Russian History & the Cold War

This class focuses on Russian History leading from early Muscovy and the Tsarist Period through the Cold War, which greatly affected the entire world for most of the 2nd Half of the 20th Century. There is also an emphasis on current events in Russia, the former Soviet Republics and the Eastern Bloc. We'll cover Russian geography, culture and an introduction to the language. Though the Soviet Union fell apart, Russia has been and will surely continue to be an important nation to know.

The Course Thesis: "Though the Berlin Wall fell and the Cold War ended without World War III, we must continue to study Russia because history has shown that times of struggle have been followed by periods of great strength. The largest nation on earth should never be ignored."

I hope you'll agree with the above claim at the end of the semester.

You should follow the course outline below to keep track of assignments and other information. If you are absent, there should be daily updates of class activities that include links to relevant handouts and materials. If you have any questions, concerns or comments, please e-mail me.

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