Team members: Mauricio Gabriel Rodriguez Trujillo Juan Manuel Trujillo Perez Julieta Vicario Silva

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History Culture States Economy Natural Sources Topography

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History
Russia was a monarchy, ruled by 'Tsars', for most of recorded history. (Early Russian history is complex -- it includes invasions by Swedish Vikings from the West and Mongols from the East -- but if you remember that Christianity arrived in about 1000 AD, and there were Tsars in Moscow after about 1400 AD, you'll be just fine.) Some of the more important Tsars were Ivan IV (called 'the Terrible' -- he was pretty, well...terrible), Peter I (called 'the Great' -- he built St. Petersberg and turned Russia into a military power for the first time), and Catherine II (also called 'the Great' -- she was an 'enlightened despot' and a friend of Voltaire's). After Russia suffered greatly in the First World War, a Communist revolution occurred in 1917. It was led by a man named Lenin and his party, the 'Bolsheviks'. The Tsars were overthrown, and the last Tsar and his family were killed. Russia was renamed the 'Union of Soviet Socialist Republics' or USSR. ('Soviets' were 'regional councils' that ran small areas of the country. However, all effective power was held by the Premier of the 'Politburo' in Moscow. He appointed the heads of the Soviets and was essentially a dictator. Needless to say, Lenin was the first Premier.) Lenin died soon after the Russian Civil War was won by the Communists (the 'Red Army' had fought against the people who opposed Communism -- called the 'Whites'.) After Lenin's death, two men named Trotsky and Stalin competed to see who would run the country. Stalin won, and had Trotsky killed. Stalin survived the Nazi invasion of 1941-44, despite huge losses to the Red Army, and extended Soviet control over most of Eastern Europe. This zone of control was defined by the so-called 'Iron Curtain' which separated

the 'Free Peoples' of Western Europe from the Communist East. (The curtain was made tangible by the 'Berlin Wall', which bisected that city after 1961.) Stalin and his successors turned Russia into an industrial, economic and military superpower -- particularly in terms of the nuclear arsenal they had at their command -- and were the great enemies of the United States through most of the rest of the twentieth century. The 'Cold War' between Capitalism and Communism defined the affairs of the entire world. (Russia, China -- which became Communist, too, in 1949 -- and the USA fought a series of 'proxy wars' during this period, including Korea and Vietnam). The Russian leaders also killed an unprecedented number of political prisoners, mainly by shipping them to Siberia or the far north (the 'gulags'), where they either worked themselves to death or froze. In the 1980s, the last Soviet Premier, Mikhail Gorbachev announced that the country was essentially going bankrupt and was going to become a democratic country in the near future. His policies of 'glasnost' and 'perestroika' meant that Western culture was welcomed in Russia for the first time since the revolution -and Russians immediately went out and bought blue jeans, rock music and McDonald's food. In 1989, Russian control of Eastern Europe collapsed, and the Berlin Wall was torn down. In 1991, a democratic election was held in the Russian Federation for the first time, with Boris Yeltsin becoming President. Since then, Russia has become a country in which organized crime exerts a great deal of control -- and in which the leadership of the country has fallen to 'elected' men who act very much like dictators. (Vladimir Putin, and the new leader, Dmitry Medvedev have been noted for their repression of dissent and ability to command huge amounts of money raised in questionable ways.)

Culture
Facts about the Country of Russia Russia is the largest country in the world in area and spans Europe and Asia from west to East. Because Russia encompasses so much land, it also exhibits a great diversity in geography and ethnicities. Though generalizations about Russian culture can be made, the size and diversity of the country means that regions in Russia maintain cultural elements that aren't typical to other areas of Russia. Russia's Peoples Though those who live in Russia are called Russians, about 160 va rious ethnic groups can be found in Russia. Russian is the official language, though over 100 languages are spoken by its peoples. The majority of Russians identify with the Eastern Orthodox (Christian) religion, but Judaism, Islam, and Buddhism are also practiced in Russia. Russia's Cities Russia's capital city is Moscow, though St. Petersburg once held that title and now serves as a second capital. Moscow is home to many important symbols of Russian culture, such as the Kremlin, St. Basil's Cathedral, the Tretyakov Gallery, and more. Each city in Russia is unique and exhibits its own culture. For example, Kazan has a strong Tatar heritage and is the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan. Siberian cities reflect the realities of living in the far east of Russia with its bitterly cold winters and ethnic communities. Cities along important trade routes, like the Volga, preserve elements of ancient Russia. Russian Food and Drink Russian food and drink is a central part of life in this vast country. Most people are familiar with Russian vodka, that clear, flavorless spirit that encourages conversation and warms the blood. But Russians are also avid tea drinkers, and Russian tea culture is as strong as vodka culture. Russian foods are comforting, rich, and focus on the flavors favored over generations. Special holiday foods in Russia, like kulich and paska, grace tables seasonally, and their preparation and consumption is surrounded by ritual. Russian Family Life

