Final answer:
The integration of Siberia into the Old World Web involved expansion by the Russian Empire, improved connectivity through the Trans-Siberian Railway, and management strategies such as the establishment of Soviet Socialist Republics, which significantly reshaped Siberia's landscape, economy, and socio-political structure.
Step-by-step explanation:
Integration of Siberia into the Old World Web
The integration of Siberia into the Old World Web brought about significant changes to both the region and the wider world. Once Siberia had become a part of the Russian Empire through a process of eastward expansion, the landscape, economy, and social fabric of the region were transformed. The Trans-Siberian Railway, completed at the end of the 19th century, drastically improved connectivity, bringing an influx of Russian settlers and integrating Siberia more closely with the Russian economy and the rest of the world.
A key physical feature that provided a divide between European Russia and Asian Russia is the Ural Mountains. With major rivers such as the Irtysh, Ob, Yenisey, and Lena flowing through the region, Siberia's integration impacted its physical development. The Russian Empire, in its pursuit of becoming a colonial power, utilized strategies of internal colonialism to settle, develop, and control Siberia. Additionally, it established forward capitals like St. Petersburg and pushed pioneers eastward, both of which played a role in consolidating the empire's grasp over the region.
The creation of Soviet Socialist Republics after the Bolshevik Revolution marked another phase in Siberia's history, resulting in the establishment of a structured approach to manage the diverse ethnic and cultural groups within the USSR. This had long-term geopolitical consequences for the region, leading to the complicated relationship Siberia has with Russia to this day.