GWA Russia Test Prt.1 Flashcards
Define Eurasia
Combined continental landmasses of Europe and Asia
What does Russia rank in the world for total land area
1st (6.5 million square miles)
What measuring system does Russia use
Metric system of measurement
What countries use the standard measuring system (3)
U.S, Liberia, Myanmar
Russia is only 1 of what fraction of countries in Eurasia that culturally belongs to two continents
5/6
How many Federal Districts is Russia divided up into
8
How many Federal Subjects make up the Federal Districts
85
How many time zones does Russia have
11
What does Russia rank in population
9th (144 million)
What is happening to Russia population? Why?
Decreasing: Due to war, alcoholism, low levels of immigration
What is Russia’s largest geographical region
Siberia
What % does Siberia make up of Russia
77% (accounts for 28% of its population)
What is the soil that goes from the Northern European Plain and into Western Russia
Chernozem (Black Earth [Fertile soil]
What does Russia rank in agricultural output
3rd (However, ranks 135th in the world for arable land %)
Where is volcanic activity in Russia mostly found
Kamchatka peninsula (Eastern Siberia)
2 largest Mt. Systems
Ural & Caucasus
What is Russia’s largest river
Lena River
What is Russia’s largest Lake
Lake Baikal
What is Russia’s largest sea (enclosed)
Caspian Sea
What is happening to the Aral Sea
Shrinking in Size
What are Russia’s major Climate zones
Taiga (Forest)
Tundra (Frozen)
Steppe (Rolling Plains)
Where did most of the earliest villages appear in present day Russia? Why?
Taiga (Forest); Provided protection & fertile soil
In the 5th & 6th century, Central Europeans migrated from the north and eat into present day Russia, What were they called?
Slavs
What were the Slavs characteristics
No written language, Polytheism, Farmers, Self-sufficient
What were the Scandinavians that entered Russia in the 9th century called
Varangians
Why did the Varangians migrate to Russia
To establish trade routes to Constantinople
What did the Varangians do to the Slavs
They raided Slavic villages for goods and slaves & built trading post on rivers (Eventually become first cities)
Where does the word Russia derive its name from
The Rus Viking who settled & lived in Kiev
Who was the 1st Great Prince of Kiev
Rurik
What did the Great Prince Vladimir do (988)
- Sent out people to find a new religion for his people
- Adopted the religion of Eastern Orthodoxy
- Results: Created the Cyrillic Alphabet
What problems did Vladimir run into after his success
A Civil War broke out among the Boyars (Russian name for Nobles
Who invaded Russia in 1237
Genghis Khan
What did Genghis Khan rule
Mongols
What was Genghis Khan’s army called
Golden Horde
What were the consequences of the Mongol invasion
- Russia declined due to a lack of trade
- Agriculture became once again the main foundation
Who united the Great Princes of Russia
Ivan 3rd (“The Great”)
What did Ivan 3rd do
- In 1480, he defeated the Mongols
- Became the 1st leader of unified Russia
- Married the niece of the last Byzantine (Eastern Roman Empire) Ruler
What did Ivan 3rd consider himself to be
The heir to the Roman Empire due to marrying the niece of the last Byzantine Ruler
Who is considered the first Czar
Ivan 4th (“The Terrible”)
What did Ivan 4th do
Ruled from 1533-1584 and killed his first born son
Who was the 2nd Czar of Russia
Feodor 1st (Son of Ivan 4th)
What happened during the Times of Troubles (Civil War)
The end of the Rurik Dynasty and a New Dynasty (Romanov) rule for 300 years
Who was the 1st Romanov Czar
Michael Romanov (Mikel)
What did Peter 1st (“The Great”) do
He is 6’6’’ and Westernized Russia by bringing culture of military, politically, etc. over to Russia
What city did Peter 1st build? Why?
St. Petersburg; To trade w/ West
What did Catherine 2nd (Czarina = Female title of Czar) do
She Modernized and Expanded Russia
What did Nicholas 1st do
Ruled during the Decembrist Revolt (1825)
What was the Decembrist Revolt
The attempt to overthrow the czar and set up a Duma
What is a Duma
Russian Parliament
What did Nicholas 1st do about the Decembrist Revolt
Leaders = executed & arrested
What did Alexander 2nd do
He emancipated the Russian Serfs which led to the ride of unemployment & demand of more reforms. No factory output
What did Nicholas 2nd do
He was the last of the Romanovs and ruled during the Russo-Japanese War and Bloody Sunday, started a Duma, and abdicated during the March Revolution
Who won the Russo-Japanese War
Japan
What was Bloody Sunday
Unarmed protesters were shot outside Czar Winter Palace in St. Petersburg
When was the Romanov family assassinated
July 17th, 1918
Who was apart of the last Romanov family
Father- Nicholas 2nd
Mother- Alexandra
1st daughter- Olga
2nd daughter- Tatiana
3rd daughter- Maria
4th daughter- Anastasia
1st son- Alexie (Had Hemophilia)
