| UNIT OVERVIEW: CENTRAL EURASIA |
OVERARCHING QUESTIONS: How have geography and political traditions affected the people of Central Eurasia?
What factors have contributed to the instability of Central Eurasia?
Indicators and Content Objectives
Suggested Time: 6 weeks
A. analyze regional characteristics of Central Eurasia in order to predict and then verify their impact on population distribution, population growth and settlement patterns.
identify and describe the diverse geographic regions of Central Eurasia
identify the regional characteristics of Central Eurasia
make generalizations about the role of transportation and technology in population distribution, population growth and settlement patterns
B. examine major political events from the Czarist and Soviet eras in order to analyze their impact on the rights and responsibilities of the citizenry.
describe the impact of absolute authority
describe and analyze the relationship between czarist authority and the expansion of the Russian empire
determine the underlying causes for a revolutionary movement in czarist Russia
analyze the fundamental elements of capitalism and the communist economic system
identify the major events leading up to the formation of the Soviet Union
identify Josef Stalins methods of modernizing Russia
C. examine the causes and effects of the dissolution of the Soviet Union in order to draw conclusions about the impact of economic, social, and political ideas on society.
identify several social and political problems experienced by Soviet citizens during the 1970s and 1980s
identify several economic problems experienced by Soviet citizens during the 1970s and 1980s
examine the economic and political reforms of the Gorbechev and Yeltsin era
D. analyze examples of political, social, and economic instability in former Soviet republics in order to evaluate different viewpoints and create an example of a course of action designed to bring about civic improvement
describe the economic and political problems experienced by the people of the former Soviet republics in the newly formed independent nations
review the political, economic, and social problems experienced by the people in the former Soviet republics
verify reasons for social instability in the former Soviet republics
About this Unit
Central Eurasia is the largest region students will study in the World Cultures program. It is a region that dominates both the European and Asian continents and constitutes one-sixth of the worlds landmass. The physical and climatic characteristics of the region are diverse and extreme. It is these environmental factors that have had the most impact on the development of the regions culture and history. Through map analysis and the gathering of other statistical data, students will predict and then verify the degree to which climate and topography can influence historical and modern patterns of settlement.
In order to understand the importance of authority during the czarist and Soviet eras, students will analyze the rights and responsibilities of the citizens during these historical periods. Students will compare the power of the czars to the regimes of Lenin and Stalin in relation to their impact on the lives of the citizenry. Students will examine the reform attempts of perestroika and glasnost and analyze the reasons for the collapse of the Soviet Union. The economic, political, and social consequences of these changes will be examined.
After declaring their independence, the former Soviet republics faced many challenges. The lack of experience with market economies and the new democratic government made improvements slow to occur. Many citizens began to lose confidence in their newly elected leaders. The lack of progress coupled with severe economic problems in the newly formed Commonwealth of Independent States created instability in the region. Students will analyze the problems experienced by the citizens of the region in order to apply a decision-making model to suggest possible solutions.
At the conclusion of this unit, students should recognize the significance of the following statements of enduring learning.
Geography affects population distribution.
Various forms of government have influenced the social, political and economic well being of the Russian people
The Central Eurasian region experienced dramatic economic, social and political change during the dissolution of the USSR.
The movement towards democratic reform in Central Eurasia has created economic, social and political instability.
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