Glencoe World GeographyChapter 15:
The Cultural Geography of RussiaChapter Overviews
An ethnically diverse country, most people in Russia are ethnic Russians living
in European Russia. Many non-Russians have formed independent countries or seek
autonomy since the breakup of the Soviet Union, which had replaced centuries of
czarist rule. Today religion and the arts are making a comeback, while education
and the healthcare system are struggling.
Population Patterns More than 100 ethnic groups live in Russia, making
it a country with one of the widest varieties of ethnic groups. More than 80
percent, however, are ethnic Russians, part of the larger ethnic group of Slavs.
Other families of ethnic groups include Turkic and Causasian peoples. Many non-Russian
ethnic groups have formed independent countries or have begun to seek independence
or self-rule since the Soviet breakup. Most of the population is concentrated
west of the Ural Mountains, while parts of Siberia have a population of less
than 1 person per square mile. The population of Russia began declining after
the Soviet breakup because of inadequate health care. History and Government Slavs settled near the waterways of the North
European Plain by A.D. 600. They incorporated Scandinavian Varangians during
the 800s. Muscovites ended 200 years of Mongol control in the 14000s and began
to expand their control over the area that became known as Russia. Under Czarist
rule, over the next five centuries Russia continued to expand its borders into
Siberia in the east and toward the Black Sea in the south. Growing discontent
with Czarist Russia's strict governmental controls and social and economic inequalities
finally culminated in the Russian Revolution in 1917. Forty years of Cold War,
the overthrow of communist rulers in Eastern Europe in 1989, and a weakening
economy led to the collapse of Soviet control. Nationalists in the non-Russian
Baltic Republics declared independence, eventually leading to the breakup of
the Soviet Union and the new Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in 1991.
After transforming from a command economy to a market economy, the Russian economy
is slowly improving. However, Russia today is still threatened by separatist
movements and ethnic conflict. Cultures and Lifestyles The Eastern Orthodox Church, Russia's dominant
church until it was banned during the Soviet era of atheism, is enjoying a resurgence.
Other religions are also growing strong, although only Christianity, Islam,
Judaism, and Buddhism are considered traditional religions and have full liberties.
During the Soviet era, mandatory education was focused on technology. Today
curriculums are more objective, but school budget limits and a lack of regard
for education still pose problems. The health care system also is lacking because
of government inefficiency in running clinics and hospitals and low pay for
doctors and nurses. The arts, however, which enjoyed a long tradition but were
severely limited under Soviet rule, are making a strong comeback.
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