From Kiev'an Rus’ to Soviets: A History of Russia
In this 16-session course, students will learn about the tangled history of Russia. From the Kiev'an Rus’ to the Soviets, this class will give students the tools and context they need to talk about modern Russia.
Melissa Quijano M. Ed.
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:(533)
What's included
16 live meetings
16 in-class hoursHomework
On the last day of class, students will present an argument about which event or person has had the greatest positive impact on the Russian people. They may prepare for this in any way they choose, including slides, an essay, or images. Students will respectfully discuss one another's arguments and perhaps come to a consensus at the end for which person or event had the greatest positive impact on the Russian people. If preferred, students may purchase the accompanying book and read along with the class with pages listed in the syllabus.Class Experience
US Grade 8 - 11
In this class, we will discover the story of one of histories most fascinating countries: Russia. From the Eurasian pagans to the Soviets to Putin, trace the rise and falls the world's largest country and their shaky place as a former world power. There is no country quite like Russia. For most of history, the Russian people have had no say in the governing of the country, yet they often make their will known- whether that is choosing a new Czar or "taking care" of an old one. This class will focus on the important role religion played in Russia's development, the constant tension between East versus West, internal tension that has broken the country at least twice, and the eternal transformation of the country. This class starts with two main characters: the Russian nobles who pull the strings and the masses who attempt to influence them. As the class progresses, new characters will be introduced: middle classes, foreign investors, communism. All together, this class should provide students with an excellent understanding of the history of Russia's government and people, and the tensions that they place on one another. This class will be taught through a combination of discussion and lecture, depending on student willingness to talk! A central figure of this class will be the people of Russia, but we will also talk about major figures who influenced their lives, like Peter and Catherine the Great. We will also discuss Russia in the modern day, and attempt to evaluate their place on the world stage. As a final project, students will choose an event or person from Russia's history that they believe did the most good for the Russian people. They will present their argument to their classmates and lead discussion on the last day of class. Students will receive a syllabus before the first day of class. Students may opt to purchase the book Russian History: A Captivating History (about $15) and follow along on the pages listed in the syllabus. Class 1: Eurasia in the 900s -Geography -Pagan vs. Christianity -The development of Kiev and the Slavs Class 2: Kiev'an Rus’ and the Quest for a Religion -The Golden Age of Yaroslav -The fragmentation of the Russian state - Political Shifts Class 3: Threats from the East and West -The Golden Horde -The Swedes -Lithuania Class 4: Moscow -Overthrow of the Tartars -Geopolitical Divide -The Byzantine Empire Class 5: The Renaissance and Russia -Moscow and Christianity -Art and Architecture -National symbols Class 6: The First Tsar -Linguistic development -Domestic and foreign policy -Siberia and a foothold in the Baltic Class 7: Imperial Russia -Ivan the Terrible/Fearsome -Succession Crisis -Elevation of the church Class 8: The Time of Troubles -Famine -Civil War -False Dmitry -How the Russians make their thoughts known Class 9: The Greats of Russia -Peter, Elizabeth, and Catherine -St. Petersburg -The Europeanization of Russia Class 10: Into the Modern Era -Napoleon's invasion -Serfs -The Great Schism Class 11: The Beginning of the End -Industrialization -Famine Superstition and Nicholas II Class 12: The Russian Revolution -World War I -Communism's appeal in Russia -Lenin and Trotsky Class 13: The USSR and Stalin -Administration -Expansion -Western tension Class 14: Decline and Fall -Proxy Wars -Eastern tension and China -Reform Class 15: Post-Soviet Russia -Oligarchy -Putin -Did the Cold War really end? Class 16: Reflections & Project Presentation
Learning Goals
Students will trace Russian history from the early 900s to present.
Students will evaluate Russia's place on the world stage.
Students will discuss major plays in Russian history and their impact on Russian people.
Other Details
Parental Guidance
Discussion will include: religious persecution, genocide, absolutism, assassination. These topics will be handled tactfully in the context of Russian history. I will not show gory images or go into great detail about atrocities.
Modern day Russia discriminates against LGBTQ+ people, which will be discussed during Class 15.
Supply List
A syllabus will be provided before the first day of class with all dates and topics listed, as well as pages to read.
Language of Instruction
English
Joined July, 2019
4.9
533reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
2 Degrees
Master's Degree in Education from CUNY College of Staten Island
Bachelor's Degree in English from CUNY Brooklyn College
I have been interested in Russian history for a very long time- really ever since I saw the movie Anastasia as a child. From there, I have read many books about Russian and Soviet history, including studying Soviet history at the university undergraduate level. This class comes from many, many student requests, as Russia is often a major player in other world events that my classes cover. Reviews
Live Group Class
$208
for 16 classes1x per week, 16 weeks
60 min
Completed by 8 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 13-18
3-9 learners per class
