Neuqua Valley World Geography

Name:

Teacher:

Period:

EURASIA REVIEW GUIDE REV 2013  

A. How has physical geography impacted Russia’s development?  B. How did historical turning points in Russia result in economic, social and political change?  C. How do current government public policies impact the people of Russia socially and economically?   D. How do cultural traits unify and/or divide Russian society?  E. What is the relationship between Russia and its former republics? What is its relationship with the US and the rest of world?  F. Why have demographic changes occurred in Russia and how have they impacted Russia’s quality of life?   G. How has the environment been impacted by political, economic, and social conditions? 

 Physical Geography: Reasons for Geographic Isolation  

Climate: permafrost, tundra, taiga  

Arctic Sea Baltic Sea Black Sea Aral Sea Lake Baikal  

Caucuses Mountains Ural Mountains Siberia  

Russia: Moscow, St. Petersburg  

Sustainability/Natural Resources    Government Regulations    Pollution       Chernobyl 

Historical Turning Points: Monarchy    Czars    Russian/Eastern Orthodox Church    Westernization [modernization]        Peter the Great  Russian Revolution    Communism    Civil War    Vladimir Lenin  Soviet Union [USSR]    Joseph Stalin, Totalitarian    Command Economy    Russian Republics/Cultural Diffusion  Fall of the USSR    Mikhail Gorbachev  Boris Yeltsin’s Russia    Democracy, Capitalism        

Vladimir Putin’s Russia: Government/Politics:  consolidation of power,   authoritarianism, oppression, censorship, loss of freedom  

‐Corruption: rigged elections, show trials ‐Separatism: Chechnya, Islam, Ethnicity, Nationalism  

Economy: mixed, increasing public ownership,  natural resources: oil, natural gas, inequality of      wealth    Globalization: interdependence, trade, scarcity + abundance of natural resources, alliances  Population:    Population Patterns  Demography:    Standard of Living v. Quality of Life    Population Growth Rate, Life Expectancy 

Physical & Political Map of Eurasia  

Label all of the following features neatly.  Remember to follow the “Rules of Cartography” and to include all Five Parts of a Good Map [see your Geography 101 packet for reminders]!  Use the maps on pages S33‐S35, 372‐73, & 403 of your textbook.  

Countries:  Russia China Georgia Ukraine  Russian Region:  Chechnya  Cities: St. Petersburg Moscow Vladivostok Kiev  

Bodies of Water:Aral Sea Arctic Ocean Baltic Sea Black Sea Caspian Sea Lake Baikal Ob River Volga River  Landforms: Tian Shan Mountains Caucasus Mountains Kara Kum Ural Mountains Siberia 

    Answer the following questions based on the detail and accuracy of your map. WRITE YOUR ANSWERS ON THE BACK OF YOUR MAP!!!  1. You are traveling from Moscow to Vladivostok.  Using your scale, what is the distance you 

will travel in miles?    2. Using your compass, determine what direction you will travel from Siberia to the Volga 

River Delta.       

3. Predict what difficulties you would likely encounter on your journey from Siberia to the Volga River Delta.   Be specific citing information from your map.    

   

  

PHYSICAL

GEOGRAPHY

WHICH FEATURES IMPACTED EURASIA THE MOST?

Name:

MOST INFLUENTIAL FEATURE

URAL MOUNTAINS

BALTIC SEA

VOLGA RIVER

ARCTIC OCEAN

SIBERIAN TUNDRA

OB RIVER

BLACK SEA

ARAL SEA

Directions: Your group will be assigned one “paring” of Eurasian geographic features per round. As a group, you must decide which

of these features was and is more important to Russia’s HISTORICAL, POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. Read and annotate

the summaries of each feature in order to make a more informed decision. Justify on the back of this pate what makes each physical

feature more or less important. What is its economic value? Is it a natural buffer to keep invaders out? Is its location strategic

politically or economically? Does it contribute to national identify?

PHYSICAL

GEOGRAPHY

Ural Mountains

Ob River

Black Sea

Siberia

Baltic Sea

Aral Sea

Arctic Ocean

– This 1,552 mile mountain range separates Europe and Asia making Russia one of the world's few

countries that lies on two continents. 68% of the Urals lie in Russia while the other 32% are in Kazakhstan. These

mountains are rich in natural resources. Sections of the Urals are completely forested and there are large deposits of

oil. The Urals are well known for the mining industry, making Russia one of the most mineral rich countries in the

world. Gold, silver, platinum, iron, and topaz are just a few of the numerous minerals that are mined here.

