A (Brief) History of Russia

1. A (Brief) History of Russia

2. Early Peoples • Loose union of city-states, known as Kievan Rus, organized by Varangians around 900s • Ruled by princes • Kiev, the leading city-state, controlled trading route and used W. Russian rivers as a link between the Baltic & Black Seas • Weakened by fighting among city-states, ended by 1200s when conquered by a group called Mongols • Territories still had contact with western & central Europe

3. Rise of Russia • Moscow became the center of a territory called Muscovy, under Slavs • Liknked by rivers to trade routes, surrounded by lands food for farming and trapping fur-bearing animals • Why important? • Known as “Muscovites” • Eventually able to drive Mongols out • Prince Ivan III “The Great” • Brought Slav city-states together, expanded area known as RUSSIA. • Built huge fortress called The Kremlin • Ivan IV (Ivan the Terrible) • Ivan III’s grandson • Was Russia’s first crowned czar/tsar, or supreme ruler • Why “terrible? • Foreign invasion, declining economy, social conflict + Romanov dynasty in power  peasants becoming serfs, or virtual slaves of the nobility

4. The Ivans Ivan the Great • United Slav city-states into RUSSIA • Built the Kremlin Ivan the Terrible • Crowned first czar of Russia, or supreme ruler • Lower classes became serfs, or virtual slaves, under his reign

5. The Kremlin in Moscow, built by Ivan the Great

6. Romanov Czars • West Europe doing great during Renaissance (15th c.) while Russia was struggling • Peter I—Peter the Great • Russia enlarged territory, strong military, develop of trade in powerful Europe • Capital of St. Petersburg: access to Baltic Sea as “Window to the West” • Catherine the Great • Expanded Russia further, gained warm-water port on Black Sea • Other non-Russian countries under Russian rule • Culturally: adoption of European ways (French as language) •  cultural gap between nobility & serfs • Serfs had to deal with poverty & heavy work, too.

7. Russian Revolution • Inspired by American & French Revolution • Catalysts: • Serfs released in 1861, but they were uneducated  working in factories during Industrial Revolution • Policy of Russification introduced: required everyone to speak Russian, follow Eastern Orthodox Christianity • Non-Russians had issues with this •  creation of SOCIALISM, or a belief calling for greater economic quality in society • Karl Marx: German Philosopher • Public ownership of all lands • Classless society with equal sharing of wealth • Prediction: Struggle between wealthy & working classes would lead to worldwide revolution led by the working class and would end power of the wealthy

8. Notable Notables: Karl Marx • German Philosopher • Ideas: • Public ownership of all lands • Classless society in which everyone would share wealth • Became the groundwork for COMMUNISM.

9. Brief Timeline of Russian Revolution • 1905: Bloody Sunday • Peaceful crowd of workers who were marching in front of the czar’s palace in St. Petersburg were attacked by soldiers. • Nearly 1,000 people killed • February/March Revolution:1917 • WWI hardships  more workers into the streets • Demanded “bread and freedom” and joined by soldiers • Caused Czar Nicholas to abdicate (leave) throne, ending rule of czars in Russia, revolution ends • Results • Czar Nicholas abdicates (leaves) throne, ending rule of czars in Russia • Established representative government

10. Bloody Sunday, 1905 Czar Nicholas abdicates his throne: February/March 1917

11. A Bunch of Bolshevik • Centralized government established after Russian Revolution = super weak • November 1917: Bolsheviks seize control • Who they were: revolutionary group led by Lenin • Believed in communism, or a philosophy based on Karl Marx’s ideas that called for an overthrow of the government & society led by workers • Promise to the people: “Peace, land, and bread!” • Withdrew Russia from WWI, much territory to Germany • Took over industry, established eight-hour workday, reformed army • Not supported by everyone  civil war • Bolshevik Red Army vs. Anti-Bolshevik White Army

12. Back in the USSR… • 1921: Bolsheviks (now known as Communists) win Civil War against opponents • 1922: Established Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) • Moscow = capital • 1924: Lenin dies; Joseph Stalin climbs to power • Took control of farms & factories •  millions killed or died as a result of hunger, physical harships, or brutal conditions in labor camps Joseph Stalin: Ruthless leader of the Soviet Union

13. Back in the USSR... (cont’d) • USSR as a superpower • After WWII, USSR controlled much of Eastern Europe. By 1949, many had become Soviet satellites, or countries controlled by the USSR • East Germany, Hungary, Poland helped strengthen military and supplied natural resources • Cold War: 1950s-1990s • USSR vs USA • struggle between communist & capitalist economic systems for world power and influence • COULD have turned into a nuclear war, but conflict itself was avoided BECAUSE of this reason. • Instead, used propaganda against each other, threat of force, economic aid • SPACE RACE!!

14. Cold War Propaganda: USA • “School Closed”

15. Cold War Propaganda: USSR • “Thank you for a joyful childhood!”

16. The Break-Up • USSR Economy weakened during Cold War, everyone else gets stronger • 1985: Mikhail Gorbachev begins two policies despite being a die-hard Communist • Perestroika: policy of economic restructuring • Glasnost: political “openness” designed to eliminate censorship in the government • Several communist countries overthrow communist rulers in 1989 (Poland, Czechoslovakia) while others declare independence from Russia (Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia) • December 25, 1991: Gorbachev’s presidency ended, USSR over • Boris Yeltsin was elected President of Russia

17. Notable Notables: Mikhail Gorbachev • Two policies: • Glastnost—openness • Perestroika—economic restructuring

18. A Whole New World Russia: Economics • Russia under Yeltsin: Command  Market economy • Government control to control of the people • Initially, caused lots of bad things: • Massive unemployment because outdated and inefficient factories closed and because agriculture was restructured • By 2000, economy DID improve (which was the point, of course) • Ruble, the currency, began to strengthen and stabilize

19. Notable Notables: Boris Yeltsin • Credited with bringing down the Soviet Union • Economic policies eventually helped Russian economy bounce back after his term • Seen as inefficient, corrupt by Russian people • Eventually left office to deal with health problems & alcoholism—died in April 2007

20. A Whole New World Russia: Ethnic Tensions • 1990s: ethnic territories wanted complete break from Moscow • Russian government vs. Chechnya • 1991: Chechnya declares independence • Fear of Russia’s break-up  Yeltsin sending Russian troops in Chechnya in 1994 • Claimed to control much of the territory under Vladimir Putin, who was Yeltsin’s successor, Chechens still fighting • Result: • 335,000 people displaced • Food shortages • Ravaged oil-based economy • Also drained economic-development funds from Russia!

22. Russia Today • Current president: Vladimir Putin • 1st presidential term: 2000-2008 • Prime Minister under Mendevev: 2008-2012 • Re-elected president in 2012—will serve until at least 2016 • Russia is a majorindustrial power, but factories & plants are outdated, inefficient, and in terrible condition • Less than 8% of the land is arable • Good grain production  (North European Plain) • Economy is growing after hit in the late ’90s, but still has hurdles • Organized crime, high levels of poverty, scarred environment (years of neglect and no regulations) • Also, high rates of alcoholism!