With Russia figuring heavily in the international political scene, it is important to understand some of its geopolitical history. New Canaan Library invites all to a lecture by Professor Colleen Kelly on Sunday, October 22, at 2 p.m. in the Adrian Lamb Room. Please register to attend, online at newcanaanlibrary.org.
Professor Kelly will present an overview of the geopolitics and history of Russia, Ukraine and Crimea. As Ukraine grew from a wealthy Slavic trading city on the shores of the Dnieper River, it gave rise to Russia from the beginnings of a Kievan-Rus state. Virtually land-locked during the winters, Russia needed access to a warm water port for trade. At the same time, its location on the Great Eurasian Plain made it subject to land invasion from both the east and the west. Professor Colleen Kelly will discuss and explain how access to trade, and vulnerability to attack, shaped Russia’s history.
Colleen Kelly, Ph.D. is a retired teacher of Asian, International Studies and Comparative Education. She was an adjunct professor at Central Connecticut State University. Dr. Kelly
received two Fulbright grants to India and was a Pier Fellow at Yale University on both Asian
and International Studies. Kelley has lectured widely on India, China, Russia and the Middle East. She is the author of Indian Summer (with M. Foster Farley), and has published three volumes of poetry.