– The Ob River is one of the few Russian Rivers that links the interior of Russia with the outside oceans.

This makes the Ob a very important trade route and means for Russia to transport goods to the coast and beyond.

The fishing industry thrives since the Ob has over 50 varieties of fish of which 26 are white fish (great for eating). This

river is also an important source of irrigation, drinking water, and hydroelectric energy. However, the Ob does freeze

over approximately one-half of the year, making it inaccessible.

- Throughout history, many groups and countries have fought to control the Black Sea as it connects to the

Mediterranean Sea and thus to the Atlantic Ocean.

As it provides warm water ports, it is a key

Without Black Sea access, many Eurasian countries

would not have year- round access for imports and exports and would be cut off from trade and travel.

– Siberia makes up about 75% of Russia's land (it is an area larger than Canada). It has tremendous

In the northern parts of Siberia,

the ground is permanently frozen (permafrost). Siberia does have three major rivers, but they are frozen over six-

nine months out of the year. On of Siberia’s rivers, the Amur, flows into Lake Baikal, the world’s largest freshwater

lake which holding 1/5 of the total freshwater.

– Historically, the Baltic Sea has been a strategic body of water to control since it connects, through other

bodies of water, to the Atlantic Ocean. Today it acts as a major trade route for exporting Russian oil and is the center

of the Russian shipbuilding industry. On average, 45% of the Baltic Sea is covered with ice affecting trade and

transportation.

– The Aral Sea is a saltwater “island” lake with no outlets. It has traditionally played a vital role in the

Eurasian cotton industry and Uzbekistan is one of the world’s top producers of cotton today. The Soviet Union

diverted two rivers that fed into the Aral Sea to irrigate the desert and produce cotton, but due to those rivers being

overused for irrigation, the Aral Sea is now uch of the plant and aquatic

life has died off due to the increased salinity.

- It is the smallest of the five world oceans. Russia claimed all ocean floor 350 miles off their coast

under the Arctic Ocean as their own. Geological tests (tests on the rocks) have suggested that the sea floor is very

energy rich with large mineral, oil, and natural gas deposits. However, much of this ocean is covered over in ice most

of the year. Thus, it would be very costly to harvest the oil and there could be ecological effects.

Volga River – The Volga is the longest and largest river in Europe (2,294 miles) and is the national river of Russia.

The Volga is used as a major transportation, tourism, and trade route, carrying 2/3 of Russia’s inland water traffic.

The banks of the river are lined with

outlet for the products of the Eurasian

countries, giving it special importance in regional commerce.

900 ports and 550 industrial docks. The Volga also supports about 70 species of

fish, around half of which have commercial value - these include the Caspian roach, herring, pike, and sturgeon.

However, the Volga also sufferers from industrial pollution and over-irrigation has reduced its depth.

natural

resources, with huge deposits of oil, gas, and minerals and vast amounts of timber.

The Black Sea is known for its sturgeon - the caviar from it is one

of the finest in the world.

10% of the size it originally was. In addition, m

PHYSICAL

GEOGRAPHY

Ownership

Of land, natural resources, factories,

and equipment?

Production

Who decides what is to be produced?

Who takes the investment risks?

Prices

How are prices set?

Profit

Who reaps the benefits?

Cooperative or competitive?

RUSSIAN LEADERS ON THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM

TOTALITARIAN AUTHORITARIAN DEMOCRATIC

SUMMARY

Were does the RussianLeader fit on the political

spectrum?

SUPPORTING DETAILS

List two details about theleader that supports your

reasoning.

