Russia: Vocab Flashcards
A Christian faith tradition that follows the teachings of the first seven ecumenical councils of the early church. It is characterized by its liturgical worship, rich spiritual and theological tradition, and emphasis on the unity of the church.
Eastern Orthodoxy
A group of people who share a common language and culture and have a long history in Central and Eastern Europe. They include Russians, Poles, Serbs, Bulgarians, Croatians, and many other nationalities.
Slavs
A group of people who share a common language and culture and have a long history in Central and Eastern Europe. They include Russians, Poles, Serbs, Bulgarians, Croatians, and many other nationalities.
Rus
A medieval East Slavic state centered on the city of Kiev that existed from the late 9th century until the mid-13th century. It was the first major state to emerge from the Eastern Slavs and was ruled by a dynasty of Rurikid princes.
Kievan Rus
A Mongol and later Turkicized state which ruled over the western and central parts of the Eurasian Steppe from the 13th to the 15th centuries. It was established by Batu Khan, the grandson of Genghis Khan, and extended from the Volga River to the Danube River and from the Black Sea to the Baltic Sea.
Khanate of the Golden Horde
A state in Russia that existed from the late 15th century until it was absorbed by the Russian Empire in 1721. It was centered on Moscow and included parts of modern-day Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and the Baltic states.
Muscovy
Peasants in the Middle Ages who were legally bound to work on the land of a noble lord. They were not slaves, but they could not leave the land or marry without permission from the lord. In exchange for labor, the serf was entitled to protection and some rights to the land.
Serfs
A powerful, wealthy, and influential noble class in medieval and early modern Russia. They were landowners who held high positions in the government and military, and often held a hereditary noble title.
Boyars
A title used by a ruler to signify absolute power and authority, typically in a monarchy or empire.
Tsar
A fortified complex at the heart of Moscow, the capital of Russia, that includes centuries-old cathedrals and palaces, as well as the official residence of the Russian president.
Kremlin
A Russian Orthodox church located in Moscow’s Red Square. It was built between 1555 and 1561, and is renowned for its colorful, onion-shaped domes.
St. Basil’s Cathedral
An assembly of representatives of the various classes of Russian feudal society in the 16th to 17th centuries. It was convened to debate and decide on matters of state and was the closest thing Russia had to a parliament.
Zemsky Sobor
The last ruling dynasty of Imperial Russia, which lasted from 1613 until the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917. The family was descended from Tsar Michael I, the first Romanov tsar, and reigned until the Bolshevik Revolution.
Romanovs
A policy of political repression and social reorganization in 16th century Russia was carried out by Tsar Ivan IV (also known as Ivan the Terrible). It involved the creation of a private military force tasked with suppressing internal dissent, confiscating private property, and forcibly relocating people.
Oprichnina
Members of Slavic ethnic groups in Eastern Europe and Central Asia who are known for their traditional horseback riding and martial arts skills
Cossack
Russian military units that existed from the 16th to the early 18th centuries. They were armed infantrymen, who served as the palace guards and garrison troops of the Tsar.
Streltsy
A governing body of the Eastern Orthodox Church, consisting of high-ranking church leaders who oversee the church’s operations.
Holy Synod
The official residence of the Russian tsars in St. Petersburg, Russia, from 1732 until the Russian Revolution in 1917. It was a large Baroque palace, built between 1754 and 1762.
Winter Palace
The process of adopting or copying western culture, values, and technology. It is often associated with modernization and globalization.
Westernization
A tax imposed in Russia from 1705 to 1772. It required all men who wore beards to pay an annual fee to the government. Those who refused to pay the tax were subject to punishments such as public humiliation or imprisonment.
Beard Tax
A type of clothing made from animal pelts. They were used for warmth, comfort, and fashion, and were highly prized as a luxury items.
Furs
A region in northern Asia, extending from the Ural Mountains to the Pacific Ocean. It is known for its harsh climate and long, cold winters
Siberia
Violent attacks against a specific group of people, typically based on their race, religion, or ethnicity. The attacks usually involve looting, destruction of property, and sometimes murder.
Pogroms
