1. Russia
Unit 5

2. Cultural Geography of Russia
Ch. 15
Cultural Geography of Russia

3. Ethnic Diversity
Although 80% of Russians are ethnic Russians, the country is home to more than 100 ethnic groups

5. Ethnic Diversity Ethnic Regions
An ethnically diverse country, most people in Russia are ethnic Russians living in European Russia.
Many non-Russians have formed independent countries (32) or seek autonomy since the breakup of the Soviet Union, which had replaced centuries of czarist rule

7. Ethnic Diversity The Slavs
ethnic Russians are part of the larger ethnic group of Slavs
Poles, Ukrainians, & other E. Europeans are also Slavs
Most practice Eastern Orthodox Christianity

8. Ethnic Diversity Turkic Peoples
Live mostly in the Caucasus Mountains, Siberia, & in the middle Volga area
Russia’s 2nd largest ethnic group
Most are Muslim
Ethnicity is based on language
Tartars are the largest group
Live in Tartars tan

9. Ethnic Diversity Caucasian Peoples
Live in the Caucasus are of SE Russia
Mainly Muslim
Similar languages and traditions
Push for self-rule is a popular movement right now

12. Population Density & Distribution
Population & the Environment
Most of the population is concentrated west of the Ural Mountains
while parts of Siberia have a population of less than 1 person per square mile.
Population Trends
During the Soviet era many ethnic Russians left their homes to resettle in non-Russian Republics
The population of Russia began declining after the Soviet breakup because of inadequate health care

16. Early People & States
The land now called Russia had its origins in the 600’s A.D.
Slavic farmers & hunters settled near the waterways of the N. European Plain
Eastern Slavs –the ancestors of modern Russians, Ukrainians, & Belarusians- settled along the Dnieper & Volga Rivers

17. Kievan Rus
Slavs settled near the waterways of the North European Plain by A.D. 600.
Scandinavian Varangians settled among the E. Slavs during the 800s
Organized communities into loose union called Kievan Rus
Ruled by princes of the leading city state Kiev
Mongol invaders occupied E. Slavic lands for over 200 years

19. The Rise of Russia
Muscovites ended 200 years of Mongol control in the 1400s and began to expand their control over the area that became known as Russia
1533-Ivan IV becomes 1st crowned Czar of Russia
Ivan IV crushes opponents and expands borders
After Ivan IV’s death the country faced foreign invasion & social upheaval

20. Ivan IV "the Terrible"

21. Romanov Czars
Under Czarist rule, over the next five centuries Russia continued to expand its borders into Siberia in the east and toward the Black Sea in the south
Peter the Great
In the late 1600s, Peter the Great wanted to modernize Russia
Enlarged territory, built strong military, traded w/ Europe
St. Petersburg
Catherine the Great
Expanded borders
Gap between serfs & Europeanized Nobles

23. Russian Revolution 1800s Communist Russia Serfs emancipated in 1861
Growing discontent with Czarist Russia's strict governmental controls and social and economic inequalities finally culminated in the Russian Revolution in 1917
Communist Russia
Many Russians wanted to establish a classless society
Based on Marx’s workers’ revolution
1917- during WWI upset Russians overthrew Nicholas II

25. SERFS

27. The Soviet Era
The Bolsheviks (Soviets) promised, “Peace, Love, & Bread”
Seized power under V.I. Lenin November 1917
1922-est. the Soviet Union, with Moscow as the capital
Stalin set out to make the Soviet Union a strong industrial power by controlling the economy
Eliminated all forms of dissent
Millions of Russians were killed or died from hunger/brutal conditions in labor camps (gulags)

29. Superpower During WWII the German army invaded USSR. Cold War
Soviet military forces & civilians defeated them (27,000,000 died)
By 1949 most of E. Europe was under Soviet control
Cold War
1940s-1980s- USSR & US were engaged in a Cold War
Struggle between capitalist west & communism

32. The Soviet Breakup
1985- Gorbachev reforms aimed at strengthening economy
Failed to save the Soviet Union
1989- the overthrow of communist rulers in Eastern Europe and a weakening economy led to the collapse of Soviet control
Nationalists in the non-Russian Baltic Republics declared independence eventually leading to the breakup of the Soviet Union and the new Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in 1991

33. WHAT NOW!?

34. New Russia Market Economy Separatist Movements
After transforming from a command economy to a market economy, the Russian economy is slowly improving
Separatist Movements
Russia today is threatened by separatist movements and ethnic conflict.

36. Religion in Russia Christianity in Russia Islam Judaism Buddhism
The Eastern Orthodox Church, Russia's dominant church until it was banned during the Soviet era of atheism, is enjoying a resurgence
Some Roman Catholic & Protestant groups
Islam
2nd largest
Most live in S. Russia
Judaism
Jewish population has faced criticism
pogroms
Jewish religious life survives despite emigration
Buddhism
Most live in 2 areas Kalmykia, near the Caspian Sea, & Buryatia, near Lake Baikal

37. Eastern Orthodoxy

38. Russian Jewish Discrimination

39. Islam in Russia

41. Education
During the Soviet era, mandatory education was focused on technology
Today curriculums are more objective
school budget limits and a lack of regard for education still pose problems
Young people focus on earning money rather than education

43. Health Care
The health care system also is lacking because of government inefficiency in running clinics and hospitals and low pay for doctors and nurses

45. The Arts
Russia’s artistic golden age began during the late 1800s & lasted well into the 1900s.The arts which enjoyed a long tradition were severely limited under Soviet rule, & are making a strong comeback
Marc Chagall- painter
Pyotr Tchaikovsky- composer

47. The Arts Russian Literary giants:
Leo Tolstoy
Dostoevsky
Anton Chekov
Alexander Pushkin
Russian Opera is based on Russian literary masterpieces

48. The Arts Culture & the Soviets Post Soviet Arts
All art must glorify communism
Artists who defied censorship were punished & works were banned
Post Soviet Arts
In the mid 1980s the Soviet control loosened and a renewed spirit in art sparked

50. Life & Leisure Daily life is hard in Russia Holidays
Some are becoming prosperous
Many live in crowded apartments
Many cannot afford prices charged for certain goods
People enjoy professional sports, playing chess, and attending concerts, ballet, & theater
Holidays
May Day- Soviet holiday
Since the fall of the Soviet Union traditional religious holidays

52. THE END