Chapter 17-18 Russia and Central Europe
Natural Environments Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus cover 12% of the world s land area. Russia is the world s largest country. The Siberian rivers (Ob, Yenisey, and Lena) flow northward toward the Artic circle. humid continental, sub artic, and tundra climates. The south is the taiga, a forest of mainly evergreen trees that covers half of Russia. Siberian winters have reached -90 degrees F.
Winter in Siberia
History and Culture 800 s AD = Scandinavian traders called Rus (this is where Russia got it name) 1100 s AD = Russia became predominately Eastern or Orthodox Christian. 1240 AD = Mongols invaded (but life went on the same.) 1400 s AD = the Czars (Kings) took control of from Mongols. Cossacks, (Ruthless group) played an important role in eastward expansion. 1800 s AD = industrialization (remained largely a country of peasant farmers.)
Russian Cossack
History and Culture In 1917, Bolsheviks overthrew the government, (Russian Revolution.) Czar Nicolas II and his family were killed. Bolsheviks led by Vladimir Lenin. Wanted to remake Russia using the ideas of German philosopher Karl Marx. (Marxism) Russian empire was renamed the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR). It had become a communist state.
Czar Nicolas and his Family Rasputin
Karl Marx
Street demonstration just after troops of the Provisional Government have opened fire with machine guns. 1917
The storming of the Czars Winter Palace
History and Culture The Soviet Union was a totalitarian state After Lenin s death Joseph Stalin took over. His brutal rule lasted until 1953. The government ran large state farms, but million of peasants died of starvation during the forced change.
Vladimir Lenin Joseph Stalin
History and Culture Personal freedoms restricted in Communism: Worship (believed it lessen state loyalty.) Press (Gov controlled what people read) Speech (Gov controlled what was said) Assembly (Gov controlled who got together.) Disagreement = jail or worse. Millions disappeared in labor camps called gulags.
History and Culture Cold War = the arms race and competition that occurred between the United States and the Soviet Union after World War II. Iron Curtain = boundary between East and West Europe after World War II
History and Culture The Soviet Union collapsed in 1991. Life changed quickly for the people there. People can vote, worship more freely, and receive outside news more readily.
Church of the Resurrection
St. Basil's Cathedral, Moscow
The Kremlin, Moscow
The Region Today Russia = 60 different Ethnic groups. 85% are Slavic and speak Slavic languages. 95% of Ukrainians and 98% of Belarusians are Slavic. 25% of Russia lies in Europe, but 85% of the population lives there. Moscow is the capital of Russia (9 million people) Eastern Orthodox Christianity is the predominant religion.
The Region Today St. Petersburg, Russia represents the countries desire for western ideas. Heavy industry = Volga and Ural Mountains Siberia has contains many natural resources, but accessing these resources is difficult. Siberia contains the world s longest railway (5,800 miles)
Trans-Siberian Railroad
The Region Today Kiev = capital of the Ukraine (10% of the Ukraine population lives there.) Minsk = capital of Belarus (the country has few mineral resources and generally poor soil.) Much of the country is in need of repair since the fall of the USSR.
Problems in the Region Pollution has become a huge problem from actions of USSR. Tensions between those who want to return to Communism and those who want Demacracy.
Chernobyl Disaster In 1986 a disastrous nuclear accident happened at the power plant in Chernobyl, north of Kiev. It spread as far away as Sweden and France. The city is still abandoned to this day, and people will not be able to return for many years to come.
Arial photo of Chernobyl plant in 1986, after explosion
Central Asia The central Asian countries are: Kazakhstan Turkmenistan Uzbekistan Tajikistan Kyrgyzstan
Central Asia All five countries are landlocked. Has all known landforms (below sea level to mountains) arid and semiarid climates. Water is a precious resource Formerly part of the Silk Road
Central Asia Sometimes called Turkistan. Nomadic culture Former Soviet Union
Central Asian Issues and challenges poor with few opportunities to improve their lives. Ethnic conflict threatens the region.
Central Asian Environmental Issues Former soviet nuclear and biological testing contaminated many areas. 1.5 million people. Uranium mining has also contaminated areas.
Central Asia s Future Kazakhstan is home to one of the largest oil fields in the world (13 billion barrels). BUT dependent on Russia for transport.
Kazakhstan
Nomads in Kazakhstan
Uzbekistan cotton farm
Bukhara, Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan
Turkmen with typical headgear