12:20-1:10P         MWF        BH005

Above section carries culture studies credit

This course offers a fast-paced introduction to the main events and
issues in Russian history from earliest times to the present.  It
covers the foundation of a great Slavic state in the Eurasian plain,
colorful rulers such as Ivan the Terrible, Peter the Great, Catherine
the Great, Lenin and Stalin, the great upheavals of the 20th century,
including three revolutions, a civil war and two world wars.  The main
textbook is John Thompson's lively and quickly-read Russia and the
Soviet Union (fourth edition).  Other readings include a 19th century
novel of rural estate life, anthropological field notes about peasant
family life, and a recent investigative report about the victims and
perpetrators of the Stalin era's massive killings and repressions.
Nearly all lectures will be accompanied by slide images to illustrate
aspects of the life of the time being studied.  Grades will be based
on three exams and two short papers.  The papers are to be built on
the course readings and do not require additional reading or research.
The exams relate directly to the course readings and lectures, and
students will be provided with study questions to help them organize
their exam preparation.