1. Russia and the Former Soviet Republics:
An Introduction
Overview & Objectives
Geographic locations
Major religious groups
Historical context of Russia from the Kievan Rus through the time of Peter the Great
How events of the 19th century & WWI contributed to the October Revolution
Economic and political impacts of World War II and the Cold War on Russia
Effects of the fall of communism

2. Current Russia Cold War USSR Current Russia Baltic Sea
Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan (ker gi stan)
Baltic States: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania
Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova
Russia
Baltic Sea
Black Sea
Caspian Sea
Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan

3. Geography Russia: Largest landmass of any country Landscapes: Tundra
11 time zones
Compare: US?
Landscapes:
Tundra
Taiga
Steppes
The 140 million people of Russia represent more than 100 ethnic groups

4. Major Religious Groups
Soviet Union was officially “atheistic”
Still, 1/3 claimed faith in some religion
At end of 18th century, Russia had largest Jewish population in world
After WWII, Jewish population dwindled
After fall of Communism (1991), Russian
Orthodox Church rebounded most
Other Orthodox Churches & millions of Catholics
1996 Muslims -19% all Russians who practice a religion (Sunni)
Concentrated minority b/w Black & Caspian Seas (map)

5. Historical Context of Russia: Kievan Rus
Scandinavian warriors/merchants settled around Kiev (present day Ukraine) in 962
Established “Kievan Rus”
Became modern Russia
Prince Vladimir – brought in Orthodox Christianity & Byzantine culture (Greek/Roman)
Cathedral in Ukraine
Architecture, law
Translated literature –so didn’t connect with Greek culture
Led to an important theme: Cultural isolation

6. Historical Context of Russia: Kievan Rus through Peter the Great
Kiev Rus suffered Mongol invasions in 12th Century led by Batu Kahn (map)
“Kahn” – Sovereign military ruler
Grandson of great Genghis Kahn
Invasions of Kiev gave nearby Moscow
an opportunity to gain importance
Moscow was center of Muscovy principality
“Principality” – a territory ruled by a prince)

7. Historical Context of Russia: Kievan Rus through Peter the Great
As Muscovy got more powerful,
Prince Ivan III began using title of “czar” (or “tzar”)
Russian form of Roman Imperial title:
“Caesar”
Meant : “Ruler of all Rus”
Survived in German emperor title:
“Kaiser”
By end of his reign, Muscovy had tripled in size!

8. Historical Context of Russia: Peter the Great
Assumed title of emperor & czar
1721 Muscovy officially became
Russian Empire
Reorganized army, streamlined govt,
Put money & people to work
Tripled revenue with many taxes
Westernization wasn’t as successful because he did things by force

9. Events of 19th Century & WWI Leading to October Revolution
WWI - Russia suffered several defeats
High food prices/shortages led to strikes
Czar Nicholas II abdicated in1917
October Revolution
Groups of workers’ councils called
“Soviets” formed to protect workers’ rights
Felt they should govern Russia
One Soviet (Bolsheviks) - radical group led by
Vladimir Lenin seized power
Bloody civil war – murdered czar & family
Wanted Socialism
Where govt owns everything (land, business, etc.)
Democratic decisions vs communism (force)

10. Economic / Political Impacts of WWII & Cold War
Socialists tried to centralize economy using theories of “Marxim”
Karl Marx - Founder of Communism & Socialism

11. Economic / Political Impacts of WWII & Cold War
After Vladimir Lenin’s death, Joseph Stalin
became sole leader of “Soviet Union” (1924)
State took control of all factories & farms
Millions of peasants starved to death, killed resisters
Went from backward agricultural state to powerful
industrial state
1930s - began purge of communist party
Campaign of terror – millions killed
Stalin died in 1953, but he created a system of repression
WWII had ravaged the Soviet Union

12. Russia and the Former Soviet Republics:
An Introduction
Overview & Objectives
Geographic locations
Major religious groups
Historical context of Russia from the Kievan Rus through the time of Peter the Great
How events of the 19th century & WWI contributed to the October Revolution
Economic and political impacts of World War II and the Cold War on Russia
Effects of the fall of communism

13. Current Russia Cold War USSR Current Russia Baltic Sea
Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan (ker gi stan)
Baltic States: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania
Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova
Russia
Baltic Sea
Black Sea
Caspian Sea
Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan

14. Economic/Political Impacts of WW II & Cold War
Nikita Krushchev emerged as Stalin’s
successor ( )
Beginnings of Cold War
More tolerant
Brought about a relative liberalization in Soviet life
Removed by Politburo for failed politics/economics 
Politburo – Soviet Chief executive committee

15. Economic/Political Impacts of WW II & Cold War
Leonid Brezhnev ( ) – more authoritarian & less liberal, but stable
Through much of Cold War w/ U.S.
Died in 1982

16. Effects of the Fall of Communism
Mikhail Gorbachev promoted “new thinking”
Glasnost - open public discussion of probs
Perestroika – restructuring of economy
Successful?
Economic reforms failed & Soviet economy collapsed!
Gorbachev was last general secretary of
Soviet Communist Party
1991 Boris Yeltsin became Russia’s 1st democratically elected president
The Soviet Union ceased to exist

17. Effects of the Fall of Communism
Russia went through immense stress during 1990s
Moved from centrally controlled economy to free-market system
1999 Yeltsin resigned, turned power over to his prime minister, Vladimir Putin
Putin served 2 terms as president, then became prime minister
Began fostering new relationship w/ U.S.
Current President?
Putin no limit on # terms, just no more than 2 consecutive terms