Midterm! Flashcards
Baikal
Lake Baikal. Holds 1/5 of world’s fresh water.
Borodino
- Vicious battle where over 100,000 died from both sides (50,000 from French, 58,000 from Russians). The Russians retreated, but it didn’t matter much as Alexander set fire to Moscow, leaving Napoleon without resources and without victory.
Kiev
Varangans started Kiev. Prince Vladimir in 988 AD ruled Kiev before the Mongol yoke. Was main center of Rus until early 13th century with the start of the mongol yoke. Prince Vladimir, Yaroslav the Wise were big players.
Siberia
Cold, northern part of russia and traditional/popular spot for exile. One of the main people to be exiled there was Lenin was exiled there, and it’s from there that he coined his pen name Lenin. Nicholas I also sent 121 of the decembrist revolutionaries to Siberia.
Moscow
Became the main center of Rus (and eventually Russia) starting in the Mongol Yoke. Officially became the center in 1500 under Ivan III (the Great). It became the “Third Rome” in reference to Christianity after the fall of Rome and Constantinople.
Caspian
The Caspian sea. Owned by Chechnya in during Yeltsin. Invaded in December of 1994
Novgorod
The varangans took over Novgorod in 862. Paid tribute during mongol yoke despite location (mongols couldn’t attack because it was a heavily forested area). Took it in 1480 and abolished its vyech. In 1570, Ivan the Terrible invaded and destroyed the town/boyars.
Volga
The longest river in Europe and is also known as “dear little mother”. Important river in Russia, the main river for transport. Runs from north to south.
St.Petersburg/Leningrad
Founded by Peter the Great in 1703, also known as the window on the west. The construction of the city caused a ton of serf deaths. Officially became the capital in 1712. Became Leningrad in 1924. 900 day siege during WW2
Volgagrad/Stalingrad
Battle of Stalingrad 1942-Feb 1943. Site of decisive victory over the Nazis. Prevented Nazis from getting the oil they needed.
988
Vladimir and the Baptism of Russia
1240
Tatars and the Mongol Yoke
1380
Battle of kulikovo field. First Russian victory over the mongols.
1480
Ivan decalres independence from Golden Horde
1613
Michael Romonov is chose as tsar. Beginning of Romonov dynasty
1666
Split between Orthodox and old believers. The Church lost its unity and it lost power and independence.
1703
Construction of St. Petersburg
1812
Napoleon invasion (and failure). Alexander I is tsar at this time.
1861
Alexander II and the emancipation of the serfs
1905
Bloody Sunday and the 1905 revolution and October Manifesto (formation of Duma).
1917
Bolshevik revolution and formation of the Soviet Union
1941
Hitler and the Nazi Invasion
1991
The August coup and the fall of the USSR. Yeltsin becomes President of Russia
2000
Is when Yeltsin resigns in favor of Putin.
Assassination of Alexander II
1881 in St. Petersburg. The People’s Will assassinated him by blowing him up in an attempt to overthrow the Tsar. Nicholas I came after “the Iron Tsar”
August Coup
1991 against Gorbachev (soviet leaders tried to oust him). Yeltsin the big defender/victor against the coup.
Baptism of Rus
Kievan Rus in 988 under Prince Vladimir
Bloody Sunday
January 22, 1905. Peaceful strike led by Father Gapon to the Summer Palace for better living conditions. Guards open fire on the crowd killing hundreds.
Civil War
1918-1921. Reds vs Whites.
Cuban Missile Crisis
October 1962. Reagan and Krushchev.