general information about russia
Post on 25-Feb-2016
50 Views
Preview:
DESCRIPTION
TRANSCRIPT
General Information
About Russia
Official Name: RUSSIAN FEDERATION
17,075,200 square miles (1.8 times the size of U.S.A.)
Capital – Moscow, made up of 8,369,000 people
Total Population– 140,041,247
Main Language– Russian
Religions: 15-20% Russian Orthodox, 10-15% Muslim, 2% other Christian
Current Leader: Vladimir Putin Currency: RUBLE (31.60
rubles= $1) Average Income: $7,700 (U.S.
is $27,108)
The former Soviet Republics, although independent, have formed the COMMONWEALTH OF INDEPENDENT STATES (CIS)
Russia is the figurehead leader of the CIS
The Rise of Russia500 B.C.E. (Roman Times) a people called the SLAVS moved into southern Russia
800’s C.E. – Missionaries from Constantinople converted Slavs to Eastern Orthodox Christianity
863 C.E. – Cyrillic alphabet created to translate Greek bible
An educated class forms
1200’s C.E. – Mongols conquered Russia and cut it off from Western Europe
1462-1505 C.E. – Ivan III (Ivan the Great)
The first CZAR (Russian word for Caesar), brought Northern Russia under his control
Was an AUTOCRAT – ruler with unlimited power
1533-1584 C.E.–Ivan the Terrible
Ruled with ABSOLUTE POWER
Centralized royal power
Bound serfs to land & cut BOYARS’ (nobles) privileges
SERF – landless peasant who worked the nobles’ land for “free”
Created a secret police force
Reign of terror against powerful Boyars to crush them – earned his nickname
Introduce reforms like a new law code
Encouraged FEUDALISM – Boyars given land by czar to strengthen their bonds w/him
1598-1613 C.E. – Time of Trouble
There was no MIDDLE CLASS Boyars feuded over the throne Peasants revolted & foreign
invaders entered Russia Michael Romanov finally
elected by Boyars and began the Romanov Dynasty (ruling family), which ended in 1917
1682-1725 C.E.- Peter the Great Westernized
Russia Modernized the
army & navy Made
government more efficient
Built capital of St. Petersburg –”window on the West”
Used force and terror to make people follow his orders (men had to shave beards, all had to wear western-style clothing)
Although Russia strengthened, large gap still existed between Russia and Western Europe
1762-1796 C.E.–Catherine the Great
Obtained Boyars’ support by exempting them from taxes & giving them complete control over the serfs
“Enlightened” ruler–encouraged Western thought
1762-1796 C.E.–Catherine the Great
Successful foreign policy: expanded Russia’s border to the Black Sea and defeated Ottoman Empire
Also took over part of Poland
1801-1825 C.E. – Alexander I
Made many liberal reforms: partial liberation for serfs
Eased censorship & promoted education
Drew back from reform after Napoleon’s invasion
Tried to invade Russia after the French Revolution
1812 – Battle for Moscow 75,000 died in one day Russians burned Moscow to the
ground Napoleon got stuck in the
Russian winter Lost 500,000 men
Napoleon and Russia
1825-1855 C.E. – Nicholas I “Orthodoxy,
autocracy, & nationalism”
Put down Decembrist Revolt (liberals)
Strict, harsh ruler – used police spies
Militarized Russia
1825-1855 C.E. – Nicholas I Outlawed Western
philosophy – banned books
Jailed or institutionalized those with liberal or revolutionary ideas
Lost Crimean War to France/Britain
1825-1855 C.E. – Nicholas I Realized Russia
needed reform Issued new law
code & made some economic reforms
Even tried to limit power of landowners over serfs (but didn’t want to anger nobles)
1855-1881 C.E. – Alexander II
1861 - Abolished serfdom
Brought problems – serfs too poor to buy land & lands allotted to peasants too small to support a family
Discontent festered
1855-1881 C.E. – Alexander II
But peasants moved to cities & helped build industries
Local gov’t set up – ZEMSTVOS (elected assemblies)
1855-1881 C.E. – Alexander II
Introduced trial by jury, eased censorship & tried to reform military
Women left homes to study abroad
Sold Alaska to the U.S.
Assassinated by terrorists
1881-1894 C.E. – Alexander III
Turned against reform and returned to repression
Revived secret police, restored censorship, & exiled critics to Siberia
1881-1894 C.E. – Alexander III
Launched program of RUSSIFICATION (suppress cultures of non-Russians)
One language & one church
1881-1894 C.E. – Alexander III
Persecuted Russian Jews
POGROMS – violent mob attacks on Jews
Many Jews fled Russia as refugees
1881-1894 C.E. – Alexander III
Russia did enter an industrial age
Railroad building occurred & foreign capital invested in industry
Social problems increased
1881-1894 C.E. – Alexander III
Workers faced long hours, low pay, poverty, disease, and poor housing
Marxism began to appeal to these workers
Plot to kill czar was foiled (Lenin’s brother executed)
top related