HIST 3779 - Russia 1855 to Present
Fall 2026 Syllabus, Section 01, CRN 43551,
Credit hours: 3
Course Meeting Times
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Instructor
Brian Bonhomme
Email: bbonhomme@ysu.edu
Course Description
3779. Russia 1855 to Present. The Russian Empire from the Great Reforms of Alexander II to its collapse during WWI, the Revolutions of 1917, the rise and fall of the Soviet Union (1922-1991), and Soviet successor states to the present. 3 s.h.
Course Readings
| Group | Title | Author | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Required | A Concise History of Russia | Paul Bushkovitch | 978-0-521-54323-1 |
The course readings are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, research developments, current events, and/or to ensure better learning.
Assignments/Assessments
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Schedule of Topics and Assignments
| Week of | Reading(s) | Proposed Topic | Due/To Prepare for Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8/24 | Textbook: Prologue | Introduction: Concepts, Themes, Developments: Russia from Origins to 1855 | |
| 8/31 | Textbook, Chapter 11 | Alexander II and the Great Reforms: 1855-1881 | Term Project, Step 1 (Hereafter, TPS#) by Friday 9/4 |
| 9/7 | Textbook, Chapter 12 | From Serfdom to Industry and Early Capitalism: Successes and Failures | TPS2 by Friday 9/11 |
| 9/14 | Textbook, Chapters 13-14 | Golden Age of Russian Culture; Expansion of Empire | First In-class Exam this Friday, 9/18 |
| 9/21 | Textbook, Chapter 15 | Late Imperial Period; Modernization and Tradition; Political Conflict | TPS3 by Friday, 9/25 |
| 9/28 | Textbook, Chapter 16 | The First World War and the Russian Revolution | TPS4 (scheduled students) all week |
| 10/5 | Textbook, Chapter 17 | 1917-28: Revolution; Civil War; the Early Soviet Union | TPS4 (scheduled students) all week |
| 10/12 | Textbook, Chapter 18 | From Lenin to Stalin | |
| 10/19 | Textbook, Chapters 19-20 | Stalinism; Domestic Policy; International Relations; the 1930s | TPS5 Second In-class Exam this Friday, 10/23 |
| 10/26 | Textbook, Chapters 19-20 | The Coming of the Second World War | TPS6, Friday 10/30 |
| 11/2 | Textbook, Chapters 19-20 | The USSR in the Second World War; Expansion into Eastern Europe | |
| 11/9 | Textbook, Chapter 21 | Post-war Stalinism; Khrushchev and Brezhnev; The Early Cold War | TPS7 (scheduled students) all week |
| 11/16 | Textbook, Chapters 22-23 | The Soviet Union at its Apogee: Influence and Stagnation 1960s-80s | TPS7 (scheduled students) all week |
| 11/23 | Textbook, Chapter 23 | Short Week for Thanksgiving. Gorbachev and Reagan. Chapter 23 wrap-up | |
| 11/30 | Textbook, Chapter 23 and Epilogue | The Collapse of the USSR; Yeltsin and Putin: Wrap-Up and Reflections: Russia past, present, future? Prepping the last assignment | TPS7 (scheduled students) all week. AND: Third In-class Exam this MONDAY (11/30) |
| 12/7 | Reflective Essay due 12/8. Post to BlackBoard | Reflective Essay due 12/8. Post to BlackBoard | Reflective Paper due December 8 @ 11:59PM. Post to BlackBoard. |
The course schedule, policies, procedures, and assignments in this course are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, by mutual agreement, and/or to ensure better learning.