LEADER

IVANTHE

TERRIBLE

PETERTHE

GREAT

CATHERINETHE

GREAT

NICHOLAS II

VLADIMIRLENIN

JOSEPHSTALIN

VOCABULARY: 

Fraud ‐  

Rebuke ‐  

Volatility ‐  

Upheaval ‐ 

Consolidating ‐  

Protégé ‐ 

PUTIN ON THE ROPES Barry, Ellen, New York Times Upfront  (Jan 2, 2012)  PURPOSE FOR READING:  How did Vladimir Putin gain power?  Is he in danger of losing it?   The week after parliamentary elections that many said were riddled with fraud, tens of thousands of Russians took to the streets of Moscow. They shouted, "Putin is a thief!" and "Russia without 

Putin!" and forced the Kremlin to confront a level of public discontent that hasn't been seen in Russia since the 1990s.     PREDICTION:  Why might Putin be losing the      support of the Russian people?      The December protests ‐ broadcasted live to the Web by young demonstrators holding iPads over their heads ‐ came the week after Vladimir Putin's political party, United Russia, suffered major losses in the parliamentary elections to the Russian Duma. There were widespread allegations ‐ and videos on YouTube ‐ of ballot boxes being stuffed. In fact, United Russia's losses might have been even worse, if not for the fraud.   It was a stunning rebuke for Putin, who has led Russia for the last 12 years, first as president and then as prime minister. The protest came two months after Putin announced that he would seek the presidency once again in elections in March. A victory could mean another 12 years in power, giving him a reign approaching that of Joseph Stalin, the brutal Communist dictator who ruled the Soviet Union from 1922 to 1952.   Putin has said that Russia needs him because the nation is entering a period of dangerous volatility that requires a steady hand. But fewer and fewer Russians seem to be buying that argument.  "Something has changed," says Fiona Hill of the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C. "The biggest problem is that people have gotten fed up."   Autocratic Rule  Russia has a long history of autocratic rule, so Western‐style democracy isn't necessarily a natural fit. Powerful czars ruled the nation until the Russian Revolution in 1917. For most of the 20th century, the Soviet Union was a Communist dictatorship‐ and America's primary adversary during the Cold War.  The years that followed the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union ‐ and the introduction of democracy to Russia were marked by a sense of chaos and economic upheaval. When Putin‐ a former head of the KGB, the Soviet spy agency‐ took over in 1999, most Russians were relieved to have a strong leader.   

Vladimir Putin 

President, 1999‐2008 

Prime Minister, 2008‐2012 

President, 2012‐2024?

FAST FACT 

As a young man, Putin worked for the Soviet Union’s intelligence agency, the KGB, as an undercover agent in East Germany.  

Once in charge, President Putin began consolidating power in the executive branch. In 2004, he eliminated elections for key governors and mayors; now those positions are filled with appointees loyal to the Kremlin. He also tightened controls over the press in an effort to eliminate dissent. (Several journalists who've criticized the government have been mysteriously beaten or killed.)   But with the economy thriving, a lot of 

Russians shrugged at die loss of some democratic freedoms. Russia is die world's largest producer of oil, and skyrocketing oil prices fueled me boom. Foreign investment soared. Consumer goods became widely available, and millions of Russians, part of a growing middle class, could afford them.   So when the Russian constitution barred Putin from seeking a third term as president in 2008, few complained when he engineered a way to remain in power by making his protégé, Dmitri Medvedev, president and getting himself named prime minister.   Now, however, it seems the glow is wearing off.  Economic growth has slowed, and 20 years after the fall of the Soviet Union, many middle class Russians, who had hoped to be part of a modernizing society, feel themselves being tugged backward. Ironically, most of those protesting in December in Moscow and other cities were middle class Russians who have prospered under Putin.   "You see all these people who are well dressed and earn a good salary going out onto the streets . . . and saying, 'No more,'" says Yana Larionova, 26. "That's when you know you need a change."  In fact, authoritarian leaders whose economic policies are effective often become victims of their own success: As people become wealthier, they're more likely to demand greater political freedoms.   Blaming the U.S.  Harkening back to the days of the Cold War, Putin blamed U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for stirring up the election protests by questioning the legitimacy of the vote.  "The Russian people, like people everywhere, deserve the right to have their voices heard and their votes counted," Clinton said.  The tension with Putin comes after the Obama administration has tried to "reset" relations with its old Cold War enemy, which remains a critical partner for the U.S. on issues like global terrorism and Iran's nuclear program.   For Putin, what at first seemed like an easy path to win back his old job now looks like a more challenging contest in which he will have to convince Russians he still has their best interests at heart. Two prominent Russians ‐ a former finance minister and Mikhail Prokhorov, a billionaire who owns the New Jersey Nets basketball team ‐ have announced plans to challenge him for the presidency.   However things play out over the next few months, the situation seems to have changed in the wake of the December protests. Many Russians were amazed at the sight of throngs of protesters‐ more than 40,000 in Moscow alone‐ making their voices heard on the streets near the Kremlin.   "Unfortunately, a civilized rally in our country is a rare thing so far," says Oksana, 18, a student from Kirov who would not give her last name. "But now I see that it's possible."  

