Russian history 2024/2025, 1 st term Exam for the groups EN3-41, SD-43, AT-45, EM-41 Examination questions Comments and explication are written in black. Questions, one of which (chosen occasionally) must be answered during the exam, are written in red.
What ground did Alexander Block have to write the following expression? What is the true origin of the Russians? Мильоны — вас. Нас — тьмы, и тьмы, и тьмы. Попробуйте, сразитесь с нами! Да, скифы — мы! Да, азиаты — мы, С раскосыми и жадными очами! ( Александр Блок. Скифы. 1918 ) Millions are you – and hosts, yea hosts, are we, And we shall fight if war you want, take heed. Yes, we are Scythians – leafs of the Asian tree, Our slanted eyes are bright aglow with greed. (Alexander Block. The Scythians. 1918 )
These two pictures illustrate the same legend about the origin of the Russian state. What caused furious disputes about the legend? What is the scientific reply to the question disputed?
Why is the woman on the right taking bath in presence of the two men? What differed her as a ruler from the preceeding Russian dukes?
This is a reconstructed part of an ancient Russian city fortress. How did it happen that this city became the “mother to the Russian cities”, and how it found itself beyond the Russian borders?
These monuments in honour of the same person are erected in the cities of Kiev, Novgorod and Yaroslavl’. What is his role in the Russian history?
…E missaries from my kinsmen met me on the Volga with the message, “ Join with us quickly, that we may expel the sons of Rostislav, and seize their possessions. If you do not join us, we shall act for our own advantage, and you may conduct yourself as you deem best.” I replied, “ At the risk of your wrath, I cannot go with you and break my oath.” ... Oleg subsequently attacked me in Chernigov with Polovtsian support ; my troops fought with him for eight days by the small entrenchment and would not let him inside the outworks. I took pity on the souls of our Christian subjects, and upon the burned villages and monasteries, and said, “ It is not for the pagans to boast.” I therefore gave my kinsman my father’s place, and myself retired to my father’s domain of Pereiaslavl. The both monuments show us the same person. The text, of which the translated fragments are provided, is written by him too. What is his name and what is his role in the Russian history?
Show the region in which a new Russian city (not shown on this map) appeared in the 12 th century, to which the Russian center of power moved from Kiev. Explain why this city became more powerful than Kiev.
What were the two dangers from outside that Russia faced in the early 13 th century, and how did it deal with them?
What is the name of the Russian duke, depicted on these pictures, and why was he advertised by the Soviet propaganda in the late 1930s? Explain the plots of the pictures.
What is the title of the city which was the center of a small princedom in the early 13 th century, but by the end of that century turned into the most powerful Russian city? Why did this change happen?
What episode of the Russian history is depicted on these images? (Mind the details circled with red). What is the significance of that epoch of the Russian history during which it happened?
Which successful episodes of the Russian struggle against Mongols are depicted on these images? What is the significance of that epoch of the Russian history to which these events belong?
What event is shown on these pictures? What is the significance of that epoch of the Russian history to which this event belongs?
Ghosts of those murdered innocently come to …(?) A picture of Mikhail Klodt after the novel of A.K. Tolstoy Whose name is replaced with “?” in the title of the picture? What was the role of his reign in the Russian history?
Vasili IV Shuisky (Василий Шуйский) False Dmitry I (Лжедмитрий I ) Ivan IV the Terrible ( Иван Грозный ) Fyodor (Фёдор Иоаннович) Ivan III (Иван III ) Vasiliy III (Василий III ) ? Whose name is replaced with “?” in the list of Russian rulers? What was the role of his rule in the Russian history?
What connects these two different people? What is the significance of that epoch of the Russian history when one of them ruled Russia? “Saint Prince Dmitriy” “ Dmetrius Emperator Moscoviae ” = “Dmitriy the Ruler of Moscovia ”
Who of the two men is Minin, and who is Pozharsky ? What is the significance of that epoch of the Russian history when they did their famous deed?
What is the role of Feodor Shalyapin (on the photo) in this play? What is the significance of that epoch of the Russian history which is presented in the play? “Life for the tsar” (a theater poster)
“Dispute on the faith”. Picture by Vasily Perov, 1881 What is the title for the social and political movement that initiated this dispute? In what epoch did it appear, what was the role of that epoch in the Russian history?
Люблю тебя, Петра творенье, Люблю твой строгий, стройный вид, Невы державное теченье, Береговой её гранит, Твоих оград узор чугунный, Твоих задумчивых ночей Прозрачный сумрак, блеск безлунный, Когда я в комнате моей Пишу, читаю без лампады, И ясны спящие громады Пустынных улиц, и светла Адмиралтейская игла. What city is poetized by Pushkin in the following lines? What for was it created? What is the significance of that epoch of the Russian history during which that city came into existence? O how I love you, Peter’s daughter! Your aspect, graceful yet austere; Nevá’s augustly flowing water And granite banks: these I hold dear; Your railings, finely ornamented; Your pensive nights of moonless light And lambent dusk, when I, contented, Sit in my room and read and write Without a lamp, while in the nearly Deserted streets huge buildings clearly Loom up, asleep; and solar fire Plays on the Admiralty spire.
Which Russian ruler is depicted at this picture? What changed in Russia during his reign, what is the role of that epoch?
The man on the right is Nikita Demidov. What is he famous for? Why is this monument erected in one or the Ural cities? Who is the second man on the monument, why is he present here? What is his role in the Russian history?
Гром победы, раздавайся! Веселися, храбрый Росс! Звучной славой украшайся. Магомета ты потрёс ! Roll afar, victorious thunder! Lucky is the Russian bet! Brave and proud with our glory, We have shaken Mahomet ! Gavrila Derzhavin ( Гаврила Державин ) Explain the allusion contained in the words of the first Russian national anthem written by Gavrila Derzhavin. What is the significance of that epoch of the Russian history during which these events took place?
