Chapter 16Human Geography of Russia & the RepublicsA Diverse HeritageObjective: Analyze features of human geography in the three sub-regions of Russia & the Republics

Chapter 16 Section 1Russia & the Western RepublicsVocabulary: Baltic Republics, Czar, Russian Revolution, USSR, Cold War, Command Economy, & Collective Farm

Objective: Describe the cultural background & achievements of Russia & the Western Republics

A History of Expansion• Vikings from Scandinavia

established a settlement near Kiev• The Vikings adopted the

customs of the local Slavic population

• Mongols halted the expansion of the Russians until Ivan the Great put an end to their rule

• Many people belonged to different ethnic groups, spoke different languages, & practiced different religions

• Czar (emperor/king of Russia)• Peter the Great made impressive

strides toward modernizing Russia

The Rise & Fall of the Soviet Union• In 1917, the Russian Revolution

occurred, ending the rule of the czars

• The Russian Communist Party took control of the government

• In 1922 the USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) was created

• The leader Joseph Stalin led the Soviet Union to victory in WW2

• Tensions rose between the United States & the Soviet Union creating the Cold War

• The Cold War lasted until the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991

• The Soviet Union was divided into 15 independent republics

Building a Command Economy• The Communists were inspired by the idea

of a Command Economy replacing Capitalism

• In a communist society, citizens would own property together & everyone would share the wealth

• Command Economy: central government makes all the decisions

• The government created collective farms where laborers worked together

• Under this huge transformation, millions of citizens starved while only a few benefited

• People tried to rise in protests but were stopped the government

• Historians estimate that Stalin was responsible for the death of 14 million people

A Rich Culture• Russia has the greatest

ethnic diversity of the region’s republics

• Russians make up the largest ethnic group with about 80% of the population

• Orthodox Christianity is the most popular religion

• However, the region also has Buddhist, Muslims, & Jews

• Art & Architecture style are unique in Russia

• Russia is known for their ballet companies

Tradition & Change in Russian Life• The region’s people have

begun to enjoy more social & cultural opportunities

• They can now keep up with new movies, music, & clothing trends from around the world

• However, they still favor a traditional way of life

• 30% of the population own dachas or vacation homes in the countryside

• They also enjoy visiting a banya (sauna, steam room, icy cold pool, then hot tea)

Nuclear Explosion At Chernobyl• On April 28, 1986 a Swedish

engineer was startled when a radiation detector went off as he entered his office

• After checking the radiation on his clothes, he believed a nuclear war had begun

• 800 miles away a nuclear power plant at Chernobyl had exploded

• Radiation contaminated 100,000 square miles

• 250,000 people were evacuated & resettled

Chapter 16 Section 2TranscaucasiaVocabulary: Red Army & Supra

Objective: Summarize some of the historic influences on Transcaucasia

A Gateway of Migration• Transcaucasia is the gateway

between Europe & Asia• 50 different types of people

live in Transcaucasia today because of its access to trade routes

• Migrants have brought a great variety of languages to the region

• Because of its close location to Southwest Asia, most people are Christian or Islamic

• Tensions among different groups have resulted in violence & civil war

A History of Outside Control• By 1870, the Czar’s

troops had added Transcaucasia to the Russian Empire

• The Red Army of the Soviet Union, solidified control of the region

• The republics of Transcaucasia regained their political independence in 1991 after the fall of the Soviet Union

• However, they have struggled to rebuild their nations’ economies

Economic Potential•They have taken advantage

of the region’s climate by producing tea & grapes

•The oil industry has had an important impact on the Transcaucasia region

•However many continue to live in poverty

•They region argues about whether the Caspian is an inland sea or a lake

Modern Life in Transcaucasia•Literacy rates in

Transcaucasia rose to the nearly 99% within the Soviet Union

•One major traditional value is mealtime celebrations

•The supra “dinner party” is an extravagant event with cold dishes, then hot courses, following desserts

Chapter 16 Section 3Central AsiaVocabulary: Silk Road, Great Game, Nomad, & Yurt

Objective: Describe the environmental problems & promise in the region

A Historical Crossroads• Central Asia consists of five

independent republics• The Silk Road carried

products through Central Asia

• They products consisted of gold, silver, ivory, jade, wine, spices, amber, linen, porcelain, grapes, & perfumes

• The Silk Road also became a route for spreading ideas, technology, & religion

An Uncertain Economic Future• Until the late 1980s, the

Soviet nuclear industry was an economic mainstay of Central Asia

• 470 nuclear devices were exploded in a nearby town

• Exposure to high levels of radiation caused increase rates of different diseases

• They diseases include leukemia, thyroid cancer, birth defects, & mental illness

• Oil & gas reserves have been found in the region

Cultures Divided & Conquered• Soviet planners carved

the region into five new nations that corresponded to the largest ethnic groups

• However they purposely left large numbers of one ethnic group as minorities in the neighboring republic

• The Soviets tried to prevent opposition by using the tensions in these regions to keep control

• Most Central Asians speak languages related to Turkish or Russian

The Survival of Tradition• The expansive

grasslands of Central Asia are ideal for nomadic people

• Yurts are portable tents that are lightweight

• Nomads use them for sleeping, floor coverings, wall linings, & insulation

• They are trying to preserve their traditions by allowing tourists to experience being shepherds