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)