A Brief Overview of History of Russian Society and Culture
Stories that bring you there and make connections
Lyra Riabov
Associate Professor
Southern New Hampshire University
Four-Part Program
The Roots of Russian National Character
Lecture 1
Lyra Riabov
Associate Professor
Southern New Hampshire University
University of Texas Library Online
Russian Federation
Population: 149,909,089 (July 1995 est.)
•Land: 6.6 million square miles slightly more than 1.8 times the size of the US. The Soviet Union was larger than the USA and Canada combined.
•Time zones: 11. When it is 7p.m. in Moscow, it is 6a.m. the following day in a village on the Bering Strait.
Russian Federation, 21 autonomous republics
Nationalities: Russians and about 100 minorities
Independence: 24 August 1991
Executive branch: President
Legislative branch: Federal Assembly and State Duma
Judicial branch: Constitutional Court, Supreme Court
The Roots of Russian National Character
• Grand Prince Vladimir adopted Orthodox Christianity in 988
• Two hundred year Mongol invasion (1237-1480)
• Democracy roots in Great Novgorod and Rise of Moskovy (XIIth – XVth centuries)
• Fascinating art and architecture of Kievan Rus, Novgorod, and Moscow (XIth – XVIth centuries)
Vikings/Varangians
• The name Russia comes from “Rus”, the name originally given to the Varangians who entered the area of Novgorod and Kiev in the IXth century.
• Among the most famous of the ancient trade routes was the one called "from the Vikings to the Greeks." To a large degree Kiev and Novgorod, the principal cities of Ancient Rus, flourished because they were located along the waterways of this important route.
• 862 - Novgorod invites Riurik of Varangians (Norsemen) to rule their town. He and his successors united several towns including Kiev.
• 862-1598 - Riurikid Dynasty ruled Kievan Rus.
Eastern Europe Eleventh/Twelfth Centuries
Russian Principalities Twelfth Century
The Battle Between the Novgorodians and the Suzdalians
Novgorod Icons circa 1450-1475
St. George and Serpent
988 - Grand Prince Vladimir adopted Orthodox Christianity
Our Lady of Vladimir. XIIth century.
Wood, tempera.The State Tretyakov Gallery
Monument to Millennium of Russia, Novgorod, 1859
Christianity: Icons, Painters, Schools•
Moscow SchoolBoris and Gleb Andrei Rublev (ca. 1370 - ca. 1430)
Theophanes the Greek c. 1330 - c.1410
Andrei Rublev c.1370 - c. 1430
Dionysius c. 1440 - c. 1510
Unification of RussiaIvan the Great Reigns as Grant Prince of Moscow (1462-1533)
Church of Intercession-on-NerlXIIth Century
Rostov Kremlin XVIIth Century
Russian Artists in a workshop
Finift Enamel
Ivan the TerribleVasnetsov