Russia: European or Asian?

Question 1

Russia

Answer 1

• Geographically in Europe and Russia
• Different time zones, biomes
• Scattered population

Question 2

Early Growth of Russia

Answer 2

• Defeat of the Tatars; acquired Kazan 1553, (control of Volga) 1556, Siberia 1582.
• Annexation of Crimea by Catherine II 1783
• Partitions of Poland 1772-1795
• Finland 1809

Question 3

Tatar (Mongol) Legacy

Answer 3

• National myth that there was no effect of the Mongol rule left on Russia
• Administrative and tax systems adopted from Mongol systems, influence of shamanism (spiritual worship) in peasant communities.

Question 4

Siberia and Stretching Eastwards

Answer 4

Annexation of Eastern regions into Russian empire from 15th-17th Century

Question 5

The Cossacks

Answer 5

Originated from Turkic mounted tribesmen hired to be mercenaries who lived in rivers stretching from Ukraine to the Volga to Siberia.

Question 6

Crimea War

Answer 6

‘Share heritage of the Sick man of Europe’ – sick man of Europe was the Ottoman
Empire.

• War was last naval battle of the wooden fleet.
• War over control of the Black Sea and access to the Mediterranean Sea, as well as
  the protection of Orthodox Christians in the Ottoman Empire.
• Humiliation of the Treaty of Paris 1856: protectorate over Christians of the ottoman
  empire given to European powers.

Russia to cease maintaining a fleet on the Black
Sea.

Russia to remove all installations along the Black Sea coast.

• ‘Eastern Question’ and war with Turkey 1877-1878: protection of Christians and Slav
  brothers.
• Treaties in 1878 and their effect on Bulgaria, re-established as a principality, Russia
  managed to return its fleet to the Black Sea (this was a v. important political factor).
• Questioned power and genuine talent of the Romanov’s dynasty to rule the empire.
  There was an urgent need to reform the country.

Question 7

See cards on Slavophiles vs. Westernisers

Answer 7

Ok