Christy Geldbach-Keeler: History of Moscow
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Moscow (Russian Moskva), capital, inland port, and largest city of Russia, capital of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) until 1991. It is also the capital of Moscow Oblast, and is located on the Moscow River. Moscow is the traditional Holy Mother of the Russians and the economic, political, and cultural center of Russia. Railroads and numerous airlines converge on the city from all parts of the Russia and other successor states of the USSR. Navigable waterways, including the Moscow Canal, Moscow River, and Volga-Don Canal, make the port areas of the city accessible to shipping from the Baltic, White, Black, and Caspian Seas and the Sea of Azov. Moscow covers an area of about 880 sq km (about 340 sq mi). Concentric boulevards, built on the sites of former ramparts, divide the city into several sections, the outermost of which is the residential quarter. At the center of the concentric circles (and semicircles) are the Kremlin, the former governmental seat of Russia, and adjacent Red Square, which form the hub of a radial street pattern. Moscow has a modern subway system famed for its marble-walled stations. Situtated on a low prominence on the northern back of the Moscow River, the Kremlin is the dominant landmark of Moscow. A stone wall, up to 21 m (70 ft) in height and surmounted by 19 towers, surrounds this triangular complex of former palaces, ecclesiastical edifices, and other monuments of czarist times, some of them dating from the Middle Ages. The Great Kremlin Palace, completed in 1849, is the most imposing structure within the Kremlin. Other notable Kremlin palaces are the Granovitaya Palace (1491) and the Terem (1636). Among the many ecclesiastical buildings, now used chiefly as museums, are the Cathedral of the Assumption and the Archangel Catherdral, each with five gilded domes, and the Cathedral of the Annunciation (13th-14th century), with nine gilded domes. Another landmark of the Kremlin is the Tower of Ivan the Great, a bell tower 98 m (320 ft) high. On a nearby pedestal is the Czar's Bell (nearly 200 metric tons), one of the largest bells in the world. A recent addition to the Kremlin is the Palace of Congresses, completed in 1961. In this huge modern building were held meetings of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR and congresses of the Communist party of the Soviet Union; theatrical and other artistic performances have been held here as well. Saint Basil's Catherdral, famous for its unique architecture and varicolored domes, stands at one end of Red Square. Under the Kremlin wall, and facing the square, if the V. I. Lenin Mausoleum, containing the remains of Lenin. One of the best-known sections of Moscow of the Kitaigorod (Chinese City), the ancient commercial quarter lying the the east of the Kremlin. This section is now the site of many government office buildings. Other points of interest in Moscow are the Central Lenin Stadium, comprising about 130 buildings for various sports; and the tall Ostankino TV tower, which contains a revolving restaurant about halfway up an observation platform. Commerce and Industry Besides being a Port of Five Seas, and hence one of the world's foremost commercial centers, Moscow is a leading manufacturing city, with factories producting nearly one-sixth of the entire volume of industrial production of the former USSR. Ample supplies of electric power are available, and industry is highly diversified. Among the manufacturers are airplanes, high-quaility steel, ball bearings, automobiles and other motor vehicles, machines tools, electric equipment, precision instruments, radios, chemicals, textiles, shoes, paper, furniture, and munitions. Food processing, printing, and the repair of railroad equipment are important industries. Several of the surrounding suburbs, eventually to be incorporated into a "Greater Moscow," are large industrial towns. Cultural Institutions Of more than 75 institutions of higher education, the leading institution is Moscow State University, the largest in the former USSR. About 700 scientific institutions have headquarters in Moscow. Outstanding among museums are the Tretyakov Art Gallery, the A. S. Pushkin Fine Arts Museum, the State Historical Museum, the V. I. Lenin Central Museum, and the Museum of Oriental Culture. The Russian State Library probably ranks second only to the U.S. Library of Congress in both size and facilities. The Exhibition of Economic Achievements comprises 72 pavilions dealing with achievements in industry, agriculture, science, and culture. Adjoining its landscaped grounds are the Botanical Gardens of the Russian Academy of Sciences. History In 1147, when Moscow began to figure in Russian history, it formed part of the principality of Suzdal; the date of its settlement is unknown. The development of the little village into a sprawling city dates from 1295, when it became the capital of the newly established principality of Moscow. Growth was especially rapid during the first half of the 14th century, a period marked by sharp expansion of the power and wealth of the principality. In 1325 the metropolitan of the Russian Orthodox church transferred his seat to Moscow, making the city the national religious capital. It became the national political capital during the reign (1462-1505) of Grand Duke Ivan III Vasilyevich, who unified the Russian principalities. The seat of the Russian government was removed from Moscow to Saint Petersburg in 1712. Moscow has survived many disasters, including conflagrations, plagues, riots, revolts, sieges, and foreign occupation. In September 1812, during the Napoleonic Wars, the city was occupied by the armies of Napoleon. Russian patriots set fire to the city soon after his entryl the resultant French withdrawl from Russia led to Napolean's downfall. The Moscow populace figured significantly in the Revolution of 1905 and the October Revolution of 1917. In the latter year Moscow was made the Soviet capital. Large sections of the city were rebuilt and modernized after the Bolshevik vistory. In December 1941, during World War II, powerful German armies were decisively repulsed at their approaches to Moscow. In 1991 the city was the hub of the discussions that led to the dissolution of the USSR. Population (1990 estimate) 8,801,000. Source: Microsoft® Encarta, ©1994 Microsoft Corporation. |
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