Early Russia

Around 800 AD Vikings from Scandinavia moved into modern Russia and began to mix with the native Slavic people. –Slavs – people who originate from Eastern Europe in the area north of the Black Sea.

Vikings in Russia Vikings traded along the rivers of Russia south to Constantinople Viking longships were strong enough to travel on the ocean, but shallow enough to travel up rivers.

Vikings in Russia Vikings traded cloth, furs, metal bars, timber and slaves (taken from the word “Slav”). The Vikings and Slavs merged into modern Russian groups.

Byzantine Influence on Russia The Byzantine Empire had strong cultural influence in Russia because of trade routes linking the Baltic Sea and Black Sea.

Christian missionaries (like St. Cyril) spread the religion north into Russia Christianity also spread through trade Prince Vladimir adopted Orthodox Christianity, and Russia spread it to much of Eastern Europe.

Church Architecture and Religious Art Onion-shaped domed churches, show influence from Byzantine domes

Mongol Conquest T he Mongols were a nomadic group from the steppes of eastern Asia. The Mongols, led by the leader Genghis Khan, conquered China and most of Central Asia.

Mongol Conquest In 1240, the Mongols destroyed Kiev and Russia became part of the Mongol Empire. Moscow grew in importance after Kiev’s destruction. During this period Russians had to pay tribute to the Mongol leaders.

Ivan the Great rejected Mongol rule and united Russia. Moscow became the capital and the “Third Rome.” Ivan the Great took the title czar (Caesar), and vowed to carry on the traditions of Rome and Constantinople.

Russian kingdoms were later controlled by czars (sometimes spelled “tsar”) with the help of the boyars. –Boyars – the land- owning noble class in Russia. –Czar (or Tsar) – the emperor of Russia.

Fall of Constantinople Although the great Byzantine Empire was now only the size of the city of Constantinople, it still controlled the Bosporus Strait, and all its trade Ottoman Emperor Mehmet II conquered the city in 1453 and declared the Hagia Sophia a mosque for Muslims to worship.

Constantinople became the capital city of the Ottoman Empire, and was renamed Istanbul.