Russian families don't differ drastically from families around the world. Both the mother and father typically work, and children go to school (where they typically learn English and other languages) to prepare them for university. The babushka, the Russian grandmother, fills the role of wise woman, curator of memories and traditions, and baker of favorite comfort foods. Russian families sometimes keep a dacha, or summer cottage, where they escape for the weekends or the summer and where they tend vegetable gardens and fruit trees. When addressing friends or family, it's important to know a little about Russian names, which don't follow English-language conventions. You may hear the same person called by a variety of names which sound nothing alike! Russia's Holidays Russian celebrates standard Western holidays, such as Christmas, New Year's and Easter, but other holidays, like Victory Day and International Women's Day take on special emphasis in Russia. Russian holidays also recognize uniquely Russian achievements; for example, Cosmonaut Day celebrates Russia's achievements in space exploration. Russian Traditions Russian culture is often tradition-driven. Traditions govern everything from how many flowers to give a woman to how to drink a bottle of vodka. Learning about Russian traditions will enrich your experience in Russia because you'll be able to navigate social situations more confidently. Russian Language Russian language uses the Cyrillic alphabet. Russian Cyrillic uses 33 letters. These letters are derived from an old Slavic alphabet developed when Cyril and Methodius spread Christianity to the southern Slavic people in the 9th century. If you're traveling in Russia, it helps to know which letters in the Cyrillic alphabet are analogous to Latin letters. This makes reading signs and maps easier, even if you can't speak the language. Russian language itself is a Slavic language and shares some root words and sounds with other Slavic languages. Russian Literature Russia has one of the great literary cultures and languages. Most people are familiar with Tolstoy, who wrote the formidable War and Peace and Dostoevsky, who wrote another weighty book, Crime and Punishment. Theater goers still laugh at Chekhov's plays, and poetry enthusiasts swoon over the verses of Pushkin. Russians take their literature very seriously, and many Russians can easily recite passages from famous works at the drop of a hat. Learn a little about a few Russian writers and poets to really impress your Russian friends. Then, when you travel, visit the former houses of Russian authors; many are preserved as museums.

Russian Arts and Crafts Russian handcrafted souvenirs make wonderful gifts and home decorations. The most well-known Russian craft is the matryoshka doll, or painted nesting doll. Finely decorated lacquer boxes also make special souvenirs. Regional and national styles (think Khokhloma and Palekh) of folk craft, as well as materials (birchbark) typify handicrafts. These can be purchased at souvenir markets. Some are of heirloom quality and bring enjoyment to multiple generations.

States
1) Adygea 2) Altai 3) Bashkortostan 4) Buryatia 5) Chechnya 6) Chuvashia 7) Dagestan 8) Ingushetia 9) Kabardino-Balkaria 10) Kalmykia 11) Karachay-Cherkessia 12) Karelia 13) Khakassia 14) Komi 15) Mari El 16) Mordovia 17) North Ossetia-Alania

18) Sakha 19) Tatarstan 20) Tuva 21) Udmurtia

Economy
Russia has undergone significant changes since the collapse of the Soviet Union, moving from a globally-isolated, centrally-planned economy to a more market-based and globally-integrated economy. Economic reforms in the 1990s privatized most industry, with notable exceptions in the energy and defense-related sectors. The protection of property rights is still weak and the private sector remains subject to heavy state interference. In 2011, Russia became the world's leading oil producer, surpassing Saudi Arabia; Russia is the second-largest producer of natural gas; Russia holds the world's largest natural gas reserves, the secondlargest coal reserves, and the eighth-largest crude oil reserves. Russia is also a top exporter of metals such as steel and primary aluminum. Russia's reliance on commodity exports makes it vulnerable to boom and bust cycles that follow the volatile swings in global prices. The government since 2007 has embarked on an ambitious program to reduce this dependency and build up the country's high technology sectors, but with few visible results so far. The economy had averaged 7% growth in the decade following the 1998 Russian financial crisis, resulting in a doubling of real disposable incomes and the emergence of a middle class. The Russian economy, however, was one of the hardest hit by the 2008-09 global economic crisis as oil prices plummeted and the foreign credits that Russian banks and firms relied on dried up. According to the World Bank the government's anti-crisis package in 2008-09 amounted to roughly 6.7% of GDP. The economic decline bottomed out in mid-2009 and the economy began to grow again in the third quarter of 2009. High oil prices buoyed Russian growth in 201112 and helped Russia reduce the budget deficit inherited from 2008-09. Russia has reduced unemployment to a record low and has lowered inflation below double digit rates. Russia joined the World Trade Organization in 2012, which will reduce trade barriers in Russia for foreign goods and services and help open foreign markets to Russian goods and services. At the same time, Russia has sought to

cement economic ties with countries in the former Soviet space through a Customs Union with Belarus and Kazakhstan, and, in the next several years, through the creation of a new Russia-led economic bloc called the Eurasian Economic Union. Russia has had difficulty attracting foreign direct investment and has experienced large capital outflows in the past several years, leading to official programs to improve Russia's international rankings for its investment climate. Russia's adoption of a new oil-price-based fiscal rule in 2012 and a more flexible exchange rate policy have improved its ability to deal with external shocks, including volatile oil prices. Russia's long-term challenges also include a shrinking workforce, rampant corruption, and underinvestment in infrastructure.

Natural Resources
Natural resources: wide natural resource base including major deposits of oil, natural gas, coal, and many strategic minerals, reserves of rare earth elements, timber note: formidable obstacles of climate, terrain, and distance hinder exploitation of natural resources Definition: This entry lists a country's mineral, petroleum, hydropower, and other resources of commercial importance.

Topography
The topography of Russia describes the geographic features of Russia, a country extending over much of northern Eurasia. Comprising much of eastern Europe and northern Asia, it is the world's largest country in total area. Due to its size, Russia displays both monotony and diversity. As with its topography, its climates, vegetation, and soils span vast distances. From north to south the East European Plain is clad sequentially in tundra, coniferous forest (taiga), mixed and broad-leaf forests, grassland (steppe), and semi-desert (fringing the Caspian Sea) as the changes in vegetation reflect the changes in climate. Siberia supports a similar sequence but is taiga. The country contains 40 UNESCO Biosphere reserves.