Description:

This course examines Russian history within a Eurasian context. It is a study of three centuries of the social, political, economic and cultural forces that shaped Russian history, beginning with a survey of the events that place Russia outside the Western historical tradition. 3 hrs./ wk. or online. Usually this course is offered in the fall semester either on-campus or online. This course may be offered as a Learning Communities (LCOM) section, see current credit schedule for LCOM details.

Supplies: Refer to the instructor’s course syllabus for details about any supplies that may be required.

Prerequisites: NONE

Textbook(s): For information see - http://bookstore.jccc.net

Course Fees: NONE

Course Objectives:

Upon successful completion of this course the student should be able to:

1. Describe the premodern historic and cultural events of Rus and Muscovy that are the foundation for modern Russian historical development.
2. Identify and describe the major historic figures, issues, and events of Imperial and Soviet Russia that have shaped the course of Russian history.
3. Describe and explain the major foreign policy objectives pursued by Russian governments since the reign of Peter the Great.
4. Define the distinguishing political, social and economic characteristics of Czarist, Soviet and post-Soviet Russia.
5. Trace the development of the relationship between Russian and the West from the time of Peter the Great to the present.
6. 6. Discuss the development of Russia as a Eurasian empire, interacting within a Eurasian or European-Muslim cultural content.

Content Outline & Competencies:

I. Premodern Historic and Cultural Foundations of Russian Historical
Development
   A. Identify and describe the role of each of the following historical
events in shaping modern Russian history:
      1. Old Rus: Kiev and Novgorod
      2. The Mongol subjugation
      3. The rise of Muscovy and the beginning of empire
      4. The Time of Troubles and the establishment of the Romanov
dynasty
   B. Explain the influence of the following philosophical and
intellectual developments on modern Russian history:
      1. The Orthodox world view
      2. The Third Rome Theory
      3. The Great Schism

II. Imperial Russia
   A. Describe Peter the Great’s program of aggressive westernization of
Russia, including his social, political and economic goals and foreign
policy objectives.
   B. Assess the influence of Peter the Great’s program of aggressive
westernization on Russian social, economic and political institutions and
their modernization.
   C. Identify the role of each of the following domestic and foreign
policies or events in the development of Russian history:
      1. The transfer of the capital from Moscow to St. Petersburg
      2. Peter the Great’s defeat of Charles XII of Sweden in the Great
Northern War
      3. The Pugachev Rebellion
      4. The partitions of Poland
      5. Russification
      6. The Great Patriotic War
      7. The Decembrist Uprising
      8. Aleksandr III’s emancipation of the serfs
      9. The annexation of the Caucasian and Central Asian regions
      10. The industrialization program of Sergei Witte
      11. Bloody Sunday
      12. The agrarian policy of Pyotr Stolypin
      13. World War I
   D. Explain the influence of the following philosophical and
intellectual developments on the course of Imperial Russian history:
      1. The conflicting view of Russia’s past, present and future offered
by the Slavophiles and the Westerners.
      2. The Official Nationality developed under Nikolai I.
      3. The writings of Aleksandr Herzen and Nikolai Chernyshevskii.
      4. The opposing viewpoints of the Social Revolutionaries and the
Social Democrats.
   E. Trace the growth of the Russian empire and describe the traditional
policy of cultural assimilation, including its ramifications.
   F. Identify and describe significant contributions of Imperial Russia
to the Russian cultural tradition from the media of literature, art,
music, theater, ballet and opera.

III. Soviet Russia
   A. Describe the role of each of the following historical events in the
evolution of Soviet Russian history:
      1. War Communism (1918-1922)
      2. Industrialization and Collectivization drives
      3. Great Purge (1930s) and the Gulag
      4. World War II
      5. Subjugation of Eastern Europe
      6. Khrushchev’s Secret Speech at the 20th CPSU Congress
      7. Vietnam and Afghanistan Wars
      8. Perestroika and glasnost (1986-1991)
      9. The collapse of the Berlin Wall
   B. Explain the influence of the following philosophical and
intellectual developments on the evolution of Russian historical
development:
      1. Socialist Realism
      2. The Thaw under Khrushchev and the publication of Aleksandr
Solzhnitsyn’s [One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich]
      3. Andrei Sakharov’s thoughts on the use of nuclear weapons and his
leadership of the Helsinki Watch Group on Human Rights
      4. Samizdat
   C. Trace the growth of the Soviet empire and describe the Soviet policy
toward the nationalities, including its ramifications.
   D. Identify and describe significant Soviet era contributions to the
Russian cultural tradition from the media of literature, art, music and
film.

IV. Post-Soviet Russia
   A. Describe the social, economic and political context in which a  new
Russia” is emerging.
   B. Explain the nationalities problems which the Russian Federation has
inherited from the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Methods of Evaluation of Competencies:

Evaluation of student mastery of course competencies will be accomplished using the following methods:

 1. A minimum of three exams which will constitute at least 50% of the
final grade.  The exams will include questions of a factual, analytical and
evaluative nature.
 2. Written research, analytical or evaluative assignments which will
constitute at least 25% of the final grade.
 3. The remaining percentage will be left to the instructor’s discretion
for such items as participation in class discussion, group activities,
etc.
 4. Evaluation criteria for writing:  Complete, concrete, correct and
clear writing is a major goal for each project assigned.  In addition,
incorporation of the elements and characteristics of the specific type of
writing is expected.

Caveats: NONE

Disabilities:

If you are a student with a disability, and if you will be requesting accommodations, it is your responsibility to contact Access Services. Access Services will recommend any appropriate accommodations to your professor and his/her director. The professor and director will identify for you which accommodations will be arranged.

JCCC provides a range of services to allow persons with disabilities to participate in educational programs and activities. If you desire support services, contact the office of Access Services for Students With Disabilities (913) 469-8500, ext. 3521 or TDD (913) 469-3885. The Access Services office is located in the Success Center on the second floor of the Student Center.