-
Period: 500 to 700
Years of the Viking raids
At least in the case of the Kievan Rus, Scandinavian traders (Rus) landed in the 500's and settled with Slavs. -
Period: 600 to 1450
Postclassical Era
A deepening and widening of networks of human interaction within and across regions contributed to cultural, technological, and biological diffusion within and between various societies. -
Period: 800 to
Years of feudalism
Lasted longer in Eastern Europe than in Western Europe ending with the Emancipation of the Serfs. Became less popular around the 1400's but still present. -
Period: 855 to 1237
Years of the Kievan Rus
Created due to the interaction between Slavs and Scandinavian traders in the 500's-600's. First prince was Rurik in 855 who formed a loose kingdom of landed aristocracy. Ended with Mongol conquest, were Mongol tributaries the longest of any other major societies. Mongol rule led to less interaction with other societies, isolating them and leading to them becoming "behind." -
Period: 1000 to 1300
High Middle Ages
Categorized by a highpoint for Church power, Crusades loose kingdoms emerge from feudalism, recovery of farming and towns -
1054
East-West Schism
The break of communion between the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches. Also known as the "Great Schism" -
Period: 1347 to 1352
Years of the Black Death in Europe
Spread by the Mongol conquests and facilitation of trade routes, the Black Death led to mass death and social change. Killed ~30-50% of the European population. -
1349
Peak of Black Death in Europe
See description for "years of the black death in Europe." -
Period: 1450 to
Early Modern Era
The interconnection of the Eastern and Western Hemispheres, made possible by transoceanic voyaging, transformed trade and had a significant social impact on the world. -
1453
Fall of Constantinople
Byzantine decline started with the 1071 loss at the Battle of Manzikert to the Seljuk Turks and continually bled territory until the Ottoman Turks conquered Constantinople in 1453 led by Mehmed II. Cannons were used to breach the walls of Constantinople. Ended an empire starting from 330-1453. -
1480
Liberation of Russia from Mongols
Mongol dominance over Russia ended in 1480 with the Great stand on the Ugra river. The influence of the Golden Horde had been on the decline before this as well, with the Rus' forces beating the Golden Horde in the Battle of Kulikovo in 1380. -
Peter the Great’s reign begins
Description under his reign, adding this event to add a picture and marker on the timeline. -
Period: to
Peter the Great’s reign
Westernized and modernized Russia's politics (organized bureaucracy), military, economics (promoted manufacturing) and culture (beard tax). Established his capital of Saint Petersburg in 1703 - “Window to the West.” Used autocratic means to rule, with usage of a secret police. -
Period: to
Modern Era
The development of industrial capitalism led to increased standards of living for some, and to continued improvement in manufacturing methods that increased the availability, affordability, and variety of consumer goods. -
Catherine the Great’s reign begins
Description under her rule. -
Period: to
Catherine the Great’s reign
Came after several weak leaders, selectively westernized but not to a great extent due to pressures from nobles. Admired Enlightenment thinkers but gave nobles more control over serfs. -
Pugachev’s Rebellion
Began in 1773 when Pugachev began to gain support in the countryside promising an end to serfdom, taxation and landed aristocracy. Brutally ended by Catherine the Great in 1775. -
Napoleon’s Arrival to Russia
Napoleon was defeated in Russia due to a harsh winter and the burning of villages to prevent his army from taking supplies, starving them. -
Decembrist Uprising
Occurred after the death of Alexander I when Nicholas I was coming into power, about 3,000 officers and soldiers refused to swear allegiance to the new tsar. Resulted in the expansion of the secret police force and restrictions on news. -
Crimean War
Originally fought between Ottomans and Russians over Christian shrines in Palestine. France and Britain came to Turks’ aid, fearing Russian gain. After loss in 1856, the Treaty of Paris declared neutrality of Black Sea area, a humiliating defeat for Russia. -
The Emancipation of the Serfs
Occurred under tsar Alexander II, legally ended serfdom in Russia. -
Trans-Siberian Railway developed
The development of the trans-Siberian Railway was overseen by the Minister of Finance, Sergei Witte. Connected Russia's vast territory and allowed for faster industrialization and a growth in the economy. Fun fact: the trans-Siberian Railway is the longest railway line in the world. -
Period: to
Contemporary Era
Rapid advances in science and technology altered the understanding of the universe and the natural world and led to advances in communication, transportation, industry, agriculture, and medicine. -
