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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
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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 Russia • 500 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
Napoleon and Russia • 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
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)