HI206
Russia from Communist Revolution to Soviet Collapse, 1917-1991
0.5 Credit

Hours per week:
  • Lecture/Discussion: 3

The Soviet Union played an enormous role in the history of the 20th century, but what was it exactly? This course considers Russia's transformation from an Imperial to a Communist state and charts its ultimate demise. It highlights the vital roles played by Lenin, Stalin, and Khrushchev. We pay particular attention to the societal impact of Collectivization and famine, the purges, the rise of the GULAG prison system, the 900-day siege of Leningrad during World War Two, and the rise and fall of Perestroika under Gorbachev.