Cultural geography of russia Sswg2

Russia & the western republics

A history of expansion Russia’s rapid expansion had lasting effects on nearby lands & people Belarus, Moldova, Ukraine, Baltic Republics (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania) Formed between Baltic & Black seas Settled by Vikings b/c of river trade 13th century: Mongolian invaders halt growth 1500: Ivan the Great expands to east By 1700s, extended to Pacific Ocean More people = more religions = more cultures

Russia lags behind Western Europe Territorial Growth = rapid Progress in other ways = science & technology = lags behind Peter the Great = Czar = tried to change this Moved Russia’s capital from Moscow to St. Petersburg Direct access to Baltic Sea = “window to the “West” Late to industrialize Harsh working conditions, low wages

The rise & fall of Soviet Union Russian Revolution – 1917; people angry at czars revolt & communist Lenin came to power Formation of USSR (1922) – capital moved back to Moscow Stalin leading Russia (1939) = conflict with rest of world 1940s = Cold War Begins; Fear of spreading communism 1980s = Gorbachev gives Soviet people more freedoms leading to collapse of communism/USSR & end of Cold War USSR divided into 15 republics

A rich culture Variety of ethnic groups b/c of rapid expansion Russians mostly Orthodox Christianity Buddhism, Islam, Judaism Many Jews have fled b.c of persecution Russian architecture = elaborate churches, onion shaped domes

Art & culture 18th & 19th Century art portrays czarist Russia Emergence of Russian ballet Moscow & St. Petersburg resemble cities in West - clothing, art, magazines, movies, music