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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 (36) | Volga Travel Photos | Russia Travel Forum | Volga Map | Russia Facts | Map of Russia

Areas in Volga: Kazan | Nizhny Novgorod | Perm | Samara | Saratov | Ufa | Ulyanovsk

1 day ago: Grybaziggy published a blog
memorial dinner, swimming
July 24th 2008  Europe » Russia » Volga » Perm
I spent yesterday in the sun. First outside the morgue and then at the beach. Funeral services in the Orthodox Church were at 1, so the Legotkins and I got to the morgue at around 11 am. There a a ... [full story]

3 days ago: Grybaziggy published a blog
Conferring with dead -- last rites
July 22nd 2008  Europe » Russia » Volga » Perm
Sveta's grandmother was supposed to be buried today, but the Russian state's obsession for proper documentation has made this impossible. This morning, Sveta and I made our way to the funeral home to ... [full story]

Powerlifting, Russian hawks
9 days ago: Grybaziggy published a blog
Powerlifting, Russian hawks
July 16th 2008  Europe » Russia » Volga » Perm
Universities are supposed to be places where contrarian views are cultivated, accepted, but I was still shocked when Svetlana's advisor told me "I bet your surprised to meet a hawk in Russia." He ga ... 6 photos [full story]

Independence Day in Perm
19 days ago: Grybaziggy published a blog
Independence Day in Perm
July 5th 2008  Europe » Russia » Volga » Perm
On our way to pick up my HIV certificate, Sveta and I stopped in at the American Club in the Perm library. The club consisted of five girls. In honor of July 4, the club leader, who had studied in A ... 2 photos [full story]

22 days ago: Petrushka and Babushka published a blog
Somewhere Along the Volga
July 3rd 2008  Europe » Russia » Volga
Saturday June 28 2008 As part of our self discovery as Vladdie our caddie calls it, we have experienced rationing. We have been rationed one small bottle of water per person per day and one small ... [full story]

23 days ago: Petrushka and Babushka published a blog
Boots and Pickles
July 2nd 2008  Europe » Russia » Volga
Thursday June 26 2008 We are headed for Yuroslav. A very old town surrounded by a moat, it will celebrate its millenium celebration in 2010. In the 18th century rich merchants built churches as a ... [full story]

101 days ago: Meagan King published a blog
Sorry It Took Forever
April 15th 2008  Europe » Russia » Volga » Kazan
Hello All! Sorry for taking so long to write anything! I stopped writing after the car accident. For those of you who do not know, I was in an accident with my friends while coming home from a we ... [full story]


Volga Blog Entries

NIZHNY NOVGOROD
The fortress.

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