Russian History

Russian History is a humanities course in the CTY program with no prerequisites. Its course code is RUHI and is offered only at Carlisle.

Course Description

This course is a survey of the history of modern Russia from the time of Peter the Great (1682) to the present. Students explore the old Romanov Empire; Russian political events and revolutions; Russia’s role in the two world wars; and Russian art, music, and literature. Throughout this historical survey, students examine major personalities such as Catherine the Great; czars Alexander I, Alexander II (the Czar Liberator), and Nicholas II; as well as Lenin, Stalin, and Gorbachev from the Soviet era. Special attention is devoted to the implosion of the Soviet Empire and the emergence of a Russia in transition under Yeltsin, Putin, and Medvedev. Students work with primary documents in research assignments, hone their writing skills, and develop their speaking capabilities in daily discussions and final research presentations.