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

University of Texas Library Online

Russian Federation

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

•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.

Russian Federation, 21 autonomous republics

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

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

The Battle Between the Novgorodians and the Suzdalians

Novgorod Icons circa 1450-1475

St. George and Serpent

988 - Grand Prince Vladimir adopted Orthodox Christianity

Our Lady of Vladimir. XIIth century.

Wood, tempera.The State Tretyakov Gallery

Monument to Millennium of Russia, Novgorod, 1859

Christianity: Icons, Painters, Schools•

Moscow SchoolBoris 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 RussiaIvan the Great Reigns as Grant Prince of Moscow (1462-1533)

Church of Intercession-on-NerlXIIth Century

Rostov Kremlin XVIIth Century

Russian Artists in a workshop

Finift Enamel

Ivan the TerribleVasnetsov