University of North Texas
History of Russia from the 9th to the 19th century
Instructor Dr. Olga Velikanova HIST 4050 2010
E-mail:
Office hours: Thu 5-6 pm or by appointment, WH # 237
Welcome to the Russian history class! This course presents events, actors, culture and legends of old Russia, discussing the major themes that have structured the country’s past and are shaping its present. Studying development of Russia from ancient Kievan Rus’, to medieval Muscovy and to empire we’ll discuss the interrelations of government, individual personality and social forces in defining the historical process. The course is multi-media based: we will draw not only on text and documents, but on photos, paintings, literature, films and audio clips. Lectures are based on Power Point presentations.
Learning Objectives of the course are: to develop students’ ability of historical thinking, i.e. applying critical thinking to historical context, and conceptualizing the facts and events – to see the “big picture”. Students will be able to read historical and political texts critically, to convey their ideas in written and oral form articulating coherent argumentation well-supported with historical evidence. By studying the civilization different from their own, students will learn the language of global mutual understanding crucial in our modern world.
Required Texts:
A History of Russia. Peoples, Legends, Events, Forces. by C. Evtuhov, D. Goldfrank, L. Hughes, R. Stites.(in the bookstore)
N. Gogol, The Overcoat (Bookstore, or library, or online) http://www.geocities.com/short_stories_page/gogolovercoat.html
Additional readings:
O. Figes, Natasha’s Dance. Russian Cultural History (On reserve) (check index of the book for specific topics) [F]
Storey, Pocket guide to writing history (on reserve for Prof. Velikanova’s class)
Online resources, handouts, films
Assignments:
Students are expected to: a) attend regularly; b) complete the assigned readings including online resources BEFORE class; c) contribute to the discussion by asking questions and expressing their thoughts and informed opinion on the readings and topics.
Midterm test 30 % - 7th week; Map quiz - 10%- 11th week; Essay- 30 % -November 30. Essay: Five double space pages including bibliography. Essay should consist of introduction, body and conclusion, presenting an argument and supporting evidence. Topics will be provided. Bibliography for essay (4-5 sources) should be submitted November 2; Final exam - 30% -TBA. Students will be given further information in advance.You can get bonus points participating in class discussions.
Course Policies:
Attendance: Regular attendance is required. If you must miss a class, try to inform me in advance. Try to avoid arriving late or leaving early because it disturbs both me and your fellow students. No food in class. Cell phones should be switched off.
Assignments: All assignments must be completed and submitted in order to pass the course. You must keep a copy of all submitted work (should a submitted paper become lost) and also keep all your notes and drafts (should issues of plagiarism or cheating arise). Correct use of language is one of the criteria included in the evaluation of all written work.
Due dates: If an assignment is submitted after the due date, the penalty will be three marks per day for up to ten days. After ten days the grade will be 0 (but note that you must still complete and submit the assignment in order to pass the course). Extensions may only be granted in advance by the instructor in case of documented serious illness, personal or family problems.
Plagiarism and cheating: Students are reminded that university regulations on plagiarism and cheating will be strictly enforced. These regulations are found in the University Calendar.
Students with special circumstances covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act should register with the Office of Disability Accommodation (ODA), Suite 318 A, University Union Building, telephone number 940.565.4323 and also inform the instructor of the class no later than the first week of classes.
Course Outline.
1 Week. Introduction of the course. Course requirements.
Historical Geography & Culture. Russian ”Geo-schizophrenia”- indeterminacy between East and West. The establishment of the Kievan state. The Primary Chronicles. Influences of Scandinavia and Byzantium
N. Rerikh, Arrival of the Vikings
2 Week. Religion: Paganism and Christianity. Orthodoxy. Icons. A. Rublev.
· Readings: Ch.2,3, Figes [F]: 297-301
· Document: Chronicles. "The Beginning of the Russian State and the Arrival of Rurik" http://www.ku.edu/~russcult/culture/handouts/chronicle_all.html#vladimir
St. George & the dragon Novgorod
Kremlin
3 Week. The Mongol conquest and its consequences. Democracy and Autocracy: Novgorod “republic” and Muscovy.Ch. 4, p.80-92. Video clips: Andrei Rublev by Tarkovski.
