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Volga

Background: Founded in the 12th century, the Principality of Muscovy, was able to emerge from over 200 years of Mongol domination (13th-15th centuries) and to gradually conquer and absorb surrounding principalities. In the early 17th century, a new Romanov Dynasty continued this policy of expansion across Siberia to the Pacific. Under PETER I (ruled 1682-1725), hegemony was extended to the Baltic Sea and the country was renamed the Russian Empire. During the 19th century, more territorial acquisitions were made in Europe and Asia. Repeated devastating defeats of the Russian army in World War I led to widespread rioting in the major cities of the Russian Empire and to the overthrow in 1917 of the imperial household. The Communists under Vladimir LENIN seized power soon after and formed the USSR. The brutal rule of Josef STALIN (1928-53) strengthened Russian dominance of the Soviet Union at a cost of tens of millions of lives. The Soviet economy and society stagnated in the following decades until General Secretary Mikhail GORBACHEV (1985-91) introduced glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring) in an attempt to modernize Communism, but his initiatives inadvertently released forces that by December 1991 splintered the USSR into 15 independent republics. Since then, Russia has struggled in its efforts to build a democratic political system and market economy to replace the strict social, political, and economic controls of the Communist period. While some progress has been made on the economic front, recent years have seen a recentralization of power under Vladimir PUTIN and an erosion in nascent democratic institutions. A determined guerrilla conflict still plagues Russia in Chechnya.




Links: Volga Travel Blogs (63) | Volga Travel Photos | Map of Volga | Russia Travel Forum | Hotels in Volga | Volga Map | Russia Facts | Map of Russia

Areas in : Kazan (21) | Nizhny Novgorod (18) | Perm (24) | Samara (1) | Saratov | Ufa (7) | Ulyanovsk (2)

Blonde inside and out
56 days ago: Grybaziggy published a blog
Blonde inside and out
September 12th 2009  Europe » Russia » Volga » Perm
Fall has begun and everything is more or less in order. Sveta got her new passport -- she's now Svetlana Rasmussen. And I visited the Russian proctologist at long last. I was supposed to go in Jun ... 9 photos [full story]

Their Own Personal Eden
93 days ago: Bike Tour Eurasia published a blog
Their Own Personal Eden
August 6th 2009  Europe » Russia » Volga » Ufa
When the Soviet empire collapsed in the early nineties it was heralded in the west. The thought of centrally mandated collectivism makes a capitalist's blood run cold and many (if not most) Americans ... 4 photos [full story]

Warm-loving people
101 days ago: Grybaziggy published a blog
Warm-loving people
July 29th 2009  Europe » Russia » Volga » Perm
Misha is one of those guys who can always be found in the Perm State University weight room. “He was a champion,” fellow powerlifter Vladimir once told me. “Now he is old.” ... 25 photos [full story]

Second Fourth
126 days ago: Grybaziggy published a blog
Second Fourth
July 5th 2009  Europe » Russia » Volga » Perm
Sveta and I spent my second fourth of July in Perm much like we spent the first: wandering around town. We found a side road that led to an unknown green valley. It was the usual Perm summer scene: ... 20 photos [full story]

132 days ago: EdwardC published a blog
Volga Region
June 29th 2009  Europe » Russia » Volga
Moscow - Volgograd 21hours... Train journey seem to be a lot of fun thought the heat at day reaching 36 to 38c can be a little overwhelming. People are friendly and gladly share they portions between ... [full story]

158 days ago: Grybaziggy published a blog
Four things
June 2nd 2009  Europe » Russia » Volga » Perm
As I prepare for my annual AP “reading” trip, I’ve been reflect on that question that students in every class I’ve taught have asked me: “what do Americans think of Russi ... [full story]

186 days ago: Grybaziggy published a blog
Super students
May 5th 2009  Europe » Russia » Volga » Perm
A couple weeks ago I revisited Kudimkar, the delightful and snowy capital of the formerly autonomous Perm-Komi region. Some of the Perm-Komi people still speak Komi, but I’d bet English is prob ... [full story]


Volga Blog Entries

footpath
Woolen Boots
Curants
House
Galina in front of her home
NIZHNY NOVGOROD
A house, near the university.
The fortress.
A street that leads to the river.

Russia

Russia Location





Hostels in Russia
Hotels in Volga
Latest Volga Blog Entries
Volga Photos


Blogging Volga




Russia Travel Forum
To St. Petersburg, Russia in august or september
TRANS SIBERIAN/MONGOLIAN RAILWAY
Eastern Siberia and Kamchatka
Any worthwhile places in Saint-Petersburg?
Moscow and Europe
Trans-Siberian Railway packages/tours
Renting a flat in St Petersburg
russian visa outside your home country
TravelBlog a big hit in Russia!
Flights to Moscow and Hostels
Russia-spring or fall?
living in russia for a year- a bad move??
Who has visited St.-Petersburg?
To Russia alone?
Siberian Express??






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