 

Translation:  “No Vote” 

1. Why is Vladimir Putin sometimes described as the “Rock Star Czar?”

2. Who is Garry Kasparov? What is he trying to do?

3. Why might Garry Kasparov claim that Vladimir Putin has an unfair advantage in Russian elections?

4. According to the video, how important is the “freedom of the press” to most Russians?

putin’s planvideo guide

As you watch, Putin’s Plan, answer the questions below using specific examples from the video.

5. Describe the Youth Camp from the video. Does this seem like something you’d like to attend? Why or why not?

6. How do the young people in the video feel about Vladimir Putin’s leadership of Russia?

7. The President of Russia today is______________________________. What happened to Vladimir Putin?

NAME:

period:

part 1: The stifled opposition

part 2: planning for the future

8. Where would you put Russia’s government on the Political Spectrum? Place an “X” on the spectrum andexplain your answer below.

I believe Russia’s Government is best described as a(n) ______________________, because...

9. How does Vladimir Putin compare to other Russian leaders that we’ve studied? Pick a Russian leader, and then explain how Putin is similar and different.

totalitarian Authoritarian democratic direct democracy

Similarities

I’m comparing Vladimir Putin to __________________________.

Differences

part 3: Analyzing Russia’s Population

Birth Rate: 13.83 births/1000 population

Death Rate: 8.38 deaths/1000 population

Population Growth Rate: .977%

Compare the 2010 population statistics of the United States and Russia and answer the questions below.

united states russiaBirth Rate: 11.1 births/1000 population

Death Rate: 16.06 deaths/1000 population

Population Growth Rate: -.467%

1. Why is Russia concerned about their population statistics? What problems will they face in the future?

2. Read and CODE the article Russia marks Day of Conception in your packet. As you read, star the three most important ideas. Then, in 2-3 quality sentences, explain summarize what one region in Russia is doing to help fix their population problems.

CIA Factbook. 10/22/2010

PUTIN ON THE ROPES 

Directions:  answer the following questions based on the reading.  

 

1. What is the MAIN IDEA of this passage?  [Hint: it’s an implied main idea, not stated]   

 

2. State one example of a cause and effect relationship in the passage. 

 

 

3. Which statement BEST describes Russia in the years immediately following the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991?  (A) Chaos reigned and the economy collapsed.  (B) Strong leadership ensured both stability and economic prosperity.  (C) A Western‐style democracy quickly began to take shape.  (D) The nation temporarily reverted to traditional czarist rule.  

 4. How did Vladimir Putin's first presidency end in 2008?   

(A) His longtime rival Dmitri Medvedev defeated him in a close election.  (B) Russia's constitution prevented him from running for a third consecutive term.  (C) He resigned to work in private business.   (D) Illness kept him out of the 2008 presidential race.  

 5. During his presidency, from 1999 to 2008, Vladimir Putin was known for  

(A) introducing democratic freedoms. (B) limiting availability of consumer goods. (C) consolidating executive power. (D) discouraging foreign investment in Russia. 

 6. What did the recent mass protests against Putin and his political party stem from?  

(A) Putin's sharp criticism of President Obama. (B) A parliamentary election that many viewed as fraudulent.  (C) A new law against independent political parties.  (D) Russia's loss of oil revenue and economic decline.  

 

7. Given Russia's long history of authoritarian governments, do you think it's ready for Western‐style 

democracy?  Why or why not?  Support your answer with information from class and the reading.  

 

 

 

8. Which of the questions above was the most difficult for you to answer?  Why?  

 

 

 

The Relationship between Climate and Culture      Due Date:  Organizing a Topic Paragraph:  Topic Introduction:  This first two to three sentences introduces the topic to the reader and provides the organization for the paragraph.   

