Russia & the Eurasian Republics

1. Russia & the Eurasian Republics Chapter 11

2. Bell Ringer March 18, 2019 • Page 311 – Map Lab • What is the elevation of the Ural Mountains? How does the elevation of the Steppes compare with the Ural Mountains? • Determine how density differs west and far east of the Urals. What physical features contributes to the population distribution? • About 2000 ft. / The steppes are lower • Plains and lower elevations contribute to the denser population distribution west of the Urals

3. Physical Geography of Russia & Central Asia • World’s largest country – 6000 miles east to west • Lies on two continents – Europe and Asia. • The Ural Mountains: dividing line between the two continents. • Steppes: Very Large Plains

4. Physical Geography • Natural Barriers: Oceans to the North; Mountains to the south • Russia & Central Asia isolated from each other • Half Russia: permafrost • Central Asia: Largely desert • Most Russians live west of the Ural Mts.

5. Climate & Vegetation • Tundra: flat frozen land in artic in Siberia • Taiga: Forest area – valuable timber • Western Plains - farming

6. Natural Resources • Oil, Natural Gas, Coal, Peat, • Hydroelectric Power from Rivers • Mineral Resources: Iron, Aluminum, Gold, Copper, etc. • Many resources in Siberia are hard to get.

7. ““You Do” – Page 316-317 • Exploring Siberian Lakes – Viewing Lab • Analyze Visuals, Interpret Models, Analyze Cause & Effect • How might Katey Anthony’s work in Siberia be applied to other places in the world? • List causes & effects of methane release using a chart. How does this contribute to global warming? • Researchers can use her work & findings to locate other places where methane gas is being released • Climate Change -> Permafrost thaws -> Increase in Methane • Increase in Methane -> Global Warming

8. Essential Question • How have size and extreme climates shaped Russia and the Eurasian Republics? • The Oceans & Mountains are natural barriers that have isolated Russia • People live in the western Part of Russia due to climate • Farming is concentrated in the western plains.

9. Bell Ringer March 19, 2019 • Page 321 – Map Lab • Why did the main route on the Silk Road split between Kashgar and Dunhuang? • Why was Samarkand an important stop? • Split because of the desert • Samarkand was half way

10. History of Russia Mostly Asian influence until Peter the Great : 1682 – 1725 • Modernized Russia • St Petersburg -> more Western European Catherine the Great: 1762-1796 • Focused on Art & Education – European Ideas – • Women’s Education

11. Scorched Earth Policy Napoleon Invades Russia: • Russian Troops retreat, burning everything in their path • Napoleon has nowhere to “Winter” his soldiers • Over 400,000 French soldiers died Hitler Invades Russia: Scorched Earth Policy kills over 295,000 Nazis.

12. Industrialization to Russian Revolution Industrial Revolution: 1890s • Workers very poor • Peasant farmers starving • Worker Strikes -> political unrest Lenin: Bolsheviks – Russian Revolution 1917

13. The Soviet Union • Communism: single political party controls the government & economy • Socialism: government controls economic resources • Bolsheviks ended private ownership of land and resources • Established a “Classless” society. No rich or poor. • 1927 – 1953 –> Josef Stalin • USSR is isolated • Cold War with U.S. • Did not work – Standard of living low

14. Essential Question • What factors have influenced the Region’s history? • Russia adopted European ideas under Peter the Great & Catherine • Peasants & industrial workers - Communist rule

15. Bell Ringer March 20,2019 • Page 329 • In the propaganda poster, what are the figures holding and what do they represent? • How do you think the poster was supposed to make the Russian people feel? • Soldier: Military – Strength • Man holding flowers – grain: Agriculture/provision • Man looking up: looking to the future • Man holding flag: patriotism • Hope/ Pride/ Patriotism

16. Trans-Siberian Railroad • World’s Longest continuous railroad – 6,000 miles • Links Moscow with Eastern Russia • 1891 – 1916 • Transformed Siberia -> New Cities • Steam engines -> Now Electric

17. Collapse of the Soviet Union • 1970s & 1980s -> Economy failed • Eurasian Republics claimed their independence • Mikhail Gorbachev – introduced reforms • Perestroika: Restructuring - > less gov’t control • Glasnost: Openness -> led to protest> ultimate collapse

18. Bell Ringer March 22, 2019 • Page 327 • Graph: Which industry grew the least between 1890 & 1900? The most? Why do you think they grew at these rates? • Cotton grew slowly because agriculture was de-emphasized and pig iron grew due to the industrial revolution.

19. Russia Today • Large gap between the rich and poor • Higher prices • Unemployment • Organized crime • Western Siberia -> Booming!

20. Essential Question • How has Russia dealt with recent political & economic & environmental change? • Reformed gov’t & economy • Oil & Natural Gas are greatest sources of wealth • Western Siberia is booming • New Gas Pipelines.

21. Bell Ringer March 26, 2019 • Page 335 – Photo Lab • Why might the “YURT” being movable be important for nomadic herders in Central Asia? • In what way does the women’s clothing reflect the climate in each region? • In what ways has climate influenced traditional culture in Siberia, Central Asia, & the Steppes? • Because nomadic people move often • Cold –> Furs, Dry–> a dress & scarf, Moderate –> clothes for the field • Climate determines what animals can survive in each area & human lives are based on that. In the Steppes –> people farm

22. Bell Ringer March 28, 2018 • Page 347 – Reading Lab • What damage did the Chernobyl disaster cause to the environment? • How will it continue to affect people in Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia? • It contaminated agriculture, forest land, rivers, and lakes • Contamination remains in the soil and water. People’s health will continue to suffer.

23. Chapter 11-12 Review • The Ural Mountains are a natural barrier & divider of what? • Northern European Plain from West Siberian Plain • Agriculture and grazing are found in what landform in Russia? • The Steppes • High latitudes & arctic winds cause what in Russia? • Cold Climate

24. Permafrost in Siberia keeps Russia from obtaining what? • Oil and Minerals • What is coming from Siberia’s lakes that can contribute to Global Warming? • Methane • Livestock grazing is compatible with the arid climate in what part of this region? • Central Asia

25. The Scorched Earth policy was used against what French Emperor? • Napoleon • When one political party controls both the government and the economy • Communism • What did Mikhail Gorbachev try to do for Soviet Union? • Reform its economy & gov’t

26. Where is Tundra found? • Arctic and Subarctic regions • Hitler made the same mistake as Napoleon by doing what? • Invading Russia in the Winter • What years did Josef Stalin rule over The Soviet Union? • 1927 - 1953

27. What happened to the Soviet Union in 1991? • Communism collapsed • What do nomads do to find food? • They move from one place to another • What helps the world by linking Asia to Europe? • Trans Siberian Railroad

28. The Republics of the Soviet Union wanting independence contributed to what? • The Collapse of the Soviet Union • Who wanted to reduce government control over the Soviet economy? • Mikhail Gorbachev • The United States Congress is most like Russia’s what? • Federal Assembly

29. Pipelines are transporting oil from what large body of water in Russia? • The Caspian Sea • A nuclear reactor exploded in what former Soviet Republic? • Chernobyl, Ukraine

30. A Russian word meaning “Restructuring” • Perestroika • Gorbachev allowed people to speak freely – • Glasnost • Russian ruler for hundreds of years • Czar

31. Eastern Europe competing for influence against the Western nations without actually fighting • Cold War • This forest stretches about 4000 miles across Russia • Taiga