History & Culture Russia
The Moskva and Volga rivers region was settled from pre-historic times by Finno-Ugrians.Scythians inhabited the steppes.800-900 Swedish Varangians under Prince Runik advanced southwest along the rivers establishing strongholds at Novgorod and Kiev, 900-1240 Kiev becomes the centre of the Russian empire;trade flourishes with Byzantium. 988 Christianity is introduced from Constantinople.
The Merlion Yoke:
• 1200-1300 While Alexander Nevsky defends Rusia’s western borders from Swedish attack,Batu Khan,grandson of Genghis Khan,invades from the east,conquers Moscow(1238) and sacks Kiev(1240).For the next 250 years,Russian princes are forced to pay tribute to the Golden Horde(Mongols). 1328 He moves from Vladimir to Moscow, where he builds his Kremlin(fortress)
• 1380 Grand Princes Dmirty, grandson of “Moneybags” challenges the Mongols in the Battle. 1462-1500 Ivan lll,”Grand Prince of Moscow and All Russia’ refused to pay Moscow’s tribute to the Mongols whose domination comes to an end. Russia succeed Byzantium as the “third rome”.
• The Blue Of The Star: 1547-84 lvan lV (the terrible),is crowned Tsar of All Russia.
• 1200-1300 While Alexander Nevsky defends Rusia’s western borders from Swedish attack,Batu Khan,grandson of Genghis Khan,invades from the east,conquers Moscow(1238) and sacks Kiev(1240).For the next 250 years,Russian princes are forced to pay tribute to the Golden Horde(Mongols). 1328 He moves from Vladimir to Moscow, where he builds his Kremlin(fortress)
• 1380 Grand Princes Dmirty, grandson of “Moneybags” challenges the Mongols in the Battle. 1462-1500 Ivan lll,”Grand Prince of Moscow and All Russia’ refused to pay Moscow’s tribute to the Mongols whose domination comes to an end. Russia succeed Byzantium as the “third rome”.
• The Blue Of The Star: 1547-84 lvan lV (the terrible),is crowned Tsar of All Russia.
A Window On The West:
• 1682-1725 The widely-travelled tsar,peter the Great,son of Alexel Romanov,introduced western ways,reforms the civil service and army,and builds a modern navy,He recaptures the Baltic coast from the Sweden and starts building his new city,St Petersburg.In 1724 St Petersburg becomes the official capital of Russia. 1725-62 Under Peter’s heirs the court becomes Westernised and alienated from the people.
• 1763-96 Catherine ll(the great)ushers in a period of enlightenment.She reforms local government,liberalises the penal code,founds hospiatals and invites leading architects to St Petersburg who give the city its classical look.
• 1682-1725 The widely-travelled tsar,peter the Great,son of Alexel Romanov,introduced western ways,reforms the civil service and army,and builds a modern navy,He recaptures the Baltic coast from the Sweden and starts building his new city,St Petersburg.In 1724 St Petersburg becomes the official capital of Russia. 1725-62 Under Peter’s heirs the court becomes Westernised and alienated from the people.
• 1763-96 Catherine ll(the great)ushers in a period of enlightenment.She reforms local government,liberalises the penal code,founds hospiatals and invites leading architects to St Petersburg who give the city its classical look.
The Emperors:
• 1812 Napoleon invades and occupies Moscow.The inhabitants set fire to the city.Napoleon withdraws.
• 1825-55 Decembrist Rising in St Petersburg is crushed by Nicholas l in 1825.
• 1855-81 Alexander ll liberates the serfs,1861.He is assassinated by revolutionaries,1 March 1881.
• 1881-94 Rapid industriliation under the repressive rule of Alexander lll leads to a huge increase in the size of the urban working class.
• 1812 Napoleon invades and occupies Moscow.The inhabitants set fire to the city.Napoleon withdraws.
• 1825-55 Decembrist Rising in St Petersburg is crushed by Nicholas l in 1825.
• 1855-81 Alexander ll liberates the serfs,1861.He is assassinated by revolutionaries,1 March 1881.
• 1881-94 Rapid industriliation under the repressive rule of Alexander lll leads to a huge increase in the size of the urban working class.
Abdication And Revolution:
• 1894-1927 The last tsar,Nicholas .
• 1898 Vladimir Lenin forms Social Democratic Party.
• 1905 Bloody Sunday (9 January):140000 workers march to the Winter Palace.Troops open fire; 100 marchers are killed,hundreds wounded.The Tsar agrees to establish the Duma(State Assembly).
• 1914 Russia enters World War I against Germany.
• 1917 Russia is on the drink of economic and political catastrophe. Tsar Nicholas ll abdicates.A provisional government is set up.On 25 october the Bolshevik Central Committee,under Lenin’s leadership,seizes power in the Great Socialist Revolution.Lenin nationalizes industries and radically reforms agriculture.
• 1918 The Tsar and family are murdered.Civil war rages until 1922 when Lev Trotsky’s Red Army declares victory.
• 1894-1927 The last tsar,Nicholas .
• 1898 Vladimir Lenin forms Social Democratic Party.
• 1905 Bloody Sunday (9 January):140000 workers march to the Winter Palace.Troops open fire; 100 marchers are killed,hundreds wounded.The Tsar agrees to establish the Duma(State Assembly).
• 1914 Russia enters World War I against Germany.
• 1917 Russia is on the drink of economic and political catastrophe. Tsar Nicholas ll abdicates.A provisional government is set up.On 25 october the Bolshevik Central Committee,under Lenin’s leadership,seizes power in the Great Socialist Revolution.Lenin nationalizes industries and radically reforms agriculture.
• 1918 The Tsar and family are murdered.Civil war rages until 1922 when Lev Trotsky’s Red Army declares victory.
Communists Take Control:
• 1922 Lenin declares the union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) Moscow becomes the official capital.Lenin dies in 1924 and Petrograd is renamed Leningrad in his honour.Joseph Stalin wins power struggle and starts the first five Year Plan of industrialization and agricultural collectivization backed up by a purge in which millions either die or are deported.
• 1941-45 Adolf Hitler invades the USSR around 25 million citizens die in the Great Patriotic war.
• 1922 Lenin declares the union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) Moscow becomes the official capital.Lenin dies in 1924 and Petrograd is renamed Leningrad in his honour.Joseph Stalin wins power struggle and starts the first five Year Plan of industrialization and agricultural collectivization backed up by a purge in which millions either die or are deported.
• 1941-45 Adolf Hitler invades the USSR around 25 million citizens die in the Great Patriotic war.
The Dawn Of Democracy:
• 1991 Communism and the disintegration of the USSR.Russia under Boris Yeltsin becomes successor state to USSR. 2003 St. Petersburg hosts tri-centenary celebrations featuring restored buildings and world leaders
• 1991 Communism and the disintegration of the USSR.Russia under Boris Yeltsin becomes successor state to USSR. 2003 St. Petersburg hosts tri-centenary celebrations featuring restored buildings and world leaders
