Articles written by Kerry Kubilius
Showing 1-100 of 173 Articles
|
Catherine the Great's Lovers
Catherine the Great's lovers made her famous and became famous. She enjoyed romances during her marriage and continued to take lovers until the last years of her reign.
|
|
Catherine the Great's Marriage
Engagement and marriage to the Peter paved Catherine the Great's path to the throne of the Russian Empire.
|
|
Ottoman Power in Romania
Ottoman Turks exacted tribute from their chosen Romanian leaders despite anti-Ottoman policies until their power declined in the 19th century.
|
|
Michael the Brave of Romania
Michael the Brave was a Romanian prince who united Moldovia, Wallachia, and Transylvania and revolted against the Ottoman Turks.
|
|
The Feudal System in Romania
The establishment and development of the feudal system in Romania during the medieval period created landowning and peasant classes.
|
|
Roman Influence on Dacia
Roman influences on Dacia included an infrastructure system, language, religion, and the name of the territory that was once Dacia - Romania.
|
|
King Decebal and Dacia
Kind Decebal organized a Dacian military force against invading Romans and saw both victories and losses before his death.
|
|
Dacians of Romania
The Dacians, also known as Getae, developed a sophisticated culture and united under their king Burebista.
|
|
Rise of Communism in Poland
With a government in exile, Communists under Soviet influence gained power in Poland after WWII.
|
|
Traditions of Icon Painting in Medieval Russia
Since the beginnings of icon painting in Russia, the development of these religious artworks were produced according to a tradition also influenced by trends.
|
|
Andrei Rublev, Icon Painter
Though little is known about Rublev's life and education, the style of his icon paintings and his famous works have served as an important influence in Russian art.
|
|
Russian Icons Through History
Since the beginning of Orthodoxy in Russia, icons have played an important role - so important, in fact, that the Soviets sought the destruction of icons.
|
|
Jews in Poland After WWII
Poland's Jews had two options after WWII - to emigrate or to stay in Poland and attempt to rebuild lives and communities. Those who stayed faced a hostile environment.
|
|
Post-War Poland
Geographically, politically, religiously, and economically a different country, Poland attempted to rebuild after the war.
|
|
Review of 'The Haunted Land'
'The Haunted Land: Facing Europe's Ghosts after Communism' by Tina Rosenberg offers insight into how Czechoslovakia, Germany, and Poland faced their Communist pasts.
|
|
Martial Law in Poland
Martial law was declared in Poland in 1981 by Prime Minister Jaruzelski in order to squash the powerful Solidarity movement and stave off economic decline.
|
|
Review of 'Night of Stone'
Catherine Merridale uses historic fact and interview notes to illustrate how Russians dealt with death during Soviet Rule.
|
|
Results of Famine in the Soviet Union
Results of Famine in the Soviet Union during the first half of the 20th century included decreased population, increased censorship, and an instance of foreign aid.
|
|
Lenin's Death
Lenin, having suffered multiple strokes, was held captive by Stalin in the months before his death. The cult of Lenin granted him godlike status.
|
|
Bolsheviks and the Orthodox Church
The Bolsheviks war on the Orthodox Church was waged to remove a powerful threat. Churches closed and priests were shot. Secular holidays replaced religious ones.
|
|
Stalin's Motives
Theories about Stalin's motives span the personal, political, and pathological.
|
|
Stalin's Purges
Stalin's Purges, along with the Great Purge, represented inescapable state-sponsored terror.
|
|
Tatlin and 'Monument to the Third International'
"Painting Reliefs," a winged glider, and the model for a monument were a part of this 20th century artist's oeuvre.
|
|
The Kornilov Affair
Kornilov's misreading of events in the summer of 1917 gave Kerensky the excuse he needed to arrest the commander-in-chief.
|
|
How the Bolsheviks Came to Power
The Bolsheviks came to power under Lenin's leadership and seized the Provisional Government in Petrograd in 1917.
|
|
Russia's Position in WWI
Russia's position in WWI was difficult. Military support for Serbia meant all-out war, failure, and social revolution. Inaction meant criticism from Pan-Slavist parties.
|
|
Books about Russian Culture
These three books about Russian culture delve into its development and how it affected history.
