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Chapter 17-18
Russia and Northern Eurasia
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 Arctic 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 SiberiaWinter in Siberia
History and Culture 800’s AD – Scandinavian traders called
Rus (this is where Russia got its 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
from the Mongols.– Cossacks (ruthless group) played an
important role in eastward expansion. 1800’s AD – Started to industrialize but
remained largely a country of peasant farmers
RussianRussianCossackCossack
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 became a communist state. Kremlin – fortified complex in Moscow
that became known as the government
Czar Nicholas II Czar Nicholas II
Czar Nicolas and his FamilyCzar Nicolas and his Family
Karl Marx Karl Marx
Street demonstration just after troops of the Street demonstration just after troops of the Provisional Government have opened fire with Provisional Government have opened fire with machine guns. 1917machine guns. 1917
The storming of the Czars’ Winter The storming of the Czars’ Winter PalacePalace
The Kremlin, MoscowThe Kremlin, Moscow
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 millions of peasants died of starvation during the forced change.
Vladimir Lenin Joseph Vladimir Lenin Joseph StalinStalin
Personal freedoms restricted in communism:– Worship (Government believed it lessen
“state” loyalty)– Press (Government controlled what
people read.)– Speech (Government controlled what
was said.)– Assembly (Government controlled who
got together.) Sent to jail or labor camp if disagreed with
government – Gulag – network of labor camps millions
were sent to
Gulag
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
The Soviet Union collapsed in The Soviet Union collapsed in 1991.1991.
Life changed quickly for the Life changed quickly for the people there. People could vote, people there. People could vote, worship more freely, and receive worship more freely, and receive outside news more readily.outside news more readily.
Church of the Resurrection Church of the Resurrection
St. Basil's Cathedral, MoscowSt. Basil's Cathedral, 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.
St. Petersburg, Russia represents the country’s desire for Western ideas.
Heavy industry – Volga and Ural Mountains
Siberia has many natural resources, but accessing these resources is difficult. – Siberia has the world’s longest
railway (5,800 miles).
Trans-Siberian Railroad Trans-Siberian Railroad
Trans-Siberian Railroad Trans-Siberian Railroad
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 exist between those who want to return to communism and those who want democracy.
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 Arial photo of Chernobyl plant in 1986, after explosionin 1986, after explosion
Children born since 1986 are affected by a 200 percent increase in birth defects and a 250 percent increase in congenital birth deformities.
Central Asia
The central Asian countries are:– Kazakhstan– Turkmenistan– Uzbekistan– Tajikistan– Kyrgyzstan
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”
(a trade route to China) 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 exposed to
radiation in 1949 which led to birth defects, cancer, and other health problems
– 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 it is dependent on Russia for transport.
Kazakhstan Kazakhstan
Nomads in Kazakhstan Nomads in Kazakhstan
Uzbekistan cotton farmUzbekistan cotton farm
Bukhara, Uzbekistan Bukhara, Uzbekistan