Soviet Union

Areal names of the Former Soviet Union Czarist (Tsarist) Russia/ImperialRussia/Russian Empire Soviet Union or USSR Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Russia and the Near Abroad Regions-European Russia, Asiatic Russia, Transcaucasus, Siberia, The Baltic States, Central Asia Czarist (Tsarist) Russia/Imperial Russia/Russian Empire -Under czars grew from nation into Empire -Czars had demand for wealth, territory, and power; they sent armies across plains of Siberia through deserts of Asia and into Mountains along Russia’s rim   Soviet Union or USSR -Union of Soviet Socialist Republic Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) -Association of 12 former soviet republics (includes Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan) -cooperate on an equal basis in foreign military and economic policy Russia and the Near Abroad

Regions European Russia Central Asian Republics Caucasus Siberia Baltic States Belarus, Moldova, Ukraine European Russia -Northern European plain rolls low and flat from the Carpathian Mountains in Ukraine and Romania to the Ural Mountains -Ural Mountains traditionally considered part of unclear border between Europe and Asia -most densely populated area of region and is its industrial and agricultural core -Volga River is its important river which flows to the Caspian Sea   Central Asian Republics -Area from Caspian Sea to Central China, from southern Russia in North to Afghanistan in South -The Stan States Caucasus/Caucasian republics -Mountainous area between the Black and Caspian Sea -once the southernmost part of the Soviet Union -50 ethnic groups competing for space, influence and independence -includes Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia Siberia -extends eastward from Ural Mountains to watershed between the Pacific and Arctic drainage basin -Southward from the Arctic Ocean to North Central Kazakhstan The Baltic States, -Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania Belarus/Moldova/Ukraine -Belarus known as White Russia (Translated) -Areas of Moldova were called Bessarabia

General Pattern of Landforms Plains in the West Mountains and highlands in the East Varies to the South The Ural and Caucasus Mountains form a natural boundary between Europe and Asia Plains to the West Mountains and highlands to the East Varies to the South

Major Physical Attributes: Large size Large size -Russia is the largest country in the world; 2x larger then second largest (Canada) -bears some resemblance to North America in size, topography, climate, and vegetation  

Major Physical Attributes: Northern Location Northern Location -Western Siberian plain (east of Urals) is largest plain in the world -long bitter winters-layer of permafrost

Major Physical Attributes: Restricted access to world’s seas Restricted access to world’s seas -Thus Kaliningrad is important

Major Physical Attributes: Several large lakes and inland seas Several large lakes and inland seas -Aral Sea -Lake Baikal

Climate Harsh in the north and in Siberia Humid continental in Europe Arid/semiarid in Central Asia Harsh in the north and in Siberia Humid continental in Europe Arid/semiarid in Central Asia  Factors that affect climate of the region: high latitude, large size, continentiality, mountains in southeast

Four broad vegetation zones Tundra Forest/taiga Grassland Desert Taiga is the forested area of Siberia

The physical geography of N. Eurasia has influenced its history Western border links to Western ideas (language, culture, religion) Huge border is difficult to protect. Large land area and climate make it difficult to conquer Many different ethnic groups widely dispersed Large area is difficult to administer Desire to gain and protect warm water ports Vast natural resources, but difficult to exploit.

Many ethnic groups with different languages and religions

The core area and most of the population is located in the west--the European part of N. Eurasia

Period of Communist control lasted from 1917 to 1991 1917 Revolution: to overthrow Czar Nicholas II led by the Bolsheviks Vladimir Lenin 917 Revolution: -revolution to overthrow Czar Nicholas II led by the Bolsheviks who were inspired by the principle of Communism as explained by Karl Marx -Marx idea that Europe flawed because of domination of capitalism. (Wrote communist manifesto)  Vladimir Lenin: said that former soviet Russian Empire needed transition period to realize ideals of communism  

Many challenges are being faced as this realm transitions away from communism. Economic problems--high unemployment, poor economic decisions, inefficient and outdated industries Social problems--ethnic clashes, loss of communist safety net, organized crime

Environmental degradation is one legacy of communism Aral Sea at 60% capacity Toxic waste Industrial pollution

Environmental degradation is one legacy of communism Aral Sea at 60% capacity

Environmental degradation is one legacy of communism Aral Sea at 10% capacity

Environmental degradation is one legacy of communism Aral Sea

Environmental degradation is one legacy of communism

Environmental degradation is one legacy of communism

Environmental degradation is one legacy of communism Toxic waste Sign warns of a radioactive river.

Environmental degradation is one legacy of communism Industrial pollution

Contributions from this realm; Peter Tchaikovski Dostoyevsky Leo Tolstoy Mikhail Baryshnikov Marc Chagall Dmitry Mendeleyev Igor Stravinsky Ivan Pavlov Sergei Prokofiev Yuri Gagarian