|
|
The Domostroi
'The Domostroi' was a household manual with ambiguous origins that can be traced to no one author. It was used during the Middle Ages in Russia.
|
|
Historic Heroes of Russia
Russian history would be incomplete without knowing the legends and facts behind its heroes, whose names have been given to streets, cathedrals, and operas.
|
|
Modern Decorated Egg Traditions
Pagan and Christian symbols surround the tradition of decorating eggs. Decorated egg artists, however, may create eggs to serve other purposes.
|
|
Eastern European History Culture Clues
Students of Eastern European history know that culture clues, like art and literature, offer a wealth of information beyond what a history book contains.
|
|
Russian Peasant Life and History
The course of Russian history was heavily dependent upon peasants, whose lives were lived and lost in accordance with the whim of authority.
|
|
Domestic Issues for Mothers in Village Russia
Most women in Russian rural villages were mothers whose roles required that they give birth to many children, feed those children, work in the fields, and endure abuse.
|
|
Common Dangers to Children in Rural Russia
Difficult lives were made more difficult in peasant Russia by lack of proper nutrition and supervision, common ailments like diarrhea, and domestic violence.
|
|
Childbirth in Peasant Russia
Midwives or village grandmothers used folk medicine to aid the delivery of babies in rural Russia, and mothers returned to their work in the fields after delivery.
|
|
Russian Village Children – Illness and Cure
Mothers of children born in rural Russia had to deal with a variety of diseases even with little medical care readily available.
|
|
Infant Care in Peasant Russia
Babies in rural Russian villages were cared for according to traditions passed down through generations, like swaddling, using hanging cribs, and using soskas.
|
|
Learn about Russian History
Using film and literature, or by visiting museums and traveling, a student of Russian history can learn about the historical development of this nation and its society.
|
|
Museums of Eastern European Heritage in the U.S.
These museums in the United States offer visitors a look at the culture and heritage of Eastern Europeans living both in the U.S. and abroad.
|
|
Museums of Eastern European Art and Folk Culture
The following museums are dedicated to promoting the folk art and culture of Eastern Europeans and Eastern European communities in the United States.
|
|
Review of 'Czars'
"Czars" is an unpretentious treatment of Russian rulers from the Rurik Dynasty to the Romanovs. Great for novice scholars of Russian history.
|
|
Ivan IV - Terrible and Awesome
The fourth Ivan, "the Terrible," contributed to Russia's advancement in trade and the arts, but also ruled with cruelty. Some say Ivan IV suffered from insanity.
|
|
Ivan III - The Great
Ivan the Great unified Russia under one ruler - the tsar - and provided freedom from the Golden Horde. His marriage to Sophia brought influences from Byzantium to Moscow.
|
|
Alexander Nevsky of Russia
Alexander Nevsky is remembered as a hero for protecting medieval Russia from invaders and negotiating with the Golden Horde.
|
|
Russia and the Golden Horde
Grand Princes of Russia were chosen by khans and paid visits to the Golden Horde in exchange for peace with Mongol invaders.
|
|
Finding Gdansk's History
Gdansk, on the Baltic Sea, has long been an important port town. Famous for amber, shipping, and the workers' union Solidarity, Gdansk history is not hard to find.
|
|
Finding Krakow's History
Krakow, spared from WWII bombs, has much of its historically significant sights intact. Chruches, castles, synagogues, and Poland's ancient university can be explored.
|
|
Finding Warsaw's History
If you visit Warsaw, you'll be surrounded by history on all sides. Keep in mind that much of the city was destroyed during WWII, so what you see is loving reconstruction.
|
|
Jagiello and Poland-Lithuania
Jogaila, or Jagiello, was Grand Duke of Lithuania and King of Poland. He joined both countries against the Teutonic Knights and produced an heir to succeed him as ruler.
|
|
Why Casimir III Was 'Great'
Casimir III, or Casimir the Great, was a Polish king who expanded medieval Poland, strengthened government, and left an indelible mark on Poland's history.
|
|
Who Was Vladimir Nabokov?
