About this course: In this course, Peter Kenez, Professor Emeritus at UC Santa Cruz, explains the events of modern Russian history and introduces its most significant actors—from Vladimir Lenin to Vladimir Putin.
Created by: University of California, Santa Cruz
Taught by: Peter Kenez, Professor Emeritus
History
| Level | Beginner |
| Language | English |
| How To Pass | Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. |
| User Ratings |
Syllabus
WEEK 1
The 9th Century to the 1920s
12 videos
- Video: Introduction to the Course
- Video: Formation of the Russian State
- Video: The Industrial Revolution
- Video: The February Revolution
- Video: The Provisional Government
- Video: The October Revolution
- Video: Consequences of the Revolution
- Discussion Prompt: What if the revolution had happened somewhere else?
- Video: The One-Party State
- Video: Economy, society, & culture of the 1920s
- Video: Collectivization
- Video: Industrialization
- Video: Terror
- Discussion Prompt: What made Russia what it is today?
Graded: Quiz 1
WEEK 2
The Great Patriotic War: Before and After
8 videos
- Video: Prelude to the Great Patriotic War
- Video: The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact
- Video: German Invasion of the Soviet Union
- Video: Partisans, Collaborators, & Racial Distinction
- Video: The Soviet Union and the Allies
- Video: Dissipation of Hope
- Video: Material Devastation
- Video: Life without Stalin
- Discussion Prompt: What was Stalin's impact?
Graded: Quiz 2
WEEK 3
Reform, Stagnation, Collapse, Rebirth?
13 videos
- Video: Khrushchev's Reforms
- Video: "We will bury you!"
- Video: Adventures in Foreign Policy
- Video: Andropov, Chernenko, and Gorbachev
- Video: Perestroika
- Video: Changing the Soviet Stance
- Video: The Collapse of the Soviet Union
- Video: Shock Therapy
- Video: The Rise of the Oligarchs
- Discussion Prompt: Why did the Soviet Union collapse?
- Video: Why Putin?
- Video: The New Political Order
- Video: Putin's Foreign Policy
- Video: Understanding Russians
- Discussion Prompt: What is Russia's role?
Graded: Quiz 3
Graded: Essay on Contemporary Russia
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Ratings and Reviews
Está increíble. Gran profesor, gran clase. Thank you very much for this.
Very informative. Gave me a different insight into Russian thought especially in current administration of Putin. It seems that the Russians have been more afraid o the USA than the USA has been of them.
Units one and three are too long. Unit one should be divided into three units. Unit three should be divided into two units.
Great class and the professor did an excellent job relaying the information. Honestly, I wish it was a little longer and a little more in depth. Definitely, learned a lot.
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The lectures provide very interesting information. Moreover, Prof. Kenez offers his opinion/analysis throughout the lectures which makes the course valuable since it is the perspective of an expert. Excellent course.