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GEG 101 World Regional Geography |
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Reading Assignment: Chapter 2 Videos: 7, 8 Vocabulary See "Ideas and Concepts" on the first page of chapter and all italicized words within the chapter [REMINDER: many exam questions require you to use these vocabulary words. Study their definitions AND be ale to use them correctly in your writing.] |
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1. What are the physical, cultural, economic, and/or historical criteria (characteristics) used to define this realm and the regions within it? Why are the boundaries drawn where they are?
2. Using maps found in the textbook's introduction (figures I-9, I-4, I-6, I-7, and I-8), your atlas, and the appropriate textbook chapter, explain where most people live in this realm and where few people live. Why do they live there or not live there?
[Previous Harper geography students have identified five criteria which may explain where people live: 1) near fresh water, 2) flat terrain, 3) near coasts, 4) temperate climate, and 5) fertile soil. Are these applicable to this realm?]
3. Briefly outline the growth of the Russian nation, to a czarist empire, culminating in the Soviet Union. What is the current political structure of "Russia"? (You may want to draw a timeline of the major events in Russian history.)
4. Describe Russia's physical geography including its size, location, climates, and physiography. (This can help with objective #2 above.)
5. What is communism? Discuss the political and economic framework of the former Soviet Union. What were its benefits and problems? What problems of the current Russian Federation can be traced to the Soviet period?
6. The current political problems in the Chechen Republic (Chechnya) may be a sign of more troubles in the future. Explain why, using examples. (See video program 7.)
Video Preview
Dagestan, a republic of the Russian Federation, is located at the eastern end of the Caucasus Mountains. You should use this case study as an introduction to all the cultural conflicts that you will encounter in this course. Note how the physical. cultural, economic, and historical geography all play a role in our understanding of such conflicts. Dagestan 's neighbor, Chechnya, has been fighting the Russian army for more political autonomy for the last few years.
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U.S.S.R. |
Russian Realm |
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Russian Federation |
Caucasus Mountains |
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Russian (Autonomous) Republics |
Dagestan |
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Caucasian War (19th century) |
northern Caucasian region |
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infrastructural projects |
Chechnya |
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transition zone |
Caspian Sea |
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communism |
North Africa/Southwest Asia Realm |
Video Case Study: Program 7b -- Vologda - Russian Farming in Flux
Video Preview
With the fall of the Soviet Union came a movement toward a more capitalist economy in Russia and the former Soviet republics. Such changes come slow. Government owned collective farms still operate in Russia, but they are facing a more competitive market place and less government support. This case study looks at how the Russian rural economy is making the transition to a market economy. Also, this video gives us a good example of how many Russians live today.
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collective farms |
Vologda, Russia |
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privatized |
Ukraine |
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800 km (St. Petersburg to Vologda) |
Kazakstan |
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black earth zone of Russia, Ukraine, and Kazakstan |
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continentality |
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30º C |
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entrepreneur |
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4500 hectares of land |
Video Preview
St. Petersburg became a major industrial center under Soviet economic planning. This case study examines the future of St. Petersburg after the collapse of the communist economy.
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1917 Russian Revolution |
St. Petersburg |
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czar |
Moscow |
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Lenin |
Kaliningrad |
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meter |
Baltic Sea |
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square meter |
Ukraine |
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communism |
Black Sea |
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privatization |
Leningrad |
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capitalism |
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centrality |
Video Preview
The town of Bratsk in eastern Siberia is the setting of this case study highlighting the centralized decision making processes of the communist economy. GOSPLAN's goal of a dispersed industrial sector has caused many problems throughout the former Soviet empire. Similar problems can be found in Eastern Europe and in the countries of Turkestan in the North Africa and Southwest Asia Realm.
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central planning |
Bratsk, Russia |
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-30º C / -50º C |
Siberia |
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Kuznets |
Lake Baykal |
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GOSPLAN |
Yenisey River |
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Ural Mountains |
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Irkutsk |
There is an on-line map quiz review tutorial at: http://user.mc.net/~mhealy/mapquiz/menu/menu.htm. Check it out!
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Physical Geography |
Russian Plain
Ural Mountains
Eastern Highlands
Yakutsk Basin
Central Siberian Plateau
Central Asian Ranges
West Siberian Plain
Caucasus Mountains
Mountains and Land Bodies
Caucasus Mountains
Crimea Peninsula
Kirghiz Steppe
Rivers/Water Bodies
Caspian Sea
Black Sea
Lake Baykal
Sea of Okhotsk
Don River
Volga River
Ob River
Baltic Sea
Yenisey River
Bering Sea
Aral Sea
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Political/Cultural Geography |
