Russia in Perspective: Orientation Guide and Cultural Orientation: Geography, History, Economy, Society, Security, Religion, Post-Soviet Russia, Stalin, Ivan the Terrible, Ukraine, Crimea

These two unique guides produced by the Department of Defense provide comprehensive information about all aspects of life in Russia, with a special emphasis on geography, history, the economy, society, security and military matters, religion, traditions, urban and rural life, ethnic groups, crime, the environment, government, holidays, gender issues and much more.

GEOGRAPHY * Topographic Features * Kola Peninsula * Russian Plain * Caucasus Mountains * Ural Mountains * West Siberian Plain * Central Siberian Plateau * Taymyr Peninsula * Mountains of the South and East * Climate * Rivers and Lakes * Caspian Sea/Black Sea * Arctic * Pacific Ocean * Cities * Moscow * Saint Petersburg * Novosibirsk * Nizhniy Novgorod * Yekaterinburg * Environmental Concerns * Water Pollution * Nuclear Environmental Threats * Natural Hazard * HISTORY * Early History * Origin of the Russian State * Kievan Rus * The Mongol Invasion and the Golden Horde * The Rise of Muscovy (Moscow) * Ivan IV (the Terrible) * Boris Godunov and the Time of Troubles * The Romanovs * Peter I (the Great) * The Era of Palace Revolutions * Catherine II * The Early 19th Century * Reform Efforts * Alexander III * Revolutions and Civil War * Prologue to Revolution * World War I and February Revolution: Stage One * The October Revolution: Stage Two * Soviet Era * Stalin * Purges * World War II * Khrushchev and the Post-Stalin Thaw * Brezhnev, Andropov, and Chernenko * Perestroika and Glasnost * The Last Years of the Soviet Union * Post-Soviet Russia * Economic Troubles * Chechnya * Putin and Medvedev * Recent Events * ECONOMY * Agriculture * Industry and Manufacturing * Defense Industry * Energy and Mineral Resources * Oil and Natural Gas * Coal and Nuclear Energy * SOCIETY * Ethnic Groups and Languages * Traditional Dress * Gender Issues * Arts * Literature * Visual Arts * Music * Sports and Recreation * SECURITY * U.S.-Russian Relations * Relations with Neighboring Countries * Azerbaijan * Belarus * China * Estonia * Finland * Georgia * Kazakhstan * North Korea * Latvia * Lithuania * Mongolia * Norway * Poland * Ukraine * Military * Police * Issues Affecting Stability * Terrorism * Organized Crime and Illegal Drugs * PROFILE * Geographic Divisions and Topographic Features * Kola Peninsula * Russian Plain * Caucasus Mountains * Ural Mountains * West Siberian Plain * Central Siberian Plateau * Taymyr Peninsula * Mountains of the South and East * Volga River * Don River * Ob River and Irtysh River * Yenisey River * Lena River * Lake Baikal * Major Cities * Moscow * Saint Petersburg * Novosibirsk * Nizhniy Novgorod * Yekaterinburg * Vladivostok * Russia as a European Power * Revolution in Russia * Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (U.S.S.R.) * Russian Federation * Recent Events * Media * Economy * Ethnic Groups * Russians (Slavic) * Ukrainians (Slavic) * Tatars (Turkic) * Bashkirs and Chuvashes (Turkic) * Mongol * RELIGION * religions in Russia * Christianity * Islam * Religion and the Russian Government * Religious Events and Holidays * Buildings of Worship * Russian Orthodox Churches * Mosques * Behavior in Places of Worship * Orthodox Churches * Other Christian Churches * Mosques * TRADITIONS * Introduction * Honors and Values * Codes of Politeness * Male/Female Interaction * Hospitality and Gift Giving * Eating Customs and Types of Food * Dress Codes * Non-Religious Holidays * Do's and Don'ts * Compassion and patience are Russian virtues that are rewarded * URBAN LIFE * Urban Labor Issues * Healthcare * Education * Restaurants * Marketplace * Transportation and Traffic * Metros, Trams, and Trolleys * Air * Street Crime and Solicitations * Urban Crime * Dealing with Beggars * RURAL LIFE * Traditional Economy * Land Tenure * Agriculture * Fishing, Lumber, and Forestry * Village Life * Checkpoints * Landmines * CHAPTER 6: FAMILY LIFE * Status of Women, Children, and the Elderly * Marriage, Divorce, and Birth * Family Social Events