Physical Geography
European Russia's major River; vital to manufacturing and farming
Volga River
The current leader of Russia
Vladimir Putin
Another name for a Russian Emperor
Czar
The largest ethnic group in Russia
Russians/Slavs
Russia's current style of government
Democracy
Siberia lacks this system of roads and railroads for transporting materials
Infrastructure
Harsh dictator; ruled Russia from 1924-1953
Joseph Stalin
Farm laborers who could be bought or sold with the land
Serfs
Most common religion in Russia
Eastern Orthodox Christian
The political, economic, and transportation center of Russia
Moscow
Russia has rich reserves of this natural resource, which includes oil, natural gas, and coal.
Fossil Fuels
The two reforms that Mikhail Gorbachev began in the mid-1980s
Glasnot ("openness") and Perestroika ("restructuring")
City that served as a new capital and warm water port closer to Europe; built by Peter the Great and Catherine the Great
St. Petersburg
Work of literature that describes the Russians' defense against the French invasion of 1812
War and Peace
Russia is currently threatening to invade this country out of fears that it will join NATO
Ukraine
The general type of climate of Russia
Cool to cold
Led a revolution in 1917 that established a communist state in Russia
Vladimir Lenin
Struggle for world influence between the USA and the Soviet Union, 1940's - 1990
The Cold War
Jewel encrusted eggs; gifts to the czar
Faberge
Russia's current economy; followed the command economy under communism
Market Economy
Russia's largest climate zone
Subarctic
Declared himself czar in 1547
Ivan IV ("Ivan the Terrible")
The year that marked the end of the Soviet Union
1991
Russian term for astronaut
Cosmonaut
The transfer of ownership of business from government to individuals
Privatization