Russo-Japanese War
A humiliating defeat to Russia, brought social change soon after. Ended with the Treaty of Portsmouth where Russia had to cede the Liaodong Peninsula and abandon any influence in Korea. -
Beginning of World War I
Description under the war, added to have an indicator and picture. -
Period: to
World War I
Began after the Serbian Black Hand assassination of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand during Austria-Hungary’s domination of Serbia. Russia supported Serbia and Germany supported Austria (blank check). France, Russia, Britain, Italy and later the US (Allies) against Germany, Austria-Hungary and the Ottomans (Central Powers). Trench warfare used, Battle of Verdun in 1916 was the longest battle: 700,000 dead in 10 months. Led to the collapse of the Ottomans, women were able to work during the war. -
March Revolution
Also known as the Women's Day revolution, established a provisional government named the duma. Received pressure from Soviets due to changes not coming fast enough. Ended tsarist Russia with the abdication of tsar Nicholas II. -
October Revolution in Russia
With the weak provisional government, Lenin and the Bolsheviks seized power and renamed themselves the Communist Party. Redistributed land with Trotsky at head of Petrograd Soviet. Faced resistance from the White Army who opposed their Red Army. -
Lenin's New Economic Policy
Gave freedoms to small businessmen and peasants, major industry still state owned and run. -
Period: to
Years of the USSR
Established by Lenin, embraced communism, controlled Eastern Europe. -
Stalin’s comes to power/Lenin's death
Stalin comes to power in the USSR after the death of Lenin in 1924, does not continue the New Economic Policy and has his rival, Trotsky, assassinated (probably). -
Stalin’s first Five Year Plan
Collectivized agriculture, developed and expanded industry under control of the government through distribution of resources and supplies. -
Period: to
Great Depression
Eastern Europe was not as affected as some other parts of the world by the Great Depression, such as Latin America who heavily relied on exported goods. -
Genocidal famine in the USSR
Resistance from kulaks, especially in Ukraine, resulted in millions of farmers being executed or starving (dekulakization - holodomor). -
Period: to
World War II in Europe (exact)
Began with the German invasion of Poland with blitzkrieg warfare, quickly overwhelmed Allied Powers. Poland divided by Germany and the USSR. Japanese expansion and imperialism; Hitler used Jewish people as scapegoats for troubles, leading to the Holocaust. Turning points were the Battle of Britain and Stalingrad, ended with Hitler's suicide and Germany's unconditional surrender with the Paris Peace Treaties. The Soviets suffered devastating casualties (18 million according to slides). -
End of World War II
Japan's surrender came on Aug 14 after the bombing of Hiroshima (Aug 6) and Nagasaki (Aug 9). -
Period: to
Years of of the Cold War
During the Yalta Conference the USSR promoted Communist Party control of Eastern Europe and Churchill’s Iron Curtain Speech was given in March, 1946. Truman Doctrine and George Kennan’s policy of containment in fighting communism. Development of NATO and the Warsaw Pact. Berlin Wall built in 1961 under Kruschev. Both sides funded different sides during proxy wars in Latin America, Asia and other regions. Ended with the fall of the Soviet Union in December 1991 under Gorbachev. -
Period: to
Kruschev leading the Soviet Union
Started a campaign of de-Stalinization and wanted "peaceful coexistence" with the West. -
Warsaw Pact Created
Created in response to the formation of NATO and collaboration of the Western Bloc. Formally the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance. -
Berlin Wall Created
Built under Khruschev to keep people in East Berlin from going into West Berlin. Also known as the "Anti-Fascist Protection Rampart." -
Cuban Missile Crisis
Kennedy learned that nuclear missiles had been installed in Cuba and demanded they be removed with warships in a Cuban blockade. The missiles were removed in return for the US removing missiles in Turkey. -
Period: to
Brezhnev leading the Soviet Union
Wanted to extend influence of the Soviet Union, shut down the “Prague Spring” of Czechoslovakia in 1968 and established the Brezhnev Doctrine. -
Period: to
Gorbachev leading the Soviet Union
Brought reform to the Soviet Union with Glasnost,(openness) allowing people to openly discuss shortcomings of the Soviet Union and allowing more freedom in news, and perestroika restructuring economic policy. Was in charge until the dissolution of the Soviet Union and was succeeded by Boris Yeltsin in a new Russian Federation. -
Fall of the Berlin Wall
As the Berlin Wall had been being taken apart, Gorbachev did not interfere.