Reading
11. Read and translate the text about early days of Russian history.
Early History of Russia
T
he
nation's history began with that of the East
Slavs.
They emerged as a recognizable group in Europe between the 3rd and
8th centuries AD (Anno Domini). The first East Slavic state was
Kievan
Rus'.
It arose in the 9th century and was founded and ruled by a noble
Viking
warrior class and their descendant. Kievan
Rus'
adopted Christianity
from the Byzantine
Empire
in 988. It was the synthesis of Byzantine and Slavic
cultures and that defined Russian culture for the next millennium.
Kievan Rus' ultimately disintegrated and the lands were divided into
many small feudal states. The most powerful successor state to Kievan
Rus' was Moscow
(or Grand
Duchy of Moscow).
Moscow served as the main force in the Russian reunification process
and independence struggle against the Golden
Horde.
M
oscow
gradually reunified the surrounding Russian principalities and came
to dominate the cultural and political legacy of Kievan Rus'. By the
18th century, the nation had greatly expanded through conquest,
annexation and exploration to become the Russian
Empire.
And it
was the third
largest empire in history,
stretching from Poland
eastward to the Pacific
Ocean
and Alaska.
12. Give the answers to the questions below.
1. When did the East Slavs emerge?
2. What was the first East Slavic state?
3. Who were the founders of Kievan Rus'?
4. What was the source of Russian Christianity?
5. What was the result of Kievan Rus' disintegration?
6. By what time has Russia become the Russian Empire?
13. Complete the following sentences using the contents of the text.
1. East Slavs emerged as a recognizable group in Europe … .
2. Kievan Rus' was … .
3. It was founded and ruled by … starting from 9th century.
4. Kievan Rus' adopted Christianity from … .
5. Moscow was … .
6. Gradually Moscow reunified … and … the cultural and political legacy of … .
7. By the 18th century the nation … to become the Russian Empire.
Vocabulary Training
14. Read the following words and word combinations:
cede – уступить
Ingria – Инжора
Serfdom – крепостное право
Alexander the Blessed – Александр Благословенный
Spur – побуждать
Enact – определять, вводить, устанавливать, узаконивать
Aggravate – обострять, усугублять
Downfall – падение
15. Say that in English making use of the text below.
Петр Великий, официально провозгласить, мировая держава, доступ к морю, заставить уступить, при правлении династии Романовых, в союзе с Пруссией, Екатерина Великая, наследник Николая, повсеместное существование крепост-ного права.
Reading
16. Skim the text and define the general message of this text.
P
eter
the Great
officially proclaimed the existence of the Russian
Empire
in 1721. Under the Romanov
dynasty
and Peter
I
(Peter
the Great),
the Russian Empire became a world power. Ruling from 1682 to 1725,
Peter defeated Sweden
in the Great
Northern War.
He forced it to cede West Karelia
and Ingria
– the two
regions lost by Russia in the Time
of Troubles,
Estland,
and Livland.
That secured Russia's access to the sea and sea trade. It was in
Ingria that Peter founded a new capital, Saint
Petersburg.
Catherine II (Catherine the Great) ruled from 1762 to 1796 and continued the efforts to establish Russia as one of the Great Powers of Europe.
In alliance with Prussia and Austria, Russia stood against Napoleon's France in the reign of Alexander I (1777–1825) (Alexander the Blessed).
The prevalence of serfdom and the conservative policies of Nicolas I (1796–1855) impeded the development of Russia in the mid-nineteenth century.
Nicholas's successor Alexander II (reign: 1855–1881) enacted significant reforms, including the abolition of serfdom in 1861. These "Great Reforms" spurred industrialization. However, many socio-economic conflicts were aggravated during Alexander III’s reign and under his son, Nicholas II. Those conflicts as well as World War I brought the Russian monarchy to its downfall.
17. Work with your desk-mate and decide on the best title to the text above.
