HIS 2506 - MODERN RUSSIAN HISTORY

credits: 3.0
Will cover the major developments in Russian history from Alexander II’s Emancipation Reforms of 1861 through the Russian Revolution and the aftermath of the collapse of the Soviet Union. While the greatest emphasis will fall on political history, all aspects of Russian life–social, economic, and cultural–will receive attention. Topics include: the Emancipation of the Serfs; the Revolutionary Era 1905-1921; collectivization, industrialization, and the Five-Year Plans; Stalin and the Great Terror; the Gulag; the Cold War; the downfall of Communism and the breakup of the Soviet Union; and the Age of Putin. Objectives: A) Identify, describe, and explain key events, movements, and individuals in Modern Russian history; B) Identify, describe, and explain the distinct historical, global, and geographical contexts of Modern Russian history; C) Analyze and interpret a variety of primary sources; D) Communicate effectively, in writing and orally, about Modern Russian history. Method of Instruction: Class discussion, lectures, and films. Method of Evaluation: Two exams, quizzes, a six to eight page research paper, class attendance, and participation. Meets *WEP Distribution Requirement.