« Madame, при вас на диво Порядок расцветёт,— Писали ей учтиво Вольтер и Дидерот,— Лишь надобно народу, Которому вы мать, Скорее дать свободу, Скорей свободу дать». « Messieurs,— им возразила Она,— vous me comblez »,— И тотчас прикрепила Украинцев к земле. « Madame, you’ll bring the order Unmatched yet before, — Voltaire, Diderot and others Politely wrote to her, — All that you have to do is Right now free the serfs. True mother to your people, You’ll do it now, of course ». « Messieurs,— she argued with them You flatter me, pardon »,— And turned a million peasants To serfs of her minion. Alexey Konstantinovich Tolstoy ( Алексей Константинович Толстой ) “History of the Russian State from Gostomysl to Timashev ” ( «История государства российского от Гостомысла до Тимашева» ) Who is metioned as “she” in the poem of A.K. Tolstoy? What is the significance of that epoch of the Russian history which is described in this fragment of the poem?
F a m u s o v … Of all the cap ’ tals, big or small, Moscow is surely best of all. S k a l o z u b As far as I can judge, To a large extent the fire made it such. F a m u s o v Don't talk about the fire. Don't tease. So much has changed ever since : The roads, the houses, the pavements and all. C h a t s k y The houses are new, prejudices are old. You should be pleased because prejudice never dies, It will survive the years, the fashions and the fires. Фамусов … Решительно скажу: едва Другая сыщется столица, как Москва. Скалозуб По моему сужденью, Пожар способствовал ей много к украшенью. Фамусов Не поминайте нам, уж мало ли крехтят ! С тех пор дороги, тротуары, Дома и все на новый лад. Чацкий Дома новы, но предрассудки стары. Порадуйтесь, не истребят Ни годы их, ни моды, ни пожары. Alexander Griboyedov ( Александр Грибоедов) “Woe from wit” (“ Горе от ума ” ) A part of what event was the fire mentioned in the poem of A. Griboyedov ? What is the role of that event in the Russian history?
The execution of 1826 Who are these people? What is the significance of that epoch of the Russian history which is illustrated by the picture?
Who is cutting the bear’s claws in the Black sea on this “comic map”? What is the title of that war? What role has it played in the Russian history?
Call the date before which this picture would be impossible. What is the significance of that epoch of the Russian history which is illustrated by the picture? Janitor and ladies. ( Дворник и барыни ) (picture by Василий Перов )
Why “revolution”, not “revolt”? Mendeleev Nobel Find the item on the picture that concerns the men on the portraits. What is the significance of that epoch of the Russian history during which they became famous?
Why “revolution”, not “revolt”? What is the significance of that epoch of the Russian history which is described by these books ?
Which war is illustrated by the photo? What role did it play in the Russian history? “Austrian prisoners of war in Russia”. A photo by Sergey Prokudin-Gorsky
Place in the right chronological order. What is the significance of that epoch of the Russian history which is illustrated by the poster?
Do these posters agitate for the Bolsheviks or against them? What is the significance of that epoch of the Russian history which is illustrated by the posters? “For the united Russia!” “All the land and factories – to the landowners and capitalists!”
What is the significance of that epoch of the Russian history which is illustrated by the poster? “Food tax” “Give a part of the harvest to the city and have the rest at your disposal” “20% to the city, 20% for the exchange, 60% for the family”
Which poster depicts kolkhoznik? What is the significance of that epoch of the Russian history which is illustrated by the posters?
Explain the idea of the poster. What is the significance of that epoch of the Russian history which is illustrated by the poster? “Arithmetic of the accelerated industrial and financial plan” “plus enthusiasm of workers”
Лев Шубников Николай Адрианов Михаил Тухачевский Илья Ильф Евгений Замятин Николай Беляев Александр Чаянов Евгений Преображенский All of these people died in 1937. What was the reason of death? What is the significance of that epoch of the Russian history to which this event belongs?
Moscow Events of what year are illustrated by this map? What is the significance of that epoch of the Russian history which is illustrated by the map?
What is the city name? What is the significance of that epoch of the Russian history which is illustrated by the map? German troops Soviet troops
Explain the idea of each poster. What is the significance of that epoch of the Russian history which is illustrated by the posters? “We shall replace!” “The enemy will not escape revenge of people!”
Explain the change in the names at the Red Squair Mausoleum : why and when did it occur? What is the significance of that epoch of the Russian history to which this event belongs? Lenin Stalin Lenin
What event is mocked at by the caricature? What is the significance of that epoch of the Russian history to which this event belongs? USA USSR
Tell about the reform promoted by the posters. What is the significance of that epoch of the Russian history to which this reform belongs? “Be strong in economics!” “This is what the lazy one has got from sleeping and fooling around” “Wage accounting”
Holding the Nobel lecture. The prize was rewarded to him “for the leading role he played in the radical changes in East-West relations" Prove the Nobel Committee decision by the facts. What is the significance of that epoch of the Russian history to which this event belongs?
Tell about the two cases of tanks rolling into Moscow in the early 1990s. What is common and what is different between these two cases? What is the significance of that epoch of the Russian history to which these events belong?
“Now you understand, Yegor, what is it - a breakthrough in the economic reform”. “Help! It’s shock therapy!” “ ц. ” = цена = price ; other inscriptions: “chocolate”, “washing powder”, “sack of potatoes” Explain the ideas of the caricatures dated 1992-1993. What is the significance of that epoch of the Russian history to which they belong?
