Russian Republics

EURASIA- Europe and AsiaThree Regions 1.Russia and Western Republics2. Transcaucasia Republics3. Central Asia Republics

Russia •Russian state began in the region between the Baltic, Black and Caspian seas.•Czar= Emperor; Ivan the Great 1st Czar of USSR•1917 Russian Revolution•Command Economy helped to establish a communist government•Late 1940’s tensions between U.S. and Soviet Union lead to the Cold War lasted through the 1980’s•USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) falls in 1991•Kremlin- Government building; president lives there•Christian Orthodox

Two Types of EconomiesCapitalism (Free Market Economy)--Production of goods is based on consumer

demand--Government interferes as little as possible in the

economy--Individuals create businesses to gain profits

Command Economy--Government owns all resources (means of

production)--Government makes al economic decisions--Individuals can not own property or go into

business for themselves

Totalitarian Political SystemTwo types of totalitarian political

systems: Government holds all political power; individual rights and freedoms are limited; No political elections or voting takes place

1. Communist: example, former USSR

2. Dictatorship: examples, North Korea, Cuba and Afghanistan

Freedom Based Government SystemDemocracy: People (citizens) hold political

power, either directly or through elected representatives

Citizens have individual rights and freedoms such as the right to vote, freedom of speech and freedom to choose religion

Example: the United States, Canada and Sweden

Russia is the biggest country in the world, twice as big as the USA

Ural MountainsThe Ural Mountains

(also known as the Urals) are a mountain range that runs north-south through western Russia. They are considered the natural boundary between Europe and Asia.

-Siberia-large area in central Russia-almost always cold-most people live in western Russia

Siberia

Lacks Mt. barriers to keep cold Arctic winds out

SiberiaSiberia is the vast region

constituting almost all of Northern Asia and makes up about 77 percent of Russia’s territory

Siberia’s Biome (groups of ecosystems with similar climates and organisms) is mostly a frozen tundra; a belt on the northern fringe

Vegetation is taiga (largest coniferous forest on earth) in the temperate southern zone.

Lake Baikal

Lake Baikal, meaning "the rich lake” is the world's second most voluminous lake, after the Caspian Sea

Lake Baikal is the deepest, and among the clearest of all lakes in the world. At more than 25 million years old, Baikal is also the world's oldest lake

Human-Environment InteractionThe Trans-Siberian

Railroad is a network of railways that connect East and Western Eurasia

Links Moscow with Russia’s far east provinces, Mongolia, China and the Sea of Japan (Port of Vladivostok)

Today, the railroad is part of the Eurasian Land Bridge.

Western Republics•Baltic Republics- Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.•Belarus, Moldova, Ukraine together with the Baltic Republics form the Western Republics.

Western Republics•Today Moldova faces warfare•The majority of the violence is due to attempts of secession (the act of withdrawing from an organization, union especially a political entity )

Ukraine•One of the largest countries in eastern Europe•The Food Basket of eastern Europe a major source of dairies , meat and vegetables.•Chernobyl Legacy

Food Producing RegionRussian Steppes- temperate grasslandsChernozem(black soil) world’s most fertile soilMajor grain producers (wheat)Extends from Ukraine to Siberia

Human Environment InteractionThe Aral Sea has lost 80% of its waterAral Sea no longer gets water from Amu Darya

or Syr Darya rivers; water diverted to irrigate cotton crops in Central Asia

All 24 fish species are extinctSharp rise in throat cancer, respiratory diseases

due to run off from heavy use of pesticides

H.E.I Technology Innovations

Standard of living can be improved for communities surrounding the Aral Sea.

Drying of Aral Sea can be slowed down or stopped by

1 solution; introduce drought resistant cotton plants that need less water

Human-Environment InteractionChernobyl disaster; a

nuclear reactor accident that occurred on April 26th, 1986 at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine (during this time it was part of the U.S.S.R.).

Worst nuclear power plant disaster in history

Resulted in a severe release of radioactivity following a massive power explosion that destroyed the reactor. Most deaths from the accident were caused by radiation poisoning.

Transcaucasia

•Gate way of migration between Europe & Asia brought many cultures & languages; people kept their languages•Ja bail Al - Alsun or Mountain of Languages•Religion-Christian and Islamic

Central Asia

Five independent Republics

The Silk Road The Silk Road

Runs from China through Siberia, Central Asia toEastern Europe (Turkey)

The Silk RoadTransportation of Chinese SilkGold, wine, porcelain, and perfumesSilver, and spices were other goods

transported

Key ContentYurts – houses of Central Asian nomadsNomads – people who have no permanent

homePolygon – testing site of 470 nuclear devices

in KazakhstanTranscaucasia major industry (money maker

) – Oil, tourism and wine making