Russia: Vocab

Question 1

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.

Answer 1

Eastern Orthodoxy

Question 2

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.

Answer 2

Slavs

Question 3

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.

Answer 3

Rus

Question 4

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.

Answer 4

Kievan Rus

Question 5

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.

Answer 5

Khanate of the Golden Horde

Question 6

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.

Answer 6

Muscovy

Question 7

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.

Answer 7

Serfs

Question 8

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.

Answer 8

Boyars

Question 9

A title used by a ruler to signify absolute power and authority, typically in a monarchy or empire.

Answer 9

Tsar

Question 10

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.

Answer 10

Kremlin

Question 11

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.

Answer 11

St. Basil’s Cathedral

Question 12

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.

Answer 12

Zemsky Sobor

Question 13

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.

Answer 13

Romanovs

Question 14

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.

Answer 14

Oprichnina

Question 15

Members of Slavic ethnic groups in Eastern Europe and Central Asia who are known for their traditional horseback riding and martial arts skills

Answer 15

Cossack

Question 16

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.

Answer 16

Streltsy

Question 17

A governing body of the Eastern Orthodox Church, consisting of high-ranking church leaders who oversee the church’s operations.

Answer 17

Holy Synod

Question 18

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.

Answer 18

Winter Palace

Question 19

The process of adopting or copying western culture, values, and technology. It is often associated with modernization and globalization.

Answer 19

Westernization

Question 20

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.

Answer 20

Beard Tax

Question 21

A type of clothing made from animal pelts. They were used for warmth, comfort, and fashion, and were highly prized as a luxury items.

Answer 21

Furs

Question 22

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

Answer 22

Siberia

Question 23

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.

Answer 23

Pogroms