From Founding Date to 1918 By Joe Carlyle and Megan Fox.

From Founding Date to 1918From Founding Date to 1918

By Joe Carlyle and Megan FoxBy Joe Carlyle and Megan Fox

The Founding of RussiaThe Founding of Russia

An early group of people called Slavs An early group of people called Slavs built a civilization around the city of built a civilization around the city of Kiev, now Ukraine’s capital city. This Kiev, now Ukraine’s capital city. This civilization was called Kievan Rus. By civilization was called Kievan Rus. By 1,000 A.D. Kievan Rus had accepted 1,000 A.D. Kievan Rus had accepted Eastern Orthodox religion of Eastern Orthodox religion of Christianity and prospered from Christianity and prospered from trade.trade.

The Beginning ofThe Beginning of

In the 1200s, Mongols came in from In the 1200s, Mongols came in from Central Asia and took control of Kiev Central Asia and took control of Kiev and its surrounding lands. The Mongols and its surrounding lands. The Mongols were very harsh people and their rule, were very harsh people and their rule, which lasted about two hundred years, which lasted about two hundred years, greatly reduced Kiev’s wealth and greatly reduced Kiev’s wealth and power. In the Meanwhile, a town called power. In the Meanwhile, a town called Moscow (now Russia’s capital) became Moscow (now Russia’s capital) became the Center of the new Slavic territory the Center of the new Slavic territory called Muscovy.called Muscovy.

In 1480, Ivan III, a prince of Muscovy, In 1480, Ivan III, a prince of Muscovy, drove out the Mongols and made drove out the Mongols and made Muscovy an independent territory. But Muscovy an independent territory. But Muscovy bought its freedom for a high Muscovy bought its freedom for a high price; Ivan the first czar of the country price; Ivan the first czar of the country now named Russia, and czars had now named Russia, and czars had complete control over the people. complete control over the people. Ivan used a secret police force to help Ivan used a secret police force to help tighten his iron grip on peoples’ lives.tighten his iron grip on peoples’ lives.

A reign continued…A reign continued…

When Ivan III died, the reign of the When Ivan III died, the reign of the czars did not end. Most czars pushed czars did not end. Most czars pushed the borders of Russia southward and the borders of Russia southward and westward. They also tried to make westward. They also tried to make Russia modern and more like Europe. Russia modern and more like Europe. Meanwhile, Russia’s peasant and all Meanwhile, Russia’s peasant and all other civilians were suffering, and it other civilians were suffering, and it was not just the work of the czars. was not just the work of the czars.

Russia’s Prolonged Russia’s Prolonged

The czar and the nobles enjoyed rich and The czar and the nobles enjoyed rich and comfortable live, but most of the people comfortable live, but most of the people were slaves that could be bought by were slaves that could be bought by nobles, and the czars did not care. A nobles, and the czars did not care. A czar called Peter I built a new capital, czar called Peter I built a new capital, St. Petersburg, in the early 1700s, while St. Petersburg, in the early 1700s, while the peasants continued to suffer. Most the peasants continued to suffer. Most peasants did not receive much peasants did not receive much education.education.

In 1812, a French army lead by Napoleon In 1812, a French army lead by Napoleon Bonaparte invade Russia, but this is Bonaparte invade Russia, but this is where harsh Russian winters come in where harsh Russian winters come in handy. The people suffered, but they handy. The people suffered, but they still remained fiercely loyal to Russia, still remained fiercely loyal to Russia, and helped by the Russian winters, the and helped by the Russian winters, the French were fought back to their own French were fought back to their own territory; but Russia had suffered many territory; but Russia had suffered many losses.losses.

Napoleon BonaparteNapoleon Bonaparte

In 1914, WWI broke out in Europe. In 1914, WWI broke out in Europe. Russian and German armies fought Russian and German armies fought every where, killing innocent citizens… every where, killing innocent citizens… and they showed no remorse. Russia and they showed no remorse. Russia was unprepared for war, and they was unprepared for war, and they suffered many casualties, with little suffered many casualties, with little victories. Russia entered the war with victories. Russia entered the war with the largest army in the world: 1.4 the largest army in the world: 1.4 million soldiers.million soldiers.

Russia fought alongside great countries Russia fought alongside great countries well known and rich today because they well known and rich today because they won WWI and WWII. One of the reasons won WWI and WWII. One of the reasons why Russia won the war was because of why Russia won the war was because of their massive army, and the U.K. was their massive army, and the U.K. was rich enough to provide food and ammo, rich enough to provide food and ammo, but their was not enough rifles to go but their was not enough rifles to go around. In WWI, they used chemical around. In WWI, they used chemical gases.gases.

Russian weapons of WWI: machine Russian weapons of WWI: machine guns, bayonets, flamethrowers, guns, bayonets, flamethrowers, grenades, pistols, poison gas, rifles, grenades, pistols, poison gas, rifles, tanks, and trench mortars.tanks, and trench mortars.

        In Russia, the war led to the In Russia, the war led to the Russian Revolution and a civil Russian Revolution and a civil war which continued the conflict war which continued the conflict for three years beyond World for three years beyond World War I. The civil war involved War I. The civil war involved foreign intervention, almost total foreign intervention, almost total disintegration of the economy disintegration of the economy and, by 1921, massive famine.and, by 1921, massive famine.

That eventually leaded to the start of That eventually leaded to the start of the Soviet Union and the start of a the Soviet Union and the start of a communist Russia.communist Russia.