Born in St. Petersburg in 1899, Vladimir Nabokov was comfortable using Russian and English at an early age. He made contributions to literature in both languages.
|
|
Alexander III - Emperor of Russia
Alexander Romanov, or Alexander III, was Emperor of Russia from 1881 to 1894. He was responsible for repressive policies and was the father of Nicholas II.
|
|
Characters in Crime and Punishment
There are many characters in 'Crime and Punishment,' each with a different role to play. Raskolnikov encounters both evil and good characters in Dostoevsky's novel.
|
|
Over Nine Forests Book Review
'Over Nine Forests' is a book about folk beliefs and practices from Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, western Russia, and Finland.
|
|
Violence in East European History
Violence played a large role in the shaping of historical events in Eastern Europe. Domestic abuse, torture, forced labor, and other atrocities occured on a broad basis.
|
|
The Romanov Personalities
Had the personalities of the Romanov family members been different, history might have taken a different course.
|
|
The End of the Romanovs
The murder of the Romanovs has sparked controversy, given rise to investigations, and inspired books and movies. Much has been made of their execution and burial.
|
|
Basics of Russian Peasant Life
Having basic knowledge about Russian peasant life is important to understanding how this class of people fit into, and influenced, Russian History.
|
|
Learn about East Europe History
If you despise academic research, but love Eastern European history, you'll find that you can gain significant amounts of knowledge by experiencing it through other means
|
|
Must-Read 19th C. Russian Novels
Pushkin, Dostoevsky, Lermontov, Tolstoy, and Turgenev are authors who wrote novels that are considered "must-reads" for students of Russian history and literature.
|
|
Soviet Women Labor Expectations
Proposed menstrual leave labor policies were under discussion pre-WWII, while Soviet women were expected to defy human physical limitations after WWII.
|
|
Preserving Native Siberian Culture
Native Siberians who wish to preserve their culture face challenges, not only because they are members of a minority population in Russia's eastern territory.
|
|
Thrace Artifacts in Bulgaria
South Bulgaria was once ancient Thrace and part of the Roman Empire. Artifacts from Thrace are invaluable, but they may be at risk during archeological digs.
|
|
Peasant Houses in Russian History
Russian peasants lived in houses that necessitated animals and humans sharing quarters and created unhealthy living conditions.
|
|
Life in Lower Class Russia
Life for the lower classes in Russian history was one of hard work, poverty, and subordinance from medieval Russia to the period of Revolution.
|
|
Domestic Violence - Peasant Russia
The culture of the peasantry in Russia made the practice of wife-beating expected. Domestic violence was a normal way of subjugating household members.
|
|
People of the Ballet Russes
Choreographers, musicians, artists, and others formed a cohesive dance company that became the Ballet Russes. Russian ballet would never be the same.
|
|
Origins of the Ballet Russes
Sergei Diaghilev created the Ballet Russe, which integrated Russian artistic movements and folk culture with a dance form that originally appealed only to aristocrats.
|
|
Peter the Great's Reforms
Westernization was on Peter the Great's agenda for Russia's course in history. He reformed government, made changes in the church, and influenced Russian society.
|
|
Lenin's New Economic Policy
With the Soviet territory suffering from famine and deprivation, Lenin enacted a New Economic Policy that promoted trade, privatization, and enterprise.
|
|
Torture in East European History
Rulers, military, and peasants throughout Eastern European history have been known to have used torture against their enemies, prisoners, or fellow citizens.
|
|
Cannibalism in the Soviet Union
The Soviet government's refusal to acknowledge, or attend to, the famine that swept much of the Soviet Union during the early 1920s led to widespread cannibalism.
|
|
Reasons for the Russian Revolution
The Russian Revolution of 1917 was an inevitable result of peasant dissatisfaction, poor leadership, an unpopular monarchy, political movements, and war.
|
|
Grand Duchess Elizabeth
Grand Duchess Elizabeth, married to Grand Duke Sergei, fell out with her younger sister Alexandra even while she attempted to help the sick and the poor.
|
|
Elizabeth and Alexandra of Hesse
Elizabeth of Hesse became a Russian Grand Duchess before her sister Alexandra became Empress. The two German princesses approached life in Russia very differently.
|
|
Romance of Nicholas and Alexandra
The romance between Nicholas II and Alexandra Fyodorovna would last all of their lives, even while Russia was suffering from the political turmoil of the Revolution.
