1. The Russian Empire

2. In Russia… There are: There are: –90 different ethnic or cultural groups –80 different languages spoken –11 different time zones –Coasts on three oceans (Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic)

3. Russia’s Geography Geographically the largest country in the world Geographically the largest country in the world Ural Mountains in the west Ural Mountains in the west Siberian Plains (sleeping land) Siberian Plains (sleeping land) Few bodies of warm water Few bodies of warm water Frozen tundra near Arctic Circle Frozen tundra near Arctic Circle

4. Russia

5. Siberian Plains Taiga is the Russian word for forest Taiga is the Russian word for forest The average temperature is below freezing for six months out of the year. The winter temperature range is -65 to 30° F. The average temperature is below freezing for six months out of the year. The winter temperature range is -65 to 30° F. Temperature range in the summer gets as low as - 20° F. The high in summer can be 70° F. Temperature range in the summer gets as low as - 20° F. The high in summer can be 70° F.

6. Siberian Plains Covers 75% of Russia’s land mass Covers 75% of Russia’s land mass Most of Siberia is covered by permafrost or taiga and is uninhabitable (2/3 of the population lives in Western Russia) Most of Siberia is covered by permafrost or taiga and is uninhabitable (2/3 of the population lives in Western Russia) Includes Lake Baikal, the deepest and cleanest lake in the world Includes Lake Baikal, the deepest and cleanest lake in the world

7. Siberian Plains

8. Climate Largely a continental climate Largely a continental climate –Hot summers –Cold winters –Little rainfall European Russia is more maritime- continental under the influence of the Atlantic Ocean, the Baltic Sea, and the Black Sea European Russia is more maritime- continental under the influence of the Atlantic Ocean, the Baltic Sea, and the Black Sea

9. The Russian Empire Mongols from eastern Asia conquered and ruled Russia from the 13 th to the 15 th centuries Mongols from eastern Asia conquered and ruled Russia from the 13 th to the 15 th centuries In 1547 a 16-year-old, Ivan IV, was named czar; he became known as Ivan the Terrible In 1547 a 16-year-old, Ivan IV, was named czar; he became known as Ivan the Terrible During Ivan the Terrible’s reign, as well as following czars, Russia had an unlimited government During Ivan the Terrible’s reign, as well as following czars, Russia had an unlimited government –Form of government in which a single ruler holds all the power

10. Conflicts at Home The Russian czars were often in conflict with Russian nobles The Russian czars were often in conflict with Russian nobles Nobles possessed much land and wealth Nobles possessed much land and wealth Czars viewed the nobles as a threat to their control Czars viewed the nobles as a threat to their control Ivan the Terrible ordered his soldiers to murder Russian nobles and church leaders who opposed him Ivan the Terrible ordered his soldiers to murder Russian nobles and church leaders who opposed him

11. The Expansion of Russia Peter the Great Peter the Great –Ruled from 1682 to 1725 –Defeated Sweden and won land along the Baltic Sea –Built a port city: St. Petersburg –Used ideas and innovations of the Industrial Revolution to modernize and strengthen Russia –Did not improve life for peasants

12. The Expansion of Russia Catherine the Great Catherine the Great –Ruled from 1762 to 1796 –Added new lands, including present-day Ukraine and Belarus –Started new schools and encouraged art, science, and literature –Lives of peasants continued to be unpleasant and when the rebelled in the 1770s Catherine crushed their uprising

13. A Divided Russia In the 19 th century most people were poor and most wealth belonged to the nobles, dividing the country In the 19 th century most people were poor and most wealth belonged to the nobles, dividing the country Led to conflict and eventually political revolution Led to conflict and eventually political revolution

14. The Nobles Sent their children to be educated in Germany and France Sent their children to be educated in Germany and France Were army officers or government officials Were army officers or government officials Supported the czar and were proud of Russia’s growing power Supported the czar and were proud of Russia’s growing power

15. The Serfs Had no land or money of their own Had no land or money of their own Worked on farms owned by others and received little government help Worked on farms owned by others and received little government help In 1861, Alexander II decided to end serfdom, hoping this would help his country compete with Western Europe In 1861, Alexander II decided to end serfdom, hoping this would help his country compete with Western Europe Had to pay heavy taxes and the land they were given the land given to them was not good for farming Had to pay heavy taxes and the land they were given the land given to them was not good for farming

16. Bloody Sunday University students, artists, and writers believed that the treatment of the serfs was unfair University students, artists, and writers believed that the treatment of the serfs was unfair Workers in Russian cities complained about low pay and poor working conditions Workers in Russian cities complained about low pay and poor working conditions These groups banded together and tried to overthrow the government These groups banded together and tried to overthrow the government

17. Bloody Sunday In 1905 a group of workers marched to the royal palace in St. Petersburg with a list of demands In 1905 a group of workers marched to the royal palace in St. Petersburg with a list of demands Government troops shot many of them Government troops shot many of them As news of this spread across Russia, citizens became even angrier with the government and czar As news of this spread across Russia, citizens became even angrier with the government and czar

18. The End of the Russian Empire In 1914 World War I began In 1914 World War I began Nicholas II tried to avoid joining the war, but failed Nicholas II tried to avoid joining the war, but failed Russia’s allies included the U.K. and France suffered terrible losses while fighting Germany and its allies Russia’s allies included the U.K. and France suffered terrible losses while fighting Germany and its allies During the war there were food shortages in the cities and workers went on strike During the war there were food shortages in the cities and workers went on strike

19. The End of the Russian Empire Workers went on strike Workers went on strike Russian revolutionaries organized the workers against the czar Russian revolutionaries organized the workers against the czar Even the army turned against the czar, and in 1917 Nicholas was forced to give up power Even the army turned against the czar, and in 1917 Nicholas was forced to give up power The overturning of the Russian monarchy is known as the Russian Revolution The overturning of the Russian monarchy is known as the Russian Revolution

20. The End of the Russian Empire Nicholas II and the royal family were imprisoned by the revolutionaries Nicholas II and the royal family were imprisoned by the revolutionaries On July 17, 1918 they were executed On July 17, 1918 they were executed This ended more than 300 years of rule by the Romanov family and nearly 400 years of the czarist rule This ended more than 300 years of rule by the Romanov family and nearly 400 years of the czarist rule