Brief History of Russia

Brief History of Russia From Early Days to the Post-Soviet Era

FOUR ERAS OF RUSSIA • Ancient (pre-1688): Kievan Rus and Mongol Invasions • Imperialism (1688-1917): Romanov Tsars come to power and industrialize Russia. • Soviet Era (1917-1991): Bolsheviks overthrow Tsars; Communist Party comes to power. • Post-Soviet (1991- present): Introduction of democracy and capitalism.

Ancient Russia • KievanRus unites the region around the 5th century until the 13th century. During this time, the region adopts Eastern Orthodoxy and aligns with Constantinople. • Mongol invaders- 13th century to 15th century- force Russian princes to pay tribute. • 1400’s and 1500’s, Russian rulers increased their power. • Ivan The Terrible was officially crowned the first Tsar of Russia in 1547. • 1600’s was the start of the Romanov dynasty. • For most of this time Russia was a small part of the Eastern Empire (formerly Roman)

Imperialism and Westernization1688-1917 • Peter the Great (1689-1725) – Iron Age/Modernization • Catherine The Great (1762-1796) – expands through Black Sea area; Georgia becomes a protectorate • Napoleon Invasion-1812 • Russia is defeated in the Russo-Japanese War-1905 • Entrance into World War I in 1914; Russia pulls out early because of domestic unrest. • Russian Revolution-1917; Overthrow of Czar Nicholas II; Birth of the Communist Party; end of western influence in the Soviet Union until the end of the Cold War.

Soviet Era (1917-1991) • Rise of the Soviet Union • REVOLUTION (1905-1917) • Bolsheviks(majority) vs. Mensheviks(minority) vs. The Romanovs • Bolsheviks wanted immediate socialist revolution while Mensheviks thought the country needed growth through capitalism before socialism and communism were possible • V.I. LENIN (VLADIMIR ILYICH ULYANOV) • FEDERAL STRUCTURE • USSR (UNION OF SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLICS) -1924

Implemented the Command Economy • AN ECONOMY IN WHICH THE MEANS OF PRODUCTION ARE OWNED AND CONTROLLED BY THE STATE AND IN WHICH CENTRAL PLANNING OF THE STRUCTURE AND THE OUTPUT PREVAILS.

SOVIET LEADERS • TSARISM (<1917) • LENIN • STALIN • KRUSCHEV • BRESHNEV • GORBACHEV

SOVIET LEADERS LENIN (1918 - 1927) • INTRODUCED MARXIST PHILOSOPHY • REPLACED PRIVATE WITH PUBLIC OWNERSHIP • DEVELOPED NATIONAL ECONOMIC PLANS • ESTABLISHED SOVIET POLITICAL STRUCTURE BASED ON ETHNIC IDENTITIES (many autonomous regions based on ethnicity affiliated with other regions)

SOVIET LEADERS STALIN (1927 - 1953) • ALL ASSETS NATIONALIZED • CREATION OF HUGE CENTRALIZED STATE MACHINE OVER ALL ASPECTS OF SOVIET LIFE • PURGES OF DISSIDENTS (30-60 MILLION) • COLLECTIVIZED FARMING (SOVKHOZ) • CONCENTRATION ON HEAVY INDUSTRY AT EXPENSE OF AGRICULTURE • Forced Russification

Stalin and WWII 1950-1991 – Cold War • 1939 – Soviets sign secret pact with Nazi’s, gaining semi-possession of Poland • Then trouble over areas of S and E Europe • 1940 – Soviets invade Finland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania • 1945 – Captured Berlin, and kept Eastern half of Germany until 1989

SOVIET LEADERS GORBACHEV (1985 - 1991) • INITIATED ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL REFORM • PERESTROIKA • RESTRUCTURING • ECONOMIC AIM: TO CATCH UP WITH WESTERN ECONOMIES • POLITICAL AIM: REFORM OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY • He was followed by Boris Yeltsin

COLLAPSE OF THE SOVIET UNION(CONDITIONS IN 1990 & 1991) • A SHARP DECLINE IN AGRICULTURAL & INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION • ECONOMIC OUTPUT DOWN BY 4% IN 1990 & 10-15% IN FIRST HALF OF 1991 • INTENSIFICATION OF NATIONALISM& SEPARATISM

Post-Soviet Era • End of the Cold War had left Russia in heavy debt • Westernization of Russia • Introduction of Capitalism and Market Economy • Introduction of outside cultural influences (fast food restaurants, etc.) • Ongoing issues with Chechnya, Georgia, and don’t look now but Ukraine too.

Brief History of Russia