Unit 2- Russia and Post Soviet States

Former USSR States

15 republics that became independent in 1991. Significance: Shaped modern Eurasian geopolitics.

Northern European Plain

Flat, fertile land. Significance: Heartland of Russian agriculture and population centers.

Volga River

Longest river in Europe. Significance: Vital for trade, transport, and energy.

Siberia

Vast region of Russia. Significance: Rich in resources but sparsely populated due to harsh winter climate.

Permafrost

Permanently frozen ground. Significance: Limits building, farming, and infrastructure in Siberia.

Tundra

Treeless, cold ecosystem. Significance: Environmental and human survival challenges.

Taiga

World’s largest forest. Significance: Provides timber and biodiversity.

Caucasus Mountains

Range between Black and Caspian Seas. Significance: Ethnic diversity and political conflict zone.

Aral Sea

Shrinking inland sea. Significance: Environmental disaster from Soviet irrigation projects.

Kievan Rus’

Early Slavic state influenced by Vikings. Significance: Birthplace of Russian identity and Orthodox Christianity.

Russian Orthodox Christianity

Eastern branch of Christianity. Significance: Deeply influenced Russian culture and politics.

Mongol Empire

Controlled Russia 1200s–1400s. Significance: Shaped Russian government and military traditions.

Romanovs

Ruling dynasty until 1917. Significance: Expanded Russia into a global empire.

USSR

Communist state (1922–1991). Significance: Superpower rival to the U.S. in Cold War.

Joseph Stalin

Soviet dictator. Significance: Industrialized USSR, but through terror, purges, and famine.

Collectivization

State-run farms. Significance: Increased state control, caused famine and suffering.

Great Terror

Stalin’s purges of enemies. Significance: Millions imprisoned or executed

Fall of USSR

1991 collapse. Significance: Created economic instability and independent states.

Economic Instability

Post-Soviet challenges with poverty, corruption. Significance: Still affects region today.

Vladimir Putin

Russian leader since 2000. Significance: Centralizes power, challenges the West.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Current president of Ukraine. Significance: Symbol of resistance in Russo-Ukrainian War.

Crimea

Peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014. Significance: Triggered international crisis.

NATO

Military alliance of Western nations. Significance: Russia sees expansion as a threat.

Russo-Ukrainian War

Ongoing conflict since 2014/2022. Significance: Major geopolitical crisis today.