|
|
Victims of the Romanov Murder
The Romanovs, along with a doctor, three servants, and a family dog, were brutally murdered by Bolsheviks.
|
|
Burial of the Romanovs
The burial of the Romanov bodies after the execution in July 1918 was conducted by Yakov Yurovsky. The remains of the Romanovs were buried in a pit for decades.
|
|
Execution of the Romanovs
The Romanov family, including Tsar Nicholas II, were executed in 1918. The Tsar, Tsaristsa, Grand Duchesses, Tsarevich, a doctor, and three servants were killed.
|
|
Countries of the Former Yugoslavia
Bosnia and Herzegovnia, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Slovenia are countries that once made up Yugoslavia.
|
|
Countries of the Former USSR
The countries of the former USSR are not only located in Eastern Europe. The Soviet Union also included nations that now occupy Transcaucasian and Central Asian regions.
|
|
Paintings of Ilya Repin
Ilya Repin made social commentaries through his paintings that describe Russia as it was during his lifetime. His art expresses complex emotions and humanity.
|
|
Books - Anastasia / Anna Anderson
The cult of Anastasia has fascinated readers for years. Books about Anna Anderson as Anastasia have filled the need for 'evidence' that the two women were one person.
|
|
Books about the Romanovs
New books about the Romanovs seem to be published each year. Which ones are worthwhile reads and which ones capitalize on myth?
|
|
Facts about Alexander Pushkin
Alexander Pushkin's life - from his African grandfather to his affiliation with the Decembrists - has captured the imagination of every Russian writer since his day.
|
|
Facts About Ivan the Terrible
Facts about Ivan the Terrible's life have captivated historians, artists, writers, and directors. Five facts about the Russian tsar give details about his life.
|
|
'House of Fools' Review
'House of Fools' tells the story of an insane asylum caught in the chaos of the Chechen War.
|
|
Grigorii Rasputin
Rasputin was given credit for curing the tsarevich when he had boughts of illness. However, most people felt the Romanovs would be better off without his influence.
|
|
Russian Royal Titles
Russia was not content to call its royal leader simply "king." "Tsar" and "emperor" more accurately described the position of the supreme ruler of the Russian Empire.
|
|
The Romanov Children
Olga, Tatiana, Maria, Anastasia, and Alexei were the last tsar's five children. None of them were to live a full life after revolution came to Russia.
|
|
Tsar Nicholas II of Russia
Weak or stubborn? Whatever Tsar Nicholas II's most serious flaw, it proved fatal to the Romanov dynasty and the monarchy of the Russian Empire.
|
|
Empress Alexandra Fyodorovna
Alexandra Fyodorovna, the last Empress of the Russian Empire, was a caring mother and wife. However, her flaws were frowned on by citizens unhappy with tsarist rule.
|
|
Conscience Calls
The December 26, 2004 election saw Viktor Yushchenko's victory over the former Prime Minister. 'Conscience Calls' is the record of an observer's experences.
|
|
Riches of East European History
Eastern European history has long contrasted the lives of the poor with the riches of the ruling classes. Despite the disparity, we're still intrigued by these treasures.
|
|
What is a Kulak?
The word 'kulak' was an almost meaningless term for peasants who were chosen arbitrarily for deportation to Russia's labor settlements.
|
|
Orphans in Eastern Europe
Orphaned children are some of Eastern Europe's most helpless - and least helped - citizens. Under-funded and understaffed, orphanages are some children's only homes.
|
|
Assumptions and Misunderstandings
Post-Soviet Ukraine saw a scarcity of goods, an infrastructure unprepared for independence from the USSR, and the arrival of some brave Peace Corps volunteers.
|
|
Review of The Unknown Gulag
This book about Soviet 'dekulakization' practices and the fate of the peasant forced labor settlements is an important look into Russian history.
|
|
The Three Castles of Trakai
While most people know about the Trakai Island Castle on Lake Galve in Lithuania - it is now a popular museum - lesser known are the two castles nearby.
|
|
Victims of Concentration Camps
The Jewish victims of WWII are the best-known group to be exterminated by Nazis. Other targeted groups included Jehovah's Witnesses, criminals, the disabled, and more.
|
Page:
1 | 2