4 Week. Russian Architecture. Monasteries. VIDEO: Alexander Nevsky by
Eisenstein. P. 187-197
· ww.inforussian.com – Pictures of the monasteries
· http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/empire/architecture.html
5 Week. Ivan the Terrible. The Time of Troubles (1598-1613). Movie.Ch.7, p.
182-186.
6 Week. Church Reform. Avvakum. Read Ch. 8.
7 Week. Russian folk culture. Folklore. Russian Fairy Tales. Customs: Bathhouse. Vodka. Cuisine. Dwelling. Marriage. Lubok. Ch. 19. Video-clips. Midterm
· Readings: Figes on reserve, pp.395-…, 13…247…46…
· Tales http://www.lacquerbox.com/tales.htm
· Ethnology http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/empire/ethnic.html
8 Week. Peter the Great and Westernization. The New World of St. Petersburg.
Public perception of reforms. Ch. 11, 12, F: 4-28
· Additional Readings: Pushkin, The Bronze Horseman
http://www.poetryloverspage.com/poets/pushkin/bronze_horseman.html
St. Petersburg Palace Square Tolstoy
9 Week. The Eighteenth Century – the Age of Absolutism and Enlightenment. Catherine the Great. The Hermitage Museum. Virtual tour. pp. 254-275, 285-289, Ch. 15
· Documents: http://artsci.shu.edu/reesp/documents/pugachev.htm
· http://artsci.shu.edu/reesp/documents/radishchev.htm
· Movie Russian Ark. Discussion
· www.hermitagemuseum.org/
10 Week. Russia in the age of Napoleon. Paul I. Alexander I. War of 1812. Ch. 16. The December Uprising (1825); p. 341-344. Read Gogol, Submit Bibliography Nov 2.
· Map http://www.hyperhistory.com/online_n2/maptext_n2/napoleon.htmlhttp://www.hyperhistory.com/online_n2/maptext_n2/napoleon.html
· Video clips “War and Peace” by S. Bondarchuk.
11 Week. Russian Society and Culture in the First Half of the Nineteen Century. Intelligentsia. Pushkin, Gogol. Ch. 17, F: 158-162.
· Video clips – “Overcoat” (Gogol)
· Gogol, The Overcoat (discussion)
· http://www.geocities.com/short_stories_page/gogolovercoat.html
· MAP QUIZ !Study maps in the textbook.p.60,127,171,209,277, 281,312
12 Week. Nationalism and Empire. Nicolas I. Music. Architecture. AUDIO clips. Ch. 18. Figes on reserve, 175…
13 week. Emancipation of Peasants. Realism in Literature: Turgenev, Dostoevsky, Tolstoy. Realism in Art: Wanderers. Video: Oblomov, Ch. 21, Figes 353…410… pp.422-423, 434-442 Essay due November 23.
· Dostoevsky, The Grand Inquisitor. Read online:
http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/pol116/grand.htm
· Reaction on Emancipation Manifesto
http://artsci.shu.edu/reesp/documents/nikitenko.htm
14 week. Search for Russian Identity. Slavophiles versus Westernizers. Liberalism and Radicalism. Populists. Emergence of Terrorism. Marxism. Social-Democrats. pp. 360-365. 422-423,427-436., 445-449, 481-483.
· Document http://artsci.shu.edu/reesp/docemnets/Iartsev.htm
15 Week. Russian Capitalism. Modernization. Industrialization.Empire. Ch. 24
· See photos of Late Imperial Russia at http://cmp1.ucr.edu/exhibitions/russia/russia.html
FINAL EXAM TBA
1