Include background information, including any relevant definitions, to help the reader understand the topic.   Topic Development  [Observed Evidence]:  Explain your topic to the reader with well‐chosen, relevant and specific supporting examples.  Include facts, expanded definitions, concrete details, quotations, etc.    Analysis [Inferences]:   Thoroughly explain the significance of each supporting example and connect it to the paragraph topic.   Use of Specific Vocabulary:   Demonstrate your understanding of the topic by including unit‐specific vocabulary in your topic development and analysis.   Concluding Sentence:  Write a final statement, connected to the topic, which addresses the significance, impact or effects of the topic.    Rubric:  

  Exemplary  Strong  Acceptable Weak IncompleteTopic  Introduction 

2‐3 clear sentences written in the writer’s own words that clearly introduce the topic to the reader.  Includes clear definitions and background information.   

Strong, well‐written sentence that clearly introduces the topic.    Includes clear definitions and background information.   

Adequate sentence that introduces the topic; the background information is incomplete.  

Weak topic sentence that partly introduces the topic; the background information is present, but incomplete.  

No topic is introduced and no background information is included.  

Topic Development [Observations]  

The paragraph has two well‐described supporting examples that explain the topic. Includes facts, expanded definitions, concrete details, quotations.  

Paragraph has two strong supporting examples that explain the topic. Includes facts, expanded definitions, concrete details, quotations.  Needs more description.  

Paragraph has two adequate supporting examples. Increase description and specificity of examples. 

Paragraph has one relevant supporting example.  Increase description and specificity of examples. 

The paragraph does not contain any examples that support the topic.  

Analysis [Inferences] 

The significance of each of the examples is explained and connected to the topic.   

The significance of each of the examples is explained but needs to be more clearly connected to the topic.  

The significance of each of the examples is partially explained and/or connected to the prompt. 

An attempt is made to analyze the example and relate it to the prompt; but the analysis is not fully accurate.   

The examples are not analyzed nor connected to the topic.    

Use of Specific Vocabulary 

The writer demonstrates mastery of the vocabulary relevant to the topic.  

The writer demonstrates an understanding of the relevant vocabulary.  

The writer demonstrates a basic understanding of the relevant vocabulary; there may be minor errors in usage.  

The writer demonstrates a poor understanding of the vocabulary; there may be several errors in usage.  

The writer did not include vocabulary related to the topic.  

Concluding  Sentence 

Well‐written sentence that addresses the significance, impact, or effects of the topic.   

Well‐written sentence that partially addresses the significance, impact, or effects of the topic.   

A concluding sentence is present, but is mainly a summary of the paragraph.  

A concluding sentence is present, but mainly restates the topic. 

There is no substantial concluding sentence.   

Presentation + Mechanics 

The paragraph is clear and coherent includes transitions and varied sentence structures. There are no punctuation, capitalization, grammar, or spelling errors.   

There are no punctuation, capitalization, grammar, or spelling errors.  Stronger transitions and/or varied sentence structure are needed.  

There are few punctuation, capitalization, grammar, and/or spelling errors.  Stronger transitions and/or varied sentence structure are needed. 

There are frequent, but minor, punctuation, capitalization, grammar and/or spelling errors.  Transitions and varied sentence structure are needed. 

The paragraph is not written clearly nor coherently.  The errors in punctuation, capitalization, grammar, and/or spelling interfere with understanding. 

  

Planning Your Topic Paragraph:  Writing Topic:   The climate of Siberia impacts its indigenous people.   Due: __________________   Topic Introduction (Clearly reflects the prompt; should interest the reader in the topic of your paragraph) 

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Background (2‐3 sentences.  What is Siberia?  Where is it?  What group of people lives there?) ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

 

Topic Development + Analysis: A. Example #1:   Choose a transition word:   ___ To begin,   ___ Initially,  ___ First, ___ In the first place,  

State + describe one characteristic of Siberia’s climate: ___________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Analyze how and why this climate characteristic shaped the indigenous people’s culture: ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________  

B. Example #2:   Choose a transition word:   ____ Next,    ____In addition,  ____ Similarly,  ____ Furthermore,   ___ Likewise State + describe one characteristic of Siberia’s climate: ___________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Analyze how and why this climate characteristic shaped the indigenous people’s culture: ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

Concluding Sentence: (Ideas: What is significant about the relationship between climate and culture?  What overall conclusion can you draw about the effects of Siberia’s climate on its people?) 

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Siberia’s climate or physical features.

How the people have adapted to the environment.