Define Identify Steppe-Large, grassy plain stretching across eastern Europe and central Asia that is ideal for agriculture. Boyars-Nobles who advised the prince in each Kievan city. Taiga-Russian region north of the steppe having great forests, much rainfall, and cold, long winters. Rurik-the leader of a people called the Rus. Rus-People led by Rurik who came to rule Kievan and the Slavic tribes along the Dnieper River. Yaroslav the Wise-ruled in A.D. 1019 to A.D. 1054, a great period in Russian history, and he came to be known as Yaroslav the Wise. Pravda Russkia-Russia’s first law code, created by Yaroslav I. Vladimir I-A.D. 980s Vladimir I sent observers to Christian church services in several places.

People settled in eastern Europe because, its separated by a large grassy plain that stretches across Europe and Central Asia. It extends eastward from the Carpathian Mountains in Europe, to the Ural Mountains at the western edge of Asia. Also because of the steppe(Large, grassy plain stretching across eastern Europe and central Asia that is ideal for agriculture.) that has black, fertile soil ,ideal for agriculture. The Ural Mountains stretch North and South. This is what separate Europe with Asia. There was a lot of rivers that crisscross, and that provided a transportation network. The groups of people that lived eastern and south eastern Europe, during 1500s A.D. and 800s A.D. was Slavs,Avars,Huns, and Magyars. Russia’s different between the Byzantine empire’s government and religion was that they the church became more important, while monasteries became centers of religious thought, social service, and the arts. This further strengthened the church in Kievan Russia. Kievan is different from the Byzantine empire is because of their religion.

Government Many areas in Kievan Russia were led by princes who governed with the advice of councils made up of boyars.(Nobles who advised the prince in each Kievan city.) Another institution in Kievan Russia was the veche. Which are a town meeting. When the prince requested it, the person in charge of the households would meet in the public marketplace. They would discussed important matters like wars, disputes between princes, or emergencies.

Religion Traders and Greek missionaries brought Christianity to Kievan Russia in the A.D. 800s. The only thing was that Christianity became active in the 980s A.D. Vladimir 1 sent observers to Christian churches in several places. In A.D. 988 Vladimir converted to Christianity. After converting to Christian he ordered all Kievans to become Christians. He also had all pagan statues destroyed. But, many Kievans still worshiped the spirits of their ancestors or gods of nature.

Economy Kievan Russia included two major agricultural regions. North of the steppe lies in the taiga.(Russian region north of the steppe having great forests, much rainfall, and cold, long winters.) The taiga growing season is short. Now everyone in a farm family has to worked long hours to grow and harvest crops. The steppe gets less rain than the taiga. However, the steppe has a milder climate and a longer growing season. People there had more time to plant and harvest crops.

Trade Kievan Russia traded agricultural goods and other products with the Byzantines. These products included wood, iron, salt, furs, and honey. Kievan Russia also provided slaves for the Byzantines. In return, the Kievans received goods such as wine, silk, spices, and fruit. From western Europe they received jewelry, silver, and textiles. By the early A.D. 1000s, trade had helped Kievan Russia become a strong, wealthy power

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