1. The Cultural Geography of Russia
Unit 5 – Chapter 15
The Cultural Geography of Russia

2. I. Section I
Population Patterns

3. A. Russia’s Ethnic Diversity
Over a 100 different ethnic groups!
Ethnic Regions
Over the centuries, Russia took over much of the land in Asia and Europe and took over many different ethnic groups

4. Ethnic Groups (con’t) The Slavs Largest ethnic group
Ethnic Russians are part of this group
This group also includes: Poles, Serbs, Ukrainians, etc.
Slavs have dominated Russia’s culture
Russian is the country’s official language

5. Ethnic Groups (con’t)
Turkish Peoples
2nd largest group
Mainly Muslims

6. Ethnic Groups (con’t) Caucasian Peoples
Live in Caucasus region of SE Russia

7. B. Population Density & Distribution
Population & Environment
Average Population Density is 22 people per sq. mile
(U.S. is 78 per sq. mi.)
Most people actually live in the area between the Belarus and Ukraine borders and the Ural Mtns.
120 people per sq. mi. here
Major industrial city is Moscow

8. Population crisis Poor healthcare movement out of Russia
Population Trends
Population crisis
Poor healthcare
movement out of Russia

9. II. Section II
History & Government

10. A. Early People and States
Roots go back to A.D. 600s – Slavs
Kievan Rus
City-States
In the early 1200s, the Mongol invaders conquered this region & then held control for more than 200 years

11. Early People and States (con’t)
The Rise of Russia
By the late 1400s, the Slavs drove out the Mongols
Prince Ivan III – Ivan the Great
In 1533, Ivan the Great’s grandson was crowned the 1st czar – supreme ruler
He was called Ivan the Terrible
By 1650 many peasants had become serfs or slaves
Ivan the Terrible
Ivan the Great

12. B. Romanov Czars
While Russia struggled with their harsh rule, W. Europe left them behind (especially in areas of science & technology)
In the late 1600s, Czar Peter I (Peter the Great) – was determined to modernize Russia
A new capital – St. Petersburg was formed
Palace Square—St. Petersburg

13. C. The Russian Revolution
Russification
Required everyone to speak Russian & follow Eastern Orthodox Christianity

14. Socialism
Many Russians were frustrated and attracted to this kind of economy that calls for equality
Karl Marx – German philosopher who came up with socialism
More hardships continued for Russia and finally in 1917, rule of the czars had ended
Last Czar of Russia and family assassinated

15. D. The Soviet Era
Russian Revolution (1917) established a representative government
Was too weak
Bolsheviks – revolutionary group – led by Vladimir Lenin – seized control
They believed in communism – based on Karl Marx’s ideas
Bolsheviks led a civil war against their opposition

16. The Soviet Union
In 1921, the Bolsheviks (now known as communists) won the civil war
Established the USSR – Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

17. After Lenin’s death in 1924, Joseph Stalin took over reign
He led with fear and killed those in opposition
Lenin’s Grave

18. A Superpower During WWII, more than 27 million Russians died
At the war’s end. Russia controlled most of E. Europe
E. Europe countries became satellites – countries controlled by the Soviet Union
For the next four decades, the U.S. & the Soviet Union were locked in a Cold War

19. COLD WAR MILITARY BUILD-UP

20. Hard Times in the USSR

21. E. The Soviet Breakup
1985 – Mikhail Gorbachev assumes power of the Soviet Union
Begins reform
Perestroika & Glasnost
Many soviet republics gained independence
In 1991, Gorbachev’s presidency ended and the Soviet Union ceased to exist
Reagan & Gorbechev

22. F. A New Russia
Boris Yeltsin (was leader of Russia during Soviet Union) – leader of devastated Russia
Economy was in bad shape
Many ethnic conflicts
A Market Economy
Russia began moving from a command economy to a market economy
Separatist Movement
Still lots of ethnic conflict

23. G. Russia Timeline - for the “History Challenged”
Slavs – original group
Kievan Rus – loose union of city states
Mongols – conquered many Slavs
Ivan the Great & Slavs overthrew Mongols
Ivan the Terrible – 1st Czar
Russian Revolution – WWI
Russians attracted to socialism – Karl Marx

24. G. Timeline Continued Vladimir Lenin Joseph Stalin Gorbachev
Bolsheviks & Lenin – start communism
Bolsheviks won the civil war – formed USSR
Lenin died – Stalin in power – rules by fear
WWII – USSR takes control of E. Europe
Cold War Begins – U.S. & Russia
Mikhail Gorbachev assumes power &
begins reform
Boris Yeltsin assumes leadership
Vladimir Putin – current leader
Vladimir Lenin
Joseph Stalin
Gorbachev
Vladimir Putin

25. Section III
Cultures & Lifestyles

26. A. Religion in Russia Christianity in Russia Islam Judaism Buddhism
Eastern Orthodox Church had been central prior to communist rule
During communism – religion was strongly discouraged – Why?
Promoted Atheism
The Orthodox Church regained following after communism
Patriarch and icons
Islam
2nd largest religion
Judaism
Have long been persecuted in Russia
Pogroms – organized massacres
Buddhism
2 Republics in Russia are mostly Buddhist

28. B. Education Soviet Rule Today Free but mandatory education
Focused mostly on military, science, and engineering studies
Very little language, history, and literature
Intelligentsia – intellectual elite
Today
Choice of type of high school
Current economy hurts their school funding
Moscow University

29. C. Health Care
Disease, lifestyle choices (smoking, drinking, bad foods), insufficient health care all threaten the well-being of Russians
The medical facilities still owned by the government are inefficient

30. D. The Arts Russia’s Artistic Golden Age
Artists found inspiration in religion
Russian artists have risked much to express themselves

31. Culture & the Soviets Post-Soviet Arts
Social realism – people had to glorify communism in their works or they were punished
Post-Soviet Arts
In the mid 1980s, activity in the arts renewed

32. E. Life & Leisure
Daily life has always been difficult for ordinary people in Russia
Overcrowded Apartments
Long lines and expensive prices for things as simple as a loaf of bread
Holidays
In 1991, Christmas became a national holiday in Russia