1. Russia & the Eurasian Republics
Chapter 11

2. Bell Ringer March 26, 2018 Page 311 – Map Lab
What is the elevation of the Ural Mountains? How does the elevation of the Steppes compare with the Ural Mountains?
Determine how density differs west and far east of the Urals. What physical features contributes to the population distribution?
About 2000 ft. / The steppes are lower
Plains and lower elevations contribute to the denser population distribution west of the Urals

3. Physical Geography of Russia & Central Asia
World’s largest country – 6000 miles east to west
Lies on two continents – Europe and Asia.
The Ural Mountains: dividing line between the two continents.
Steppes: Very Large Plains

4. Physical Geography
Natural Barriers: Oceans to the North; Mountains to the south
Russia & Central Asia isolated from each other
Half Russia: permafrost
Central Asia: Largely desert
Most Russians live west of the Ural Mts.

5. Climate & Vegetation Tundra: flat frozen land in artic in Siberia
Taiga: Forest area – valuable timber
Western Plains - farming

6. Natural Resources Oil, Natural Gas, Coal, Peat,
Hydroelectric Power from Rivers
Mineral Resources: Iron, Aluminum, Gold, Copper, etc.
Many resources in Siberia are hard to get.

7. “ “You Do” – Page 316-317 Exploring Siberian Lakes – Viewing Lab
Analyze Visuals, Interpret Models, Analyze Cause & Effect
How might Katey Anthony’s work in Siberia be applied to other places in the world?
List causes & effects of methane release using a chart. How does this contribute to global warming?
Researchers can use her work & findings to locate other places where methane gas is being released
Climate Change -> Permafrost thaws -> Increase in Methane
Increase in Methane -> Global Warming

8. Essential Question
How have size and extreme climates shaped Russia and the Eurasian Republics?
The Oceans & Mountains are natural barriers that have isolated Russia
People live in the western Part of Russia due to climate
Farming is concentrated in the western plains.

9. Bell Ringer Page 321 – Map Lab
Why did the main route on the Silk Road split between Kashgar and Dunhuang?
Why was Samarkand an important stop?
Split because of the desert
Samarkand was half way

10. History of Russia
Mostly Asian influence until Peter the Great : 1682 – 1725
Modernized Russia
St Petersburg -> more Western European
Catherine the Great:
Focused on Art & Education – European Ideas –
Women’s Education

11. Scorched Earth Policy Napoleon Invades Russia:
Russian Troops retreat, burning everything in their path
Napoleon has nowhere to “Winter” his soldiers
Over 400,000 French soldiers died
Hitler Invades Russia:
Scorched Earth Policy kills over 295,000 Nazis.

12. Industrialization to Russian Revolution
Industrial Revolution: 1890s
Workers very poor
Peasant farmers starving
Worker Strikes -> political unrest
Lenin: Bolsheviks – Russian Revolution 1917

13. The Soviet Union
Communism: single political party controls the government & economy
Socialism: government controls economic resources
Bolsheviks ended private ownership of land and resources
Established a “Classless” society. No rich or poor.
1927 – 1953 –> Josef Stalin
USSR is isolated
Cold War with U.S.
Did not work – Standard of living low

14. Essential Question What factors have influenced the Region’s history?
Russia adopted European ideas under Peter the Great & Catherine
Peasants & industrial workers - Communist rule

15. Bell Ringer March 22, 2017 Page 335 – Photo Lab
Why might the “YURT” being movable be important for nomadic herders in Central Asia?
In what way does the women’s clothing reflect the climate in each region?
In what ways has climate influenced traditional culture in Siberia, Central Asia, & the Steppes?
Because nomadic people move often
Cold –> Furs, Dry –> a dress & scarf, Moderate –> clothes for the field
Climate determines what animals can survive in each area & human lives are based on that. In the Steppes –> people farm

16. Trans-Siberian Railroad
World’s Longest continuous railroad – 6,000 miles
Links Moscow with Eastern Russia
1891 – 1916
Transformed Siberia -> New Cities
Steam engines -> Now Electric

17. Collapse of the Soviet Union
1970s & 1980s -> Economy failed
Eurasian Republics claimed their independence
Mikhail Gorbachev – introduced reforms
Perestroika: Restructuring - > less gov’t control
Glasnost: Openness -> led to protest> ultimate collapse

18. Russia Today Large gap between rich & poor Higher prices Unemployment
Organized Crime
Western Siberia->booming

19. Essential Question
How have Russia & the Eurasian Republics dealt with recent political, economic, and environmental change?
Reformed gov’t and economy.
Oil & natural gas are greatest sources of wealth
Western Siberia is booming
New gas pipelines

20. You Do – Page 343
Which officials in Russia’s Executive Branch serve a role similar to Cabinet Members in the U.S. Government?
In what way is the Legislative Branch in Russia similar to the U.S.? How is it different?
Is the government in Russia more or less democratic than the U.S.?
Gov’t ministers
Both have two houses. Russia – only one house is elected
Russia is less democratic because fewer officials are directly elected. Gov’t controls elections.

21. Bell Ringer March 28, 2018 Page 347 – Reading Lab
What damage did the Chernobyl disaster cause to the environment?
How will it continue to affect people in Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia?
It contaminated agriculture, forest land, rivers, and lakes
Contamination remains in the soil and water. People’s health will continue to suffer.

22. Chapter Review
The Ural Mountains are a natural barrier & divider of what?
Northern European Plain from West Siberian Plain
Agriculture and grazing are found in what landform in Russia?
The Steppes
High latitudes & arctic winds cause what in Russia?
Cold Climate

23. Permafrost in Siberia keeps Russia from obtaining what?
Oil and Minerals
What is coming from Siberia’s lakes that can contribute to Global Warming?
Methane
Livestock grazing is compatible with the arid climate in what part of this region?
Central Asia

24. The Scorched Earth policy was used against what French Emperor?
Napoleon
When one political party controls both the government and the economy
Communism
What did Mikhail Gorbachev try to do for Soviet Union?
Reform its economy & gov’t

25. Where is Tundra found?
Arctic and Subarctic regions
Hitler made the same mistake as Napoleon by doing what?
Invading Russia in the Winter
What years did Josef Stalin rule over The Soviet Union?

26. What happened to the Soviet Union in 1991?
Communism collapsed
What do nomads do to find food?
They move from one place to another
What helps the world by linking Asia to Europe?
Trans Siberian Railroad

27. The Republics of the Soviet Union wanting independence contributed to what?
The Collapse of the Soviet Union
Who wanted to reduce government control over the Soviet economy?
Mikhail Gorbachev
The United States Congress is most like Russia’s what?
Federal Assembly

28. Pipelines are transporting oil from what large body of water in Russia?
The Caspian Sea
A nuclear reactor exploded in what former Soviet Republic?
Chernobyl, Ukraine

29. A Russian word meaning “Restructuring”
Perestroika
Gorbachev allowed people to speak freely –
Glasnost
Russian ruler for hundreds of years
Czar

30. Eastern Europe competing for influence against the Western nations without actually fighting
Cold War
This forest stretches about 4000 miles across Russia
Taiga