Russia (4/4)

What climate types dominate Russia?

A) D and E (COLDD)

What is the western part of Russia called?

A) European Russia

What happened to the Soviet Union?

B) Transitioned from communism to total collapse

Russia is a powerhouse in:

A) Nuclear weapons

Russia is weaker in:

B) Economic strength than to military

What mountain range divides Europe and Asia in Russia?

A) Ural Mountains

What was the Gulag Archipelago?

B) System of forced labor camps where billions were sent

What is a mikrorayon?

A) Large housing blocks with integrated shops and workplaces to keep people confined

How have Russian cities changed since the fall of the Soviet Union?

C) Suburban development, more cars, cities looking more like American cities

Which language family dominates Russia?

A) Slavic

What is the primary religion in Russia?

B) Eastern Orthodox Christianity, others are there too

Around what year was Russia founded?

A) 1300 AD

Who were the Tsars?

B) Dynastic rulers of Russia before the Bolsheviks

When did communism begin in Russia?

A) 1917, after the Bolshevik Revolution

Who was the first communist leader in Russia?

A) Lenin, embraces Marxism

Who followed Lenin as Soviet leader during WWII and repressed his own people?

B) Stalin

What policies ended secrecy and restructured the economy leading to the fall of the Soviet Union?

A) Glasnost and Perestroika

By what year did communism end in Russia?

B) 1991

What is the “Near Abroad”?

A) 14 former Soviet republics that declared independence

Who was the first democratic leader of Russia?

A) Boris Yeltsin

What issues arose from Boris Yeltsin’s rapid privatization?

B) Russian mafia and rise of oligarchs

Who are Oligarchs?

A) Wealthy and powerful individuals controlling major sectors

What are siloviki?

B) Bureaucrats loyal to Putin, controlling key institutions

What was the “Gosplan”?

A) Central planning organization for agriculture during Soviet times

What triggered the Russia-Ukraine conflict post-1991?

C) Ukraine declared independence and leaned toward the West/NATO, which angered Putin

Soviet Union discouraged and persecuted:

religious practice

Ukraine is split between:

Catholic west and Orthodox east

Largest non-Christian tradition

Islam in Caucasus and Central Asia

Muslims have a growing presence in:

Moscow

Small Buddhist groups in:

Russian interior

Trends pushing Russian nationalism

pushing away foreign influences (ex. western music), supports traditional russian orthodox church, popularity of sports connecting to national pride