A Brief Overview of History of Russian Society and Culture

Stories that bring you there and make connections

Lyra Riabov Associate Professor Southern New Hampshire University

Four-Part Program

The Roots of Russian National Character

Lecture 1

Lyra Riabov Associate Professor Southern New Hampshire University

Russian Federation

Population: 149,909,089 (July 1995 est.)

Russian Federation, 21 autonomous republics

Land: 6.6 million square miles slightly more than 1.8 times the size of the US. The Soviet Union was larger than the USA and Canada combined.
Time zones: 11. When it is 7p.m. in Moscow, it is 6a.m. the following day in a village on the Bering Strait.

Nationalities: Russians and about 100 minorities

Independence: 24 August 1991 Executive branch: President Legislative branch: Federal Assembly and State Duma Judicial branch: Constitutional Court, Supreme Court
University of Texas Library Online

The Roots of Russian National Character

Grand Prince Vladimir adopted Orthodox Christianity in 988
Two hundred year Mongol invasion (1237-1480) Democracy roots in Great Novgorod and Rise of Moskovy (XIIth XVth centuries)

Fascinating art and architecture of Kievan Rus, Novgorod, and Moscow (XIth XVIth centuries)

Vikings/Varangians
The name Russia comes from Rus, the name originally given to the Varangians who entered the area of Novgorod and Kiev in the IXth century. Among the most famous of the ancient trade routes was the one called "from the Vikings to the Greeks." To a large degree Kiev and Novgorod, the principal cities of Ancient Rus, flourished because they were located along the waterways of this important route. 862 - Novgorod invites Riurik of Varangians (Norsemen) to rule their town. He and his successors united several towns including Kiev. 862-1598 - Riurikid Dynasty ruled Kievan Rus.

Eastern Europe Eleventh/Twelfth Centuries

Russian Principalities Twelfth Century

St. George and Serpent The Battle Between the Novgorodians and the Suzdalians
Novgorod Icons circa 1450-1475

988 - Grand Prince Vladimir adopted Orthodox Christianity

Monument to Millennium of Russia, Novgorod, 1859

Our Lady of Vladimir. XIIth century.

Wood, tempera.The State Tretyakov Gallery

Christianity: Icons, Painters, Schools

Moscow School Boris and Gleb

Andrei Rublev (ca. 1370 - ca. 1430)

Theophanes the Greek c. 1330 - c.1410

Andrei Rublev c.1370 - c. 1430

Dionysius

c. 1440 - c. 1510

Unification of Russia
Ivan the Great Reigns as Grant Prince of Moscow (1462-1533)

Church of Intercession-on-Nerl XIIth Century

Rostov Kremlin XVIIth Century

Russian Artists in a workshop

Finift Enamel

Ivan the Terrible

Vasnetsov