Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

· Articulate an understanding of key events in Russian history from the rise of Kiev to the late eighteenth century and use critical thinking to evaluate historical changes and their impact.
· Recognize the interaction of various groups and institutions in order to evaluate their impact on Russian history.
· Identify the influence of culturally-based practices, values, and beliefs which have influenced the perception and behavior of the various peoples who have resided within the Russian sphere of influence.
· Communicate effectively using historical analysis.
· Connect the past with the present to enhance contemporary understanding and encourage civic and global engagement.

The SAC assumes that faculty will assess student learning using some combination of the following assessment strategies:

• Exams consisting of essay or other method that integrates and requires application of concepts, themes and issues in the course
• Written assignments such as papers, reviews, journals and other writing assignments that demonstrate understanding of content knowledge and appropriate application by students of historical materials.
• Oral presentations, discussions, debates, or role-playing that articulate a comprehensive knowledge of appropriate historical concepts and issues.
• Projects where students can identify historical resources and utilize these resources to evaluate their validity
• Use standard research techniques and acceptable formats in written work and oral presentations

Competencies and Skills:

• Identify the characteristics of Russian civilization
• Identify key political, geographical, social, economic and cultural aspects of Russian civilization
• Appraise how this civilization has changed over time
• Analyze and evaluate primary and secondary sources
• Connect evidence to its relevant historical context
• Evaluate different interpretations of past events and construct your own
• Recognize and understand the basis for various interpretations and views of historical issues
• Identify an historian’s thesis and supporting evidence
• Select what is important from a large body of material
• Connect present-day events to the past

Themes, Concepts, Issues

• Russia’s Geography and Peoples
• Social, economic, political, and cultural life of Kievan Rus
• The decline of Kiev and the role of other political centers

• The influence and impact of the Mongol invasion
• The rise of Muscovy and its role in the development of  Russia
• Social , economic, political and cultural life of Moscovy
• Role of various leaders in the evolution of the Russian system
• The role of the orthodox Church in the development of Russian social, political and cultural life
• The political unification of Russia and the role Ivan III and Ivan IV
• The “Time of Troubles” and its consequences on the future development of Russia
• The reforms of Peter the Great and their impact on Russia
• Social, Political and Economic Structures in the 1700s
• Catherine the Great and the Enlightenment Era