THE FIRST RUSSIAN STATE: KIEV RUS’

THEORIES ON THE ORIGINS OF KIEV RUS’  “NORMAN THEORY” Source = Russian PRIMARY CHRONICLE Written by monks Nestor & Sylvester VARANGIAN (Viking) tribe called RUS invited by Slavs to establish state Leader = RURIK THE FIRST RUSSIAN STATE: KIEV RUS’ St. Nestor the Chronicler

THEORIES ON THE ORIGINS OF KIEV RUS’  SOVIET HISTORIANS’ THEORY Rely on archeological evidence & other written sources Preconditions for statehood  social & economic  political THE FIRST RUSSIAN STATE: KIEV RUS’

 COMPROMISE THEORY Varangians present in Russian lands at time (evidence in “Haraldsaga” & on Viking runestones) Primary Chronicle exaggerates, but still good source Varangians probably played some role THE FIRST RUSSIAN STATE: KIEV RUS’ THEORIES ON THE ORIGINS OF KIEV RUS’

ESTABLISHMENT OF STATE  First ruler = RURIK ( ) Centered around Novgorod – on major trade route Trade Route: “From the Varangians to the Greeks” THE FIRST RUSSIAN STATE: KIEV RUS’

ESTABLISHMENT OF STATE  First ruler = RURIK ( ) Centered around Novgorod – on major trade route  OLEG = regent until 912 Expanded south & east Occupied Kiev & built it up as cultural & economic center THE FIRST RUSSIAN STATE: KIEV RUS’

THE RURIKID DYNASTY  IGOR (r ) Continued expansion Strengthened state  OLGA (Regent, ) Reformed administration Converted to Christianity, 955  SVIATOSLAV (r ) Continued expansion Overthrew Khazar Khanate Killed by Pechenegs, 972 THE FIRST RUSSIAN STATE: KIEV RUS’

THE RURIKID DYNASTY  VLADIMIR (r ) Converted Kievan state to Christianity EXTