The Russian Empire Mr. Snell

Russian Phrases Привет ! Доброе утро ! Как дела ? Хорошо, спасибо ! меня зовут … Mp. CHe лл Hi! Good morning! How are you? Good, thanks. My name is … Mr. Snell

Russian Phrases Part 2 Я плохо говорю по - русски. До свидания ! Пока ! Извините My Russian is bad. See you later! Bye-Bye! Sorry.

Setting the Stage Byzantium sent missionaries to the land of the Slavs. Also traded with it’s neighbors to the north. Slavs began absorbing Greek Byzantine ways. Slavic + Greek traditions produced Russian culture.

Russia’s Birth First unified territory originated west of the Ural Mountains in a region that runs from the Black Sea to the Baltic Sea. North – Densely forested, flat, swampy. Russia has 3 great rivers: ◦ Don River, Dnieper River, Volga River ◦ Allowed slow boat travel throughout the plains. ◦ Runs from the heart of the forest to the Black Sea or Caspian Sea.

In the Early days Forests: Slavic tribes of farmers/traders ◦ Spoke similar languages but had no unity. 800s – Small bands came down from north ◦ Varangians, or Rus, & Likely were Vikings. ◦ Built forts along the river and settled among Slavs. ◦ Russia gets its name from this group of people.

Slavs & Vikings Slavs invite Viking Chief Rurik to be the king. 862 – Rurik founded Novgorod, first important city in Russia. 880 – Nobleman named Oleg moves to Kiev. ◦ Vikings could now sail to Constantinople to trade! Principality – a small state ruled by a prince. ◦ Kiev Vikings intermarried with Slavs, adopted culture. ◦ Line between them vanished.

Kiev Becomes Orthodox 957 – Princess Olga visits Constantinople ◦ Publicly converts to Christianity Her son resisted Christianity. Vladimir – Grandson to Olga, considered conversion to Christianity. ◦ Sent out teams to observe major world religions. ◦ 3 Return with accounts of Islam, Judaism, & Western Christianity ◦ 1 Return’s with Byzantine(Eastern) Christianity

Vladimir Convinced to go Orthodox Christianity. Made all citizens convert too. 989 – Baptism of all citizens of Kiev in the Dnieper River. Imported teachers to instruct the new faith. Liked Byzantine idea of emperor as supreme. ◦ Link between church & state also in Russia

Kiev’s Power With Byzantine help, grew from a cluster of cruddy forts to a glittering capital. Rise of Kiev marked Russia’s first unified territory.

Kievan Russia Led by Vladimir. ◦ Expanded into Poland and north to the Baltic Sea. ◦ Fought troublesome nomads in the south steppes – Yaroslav the Wise – Vladimir’s son ◦ Led Kiev to even greater glory. ◦ Skillfully married off his sons/daughters across Western Europe. ◦ Created legal code, first library in Kiev. ◦ Christianity prospered.  Over 400 churches by the 12 th century.

Kiev’s Decline Started with the death of Yaroslav in Yarosov’s crucial error: ◦ Divided his realm among his sons instead of following the custom of passing it to the oldest son. Post-Death: The sons tore the state apart. Each generation fought for the best territory. The system continued, as did the struggles.

Cont. The Crusades – Numerous clashes between the Christians and the Muslims for control of the holy Lands of the middle east that began in Disrupted trade for Kiev. Can things get worse? ◦ Yes they can.

The Mongol Invasions Occurred in the middle 1200’s. Ferocious horseman from Central Asia who slashed their way into Russia. Genghis Khan – Mongol Leader, most feared warrior of all time. Reputation of brutality 1240 – Mongols destroy Kiev, Russia. ◦ Under leadership of Batu Khan, grandson to GK.

“No Eye Remained to Weep” Because so many were slaughtered. Fall of Kiev – leads to 200 years of Mongol rule “Khanate of the Golden Horde” Khanate – Mongol word for Kingdom Golden – gold was royal color of Mongols Horde – Mongol word for camp

Mongol Rule in Russia Russians could follow usual customs…if… ◦ No rebellions! Religiously tolerant The Church mediated between Russian people and Mongol rulers. 2 Demands for Russian people: ◦ Absolute Obedience ◦ Massive tributes, or payments. Nobles agreed.

The Hero Alexander Nevsky - Novgorod’s prince and military hero. ◦ Advised his princes to cooperate with Mongols. ◦ Russian nobles would usually crush rebels before it happened. ◦ Tax people for the Mongols The Mongols isolated Russia from new ideas, and inventions.

Russia Breaks Free Technically, the rivers were key. Someone who controlled the 3 major rivers in Russia could potentially take on the Mongols because they would control Eastern Europe.

Moscow’s Powerful Princes 1320’s – Ivan I emerged ◦ Earned gratitude of Mongols by crushing a Russian rebellion. ◦ Appointed to “Tax collector of Slavic Lands” ◦ Title of “Grand Prince” ◦ Most wealthy prince nicknamed “Ivan Moneybag”

Ivan the Sly Ivan convinced the Kievan Patriarch, lead bishop in the eastern empire, to move to Moscow. ◦ Improved city prestige ◦ Gained Church as an ally Ivan and successors enlarged territory by: ◦ Land purchases, wars, trickery, shrewd marriages. ◦ Slowly gained control of small states around Moscow.

Empire Emerges Ivan III – Prince of Moscow, Challenged Mongol rule. ◦ Czar – Russian version of Caesar ◦ Russia – The “Third Rome” 1480 – final break with Mongols ◦ Refused to pay a tribute ◦ Ugra River battle – Bloodless battle