RUSSIA official name: Russian Federation

Russian Revolution/The Last

Tsar Assasinated

1917

Economic Readjustment

1848 Karl Marx Communist Manifesto

Romanov dynasty begins - 1613

1945 - 1991

EconomySince the collapse of the Soviet

Union in 1991…• Russia has tried to develop a Free

Market economy. • Poverty and famine are still issues.• Corruption & crime has spread

rapidly.

Moscow International Business Center

People• Majority live in W. part • 120 Ethnic groups; majority ethnic

Russians• Language: Russian (mostly)• Religion: Mostly Christian, large

# of Russians claim no religion (atheist)

• 75% urban: Apartments • Healthcare & education: free

Culture• Emphases on GROUP over individual, friendships important.

• Culture influenced by Europe, until the communist takeover in 1918. Then - communist ideology.

• Rich cultural tradition – museums devoted to art, literature, music, dance, history, & science,

• 100’s of churches dozens of notable cathedrals.

• 1100: 7 million• 1796: 36 million• 1850: 37 million• 1897: 125 million• 1917: 170 million• Today: 142 million

Political • 1547-1917: Absolute Monarchy

• 1917-1991: Communist Government

• 1991-Present: Democracy

Political • 1993 constitution: Democratic,

federative, law-based state with a republican form of government.

• Power divided among: legislative, executive, & judicial branches.

• Diversity of ideologies & religions sanctioned (approved).

• Multiparty political system upheld.

The Kremlin & Red Square Red Square, MoscowThe name Red Square has nothing to do with communism, rather red means “Beautiful” red has always been an important symbolic color for Russians.

Land and Climate

• Russia is the largest country in the world. (U.S. x 2)• Climate varies. Winters in West last from November to

March. Siberia = 9 months of winter• Russia consists of plains, dense forests, and tundra.• Ural Mts: divide European regions from Asian regions.

CHERNOBYL: How Did This Happen?• A reactor overheated during a

test of the reactors power supply. (4/26/86)

• Winds carried the radioactive material into northern and central Europe.

• Soviet leaders concealed this for two days, and refused outside help.

• Health problems for people and their unborn children continue in this area even today.

Kalingrad: Ice Free Port Russia took from Germany after WWII. Railroads connect Kaliningrad to Russia though Lithuania and Belarus but importing food from Russia is not cost effective. However, Kaliningrad is surrounded by European Union-member states, so trade on the wider market is indeed possible

The Shrinking Aral Sea• 1960’s: Soviet Union diverted two rivers that fed the

Aral Sea into the desert as irrigation for farming. • Continues to shrink at an alarming rate.