Main Ideas regarding Russia Absence of warm water ports, Diverse ethnic groups Russian Empire 1500’s, Westernization 1700’s Communist Rule – Command economy Economic collapse ends Soviet Union (USSR) 1991 Difficult move to democracy and a market economy.

Siberia Vast land east of the Ural Mts. Spans 77% of Russia’s land area, but only 30% of its population Home to most of Russia’s natural resources

Lake Baikal Deepest lake in the world World’s oldest and deepest lake (one mile deep

History and Modern Russia

The Russian Empire dates to the 1500’s when Ivan the Terrible conquered the lands around Moscow and much of present day Russia.

In the 1700’s, Peter the Great wanted to move Russia closer to the West and become more European and industrialized. He built a new capital on the Baltic and named it St. Petersburg. The Winter Palace The Kremlin

The Russian peasants, or serfs, lived a poor, miserable life while the nobility lived a life of luxury.

The last of the Russian Czars (emperor) was Nicholas II. His disastrous entry into WWI cost millions of Russian lives. He was overthrown by the Russian Revolution, after which the communists came to power. What happened to the royal family, particularly daughter Anastasia?

The founder and first leader of the Soviet Union was Vladimir Lenin. The goal of Soviet Communism was to “make everyone equal.” The government would provide your needs.

The symbol of the Soviet Union was the hammer and sickle, representing the factory workers and the farmers.

He was followed by Joseph Stalin (who eventually killed more people than Hitler) who ruled until Stalin was the architect of the Soviet Cold War.

The Cold War was a competition between the USA and USSR in economics, space, military and world dominance.

Legacies of the command system were the government controlled Five Year Plans. The government determined what factories made and what farmers grew.

With the impending collapse of the Soviet Communist economy, the Soviets eased their grip on Eastern Europe and reached out to the West.

The Soviet Union After Soviet Union collapsed, it was replaced by 15 countries, including the Russian Federation.

The last leader of the Soviet Union Russia today is a “democracy” with an elected president.

While every country in eastern Europe prospered with the fall of communism and a switch to a market economy, the Russian economy actually got worse. WHY? Organized crime and official corruption.

Today, globalization has reached Russia. It has changed the cultural landscape. Traditional borsch.

The first McDonalds opened in the Soviet Union in the 1980’s. It changed the way Russians did business. Thousands of Russians stood in long lines to spend a day’s pay for a Big Mac and a Coke.

Changes in Russian culture today.

Under the Soviet communists, women’s rights were guaranteed, but opportunities for all Russians were limited. Under a free market economy, many Russian women used their athletic skills to build fortunes in the West.

One of Russia’s most famous cultural icons is its “onion dome” architecture. What would be the geographic reason for this particular design?

Russia is one of the largest producers of oil and natural gas in the world. How has geography hindered Russia’s efforts to sell their resources?

Vast resources in Siberia, but…..

Trouble with Resources… Problem: Rugged terrain, harsh climate, and poor infrastructure makes it difficult for Russia to extract & transport resources

Continentality The further from the ocean, the more extreme temperature changes. Where are some of the coldest areas in the USA in relation to the ocean?

The USA and Russia often find themselves at odds worldwide issues. What does the future hold for Russia? Vladimir Putin is in his third term as president of the Russian Federation.