Post on 23-Feb-2016
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Please turn to pg. 360.
Ch. 16: Human Geography of
Russia & the Republics
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Russia & the Western Republics
Russia Estonia Latvia Lithuania Belarus Moldova Ukraine
Baltic RepublicsEastern Europe
A Rich Culture Significant ethnic diversity Dominant religion: Orthodox Christianity A significant percentage of the population is
atheist because practicing religion—at least openly—is usually not legal in communist countries. Why? Whom/what do religious adherents worship, and why might the gov’t perceive this behavior as a threat?
Artistic genius: Dostoyevsky (writer), Tchaikovsky (musician), Baryshnikov (ballet dancer)
The Baltic republics identify strongly with Europe—why?
Orthodox churches
St. Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow
Onion domes help to prevent the accumulation of snow during the winter.
Visual Art: Socialist Realism The Communist Party in the Soviet
Union outlawed art that was not produced in the official style of socialist realism, which promoted Soviet ideals.
Examples of Socialist Realism
“Be Watchful and Shrewd”
Examples of Socialist Realism
“Country and Party First”
Examples of Socialist Realism
“Don’t babble. Keep your tongue behind your teeth!”
Examples of Socialist Realism
“In capitalist countries…In socialist countries!”
Examples of Socialist Realism
“Kill the Imperialist Monster.”
Tradition & Change in Russian Life
Since the fall of the USSR, more open to the influence of other countries, especially those in the West
Tradition is still honored and preserved.
Dachas—second homes in rural areas owned by urban dwellers; usually small & plain with vegetable gardens
Banyas—bathhouse combining a dry sauna, a steam bath, and—usually—a plunge into icy water afterwards
dacha
Lavish dacha
banya
banya
Chernobyl April 26, 1986--meltdown at a nuclear power
plant in Chernobyl, Ukraine (north, near border with Belarus)
Considered the world’s worst nuclear accident until the meltdown at Fukushima, Japan in 2011
Death toll 1986-2004=almost one million people
2000 estimate suggested that the health of 3.4 million of Ukraine’s 50 million people was adversely affected.
100,000 sq. mi. of land in Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus was contaminated.
Approximately 250,000 had to be evacuated & resettled.
Costs related to the disaster estimated at $300 billion+.
Chernobyl
Chernobyl
Chernobyl
Chernobyl
Chernobyl
Chernobyl
Chernobyl
Chernobyl
TRANSCAUCASIA Georgia Armenia Azerbaijan
A Gateway of Migration Long used as a migration route,
especially between Asia and Europe Presence of many trade
routessignificant cultural diversity Cultural diversitytension that was
rarely expressed as open hostility during the Soviet era
Significant violence following collapse of the USSR
Dominant religions=Christianity & Islam
Armenia—first officially Christian country in the
worldNoravank—13th century monastery in Armenia
Economic Potential Agriculture in humid subtropical
lowlands and foothills—tea and grapes
“land of flames”—oil in Azerbaijan
Dividing the Caspian Sea Is it a sea? If so, each country has
the legal right to resources on its own sea bed.
If it’s a lake, most of the resource wealth is required by law to be shared by each of the countries bordering the Caspian.
Map, pg. 373 How might development of the
significant oil reserves in this region affect the physical environment?
Dividing the Caspian SeaAzerbaijan has large oil reserves off its coast. Would it want the Caspian to be a sea or a lake?
Russia has few offshore reserves. Would it want the Caspian to be called a sea or a lake?
Modern Life in Transcaucasia
Literacy rates rose to 99% under Soviet rule, and education remains a high priority.
Mealtime celebrations are important. Supra=Georgian dinner party
involving large quantities of food and drink
supra
CENTRAL ASIA Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Tajikistan Turkmenistan Uzbekistan
A Historical Crossroads Traders called the ancient route between
China and the Mediterranean Sea the Silk Road.
Movement--In addition to goods, ideas, technology, & religion were spread.
The Great Game Interest in this region exploded
during the 19th century when the British and Russian empires struggled to control it.
The British didn’t want the southward moving Russians to threaten British control of India.
The struggle between these two empires is known as the Great Game.
The Great Game
An Uncertain Economic Future Until the late 1980s, the center of Soviet
nuclear testing was in present day Kazakhstan.
Between 1949 and 1989, 470 nuclear devices were exploded in “the polygon,” a vast nuclear testing site.
Effects—cracked walls in buildings; widespread health problems such as leukemia, thyroid cancer, birth defects, and mental illness
What sorts of effects do these health problems have on families and the economy?
Oil & gas reserves have potential to bring significant wealth to the region.
An Uncertain Economic Future
An Uncertain Economic Future
An Uncertain Economic Future
Cultures Divided & Conquered
Republics divided among ethnic groups although significant minorities of neighboring groups exist.
Soviet leaders tried to prevent opposition to their authority by using the tensions that existed among the ethnic groups.
Dominant religion today: Islam Many people in Central Asia speak
Turkish languages and Russian.
The Survival of Tradition Expansive grasslands are ideal
grounds for nomads, people who have no permanent home.
The number of nomads decreased under Soviet rule because people were forced onto collective farms.
Some nomads still live in the region today.
Yurts, tents that usually consist of several layers of felt stretched around a wooden frame, are among nomads’ most valuable possessions.
Yurt
REGIONAL ISSUES