Chapter 13 Eastern Europe & Western Russia: Recovering from war, communism, genocide, and unfortunate geography (Pg. 393-420)
Lesson 1: Physical Geography of Eastern Europe & Western Russia Pg. 396-401
Landforms & Waterways of E. Europe & W. Russia This region is covered mostly by fertile plains or steppe (flat, drier land), surrounded by uplands (high elevation) and seas. Very few natural borders in the north to prevent movement The main seas are the Baltic, Adriatic, Ionian, Black, and
Poland: If you cannot prevent your enemies from swallowing you, at least prevent them from diges8ng you. Being located in Eastern Europe presents benefits and challenges: Good: Bad:
Climates Lies in the middle lamtudes & north into the ArcMc Circle North SubarcMc Long, cold winters and short, cool summers. Central- Humid conmnental climate warm, rainy summers & cold, snowy winters South (Albania and Macedonia ) Mediterranean climate hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters Many ports on the BalMc Sea & Pacific Ocean are frozen during part of the year Coldest temperature in Russia à -94 F
Natural Resources Although Russia is the largest country in the world, only one-sixth of its land is suitable for agriculture. More than one-fizh of the world's forests are in Russia, but the country's climate causes trees to grow slowly. Russia, Poland, and Romania have vast natural resources.
Lesson 2: History of Eastern Europe and Western Russia Pg. 402-409
4 Time Periods of Russian History Early Russia Czarist Russia Communist (Soviet) Russia Modern (Post-Soviet) Russia Time Period Describe the government (what type, who s in charge?) Describe the economy. (what did they produce, who controlled the wealth?) Describe what it was like to live there during that Mme.
Early History Time Period: 400-1600 Government: early civilizamons founded by Slavs the most common ethnic group in the region today Largest group - Kievan Rus, based in Kiev Economy: agricultural Daily Life: invaded by the Mongols, ChrisManity (Eastern Orthodox) brought to the region
Czarist Russia Time Period: 1600-1917 Government: Powerful Russian czars (kings) that took over much of Eastern Europe Peter the Great - modernized Catherine the Great - expanded Economy: poor serfs (farm laborers who were Med land like slaves) worked on land owned by the rich Daily Life: 1812 invasion by France and Napoleon Bonaparte, great wealth for czars & nobles, crushing poverty for most others, World War I led to more misery for poor Russians, so they overthrew the czar
The Communist Soviet Union Time Period: 1914-1991 Government: the Soviet Union - 15 republics under the control of a Communist party led by dictators Vladimir Lenin founder of the Soviet Union Joseph Stalin cruel dictator that industrialized & modernized the country Mikhail Gorbachev allowed social & economic reforms that led to the fall of the Union Economy: communist government owns everything, so collecgvized agriculture & developed heavy industry, but spent most money on weapons Daily Life: no religion or free speech allowed, parmcipamon in WWII resulted in 20 million deaths, Cold War tension and nuclear arms race with the USA, resistance to Soviet control
Post-Communist Eastern Europe & Russia Time Period: 1991-present Government: democramc consmtumons were adopted in all of the 15 republics & presidents have been elected Russia: Boris Yeltsin & Vladimir PuMn Economy: capitalist, but struggling to convert to light industry (consumer goods) Daily Life: shortages of supplies, umlimes & jobs, a distrust of Russia from Eastern Europe, conflict, bloodshed, and the division of Yugoslavia in the Balkan Peninsula
Lesson 3 Life in Eastern Europe and Western Russia Pg. 410-417 Russia s People & Culture A more realis8c interview about Russia s People & Culture
EthniciMes in Eastern Europe & Western Russia Ethnic groups: mostly Slavic Languages: Slavic languages, but vary by region Alphabet: Cyrillic à
Religion in Eastern Europe & Western Russia Eastern Orthodox in the central & east à Catholic in the west Lutheran & Catholic in the BalMcs Islam in Albania & Bosnia ß St. Basil s Cathedral in Moscow, Russia
A History of Ethnic Turmoil Diversity: Few natural boundaries mean this region has been invaded MANY Mmes in history Many diverse ethnic groups live here and come into conflict Weak governments: When the USSR collapsed, devolugon (a powerful central government gives up power to local governments) led to the rise of namonalism in Eastern Europe. Russian Aggression: a threat to border states (Ukraine) and to groups in Russia (Chechnya) that want to break away Chechnya s oil reserves & good locamon are important to Russia s economy, so the government puts down on protests harshly
Economies in Eastern Europe & Western Russia Agriculture & Forestry Some Industry, but outdated Mining Switching from communism to a free market economy has been difficult People own businesses instead of the government, but oligarchs (a few powerful, rich people) tend to control the businesses Not enough goods produced Higher unemployment and inflagon (rising prices) for food & clothing
Environmental concerns in Eastern Europe & Western Russia Forests & farmland have been ruined in the rush to build up industries Air & Water PolluMon smog is causing lung disease & cancer Drinking water is ruined due to chemicals, poor sewer systems, & old chemical weapons in dumps Life expectancy (# of years an average person lives) in Russia is 70.8 years (ranked #154 in the world)
Regions of Eastern Europe & Western Russia Western Russia The BalMc States (Estonia, Latvia, & Lithuania) Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, & Hungary The Balkans The Border States (Belarus, Ukraine, & Moldova)
Russia Today PopulaMon: 142.4 million, mostly Slavs Government: federal republic Powerful President (and former KGB intelligence officer) Vladimir PuMn à Has improved Russia s economy and reasserted itself as a world power, BUT, limits freedom of speech & the press and dealt harshly with opponents.
The Arts in Russia Enjoy the outdoors, sports (hockey, skamng, gymnasmcs), movies/tv, modern music Famous for ballet & opera Peter Tchaikovsky s The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty Igor Stravinsky s Firebird Suite Mariinsky Theater à Folk Dancing Literature: War & Peace, Leo Tolstoy Faberge eggs
Russian Food Borscht beet soup Shchi cabbage soup Prioshki meat turnovers Caviar Boiled potatoes
The BalMc States (Estonia, Latvia, & Lithuania) Small populamons that were treated harshly when they were taken over by the Soviet Union Used nonviolent resistance to break away
Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, & Hungary Countries that lost a lot of territory during WWI & WWII 3 million Polish Jews were killed during the Holocaust, causing a lack of ethnic diversity in Poland
Culture in Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, & Hungary Major CiMes: Budapest, Hungary à Warsaw, Poland Prague, Czech Republic Famous Poles: Frederic Chopin, musician Marie Curie, physicist Nicolaus Copernicus
The Balkans: (Romania, Bulgaria, Albania, Serbia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, Macedonia, Croa8a, Slovenia) Controlled by the Opoman Turks for 500 years, then the Soviet Union, 1948-1980s ConMnuing conflict in the region of former Yugoslavia as namonalist groups try to control each country BalkanizaGon - to split up into small countries that are in conflict with each other Resulted in ethnic cleansing (genocide) removing or murdering other ethnic groups
The ND NaMonal Guard in Kosovo On Nov. 14, 2009, a U.S.-led KFOR (Kosovo Forces) task force, based out of North Dakota, joined with five other NATO namons, to take over responsibility for maintaining a safe and secure environment and freedom of movement in Kosovo.
The ND NaMonal Guard in Kosovo Spc. Abby A. Tews, and Mejreme Berisha, an English teacher at Musa Zajmi School, discuss the day's lesson plan prior to a lecture in a ninth grade English class.
The Border States (Belarus, Ukraine, & Moldova) 1932-33 Ukrainian Famine Soviet leader Josef Stalin starved 7 million Ukrainian farmers who refused to give up their good farmland to the communist system (genocide!) 1986 Chernobyl Nuclear Meltdown Caused pollumon, cancer, & birth defects in Ukraine & Belarus Since 2014, Russian troops have occupied eastern Ukraine (22% of Ukraine s 48 million people are ethnic Russians) Folk music bandura, hopak dancing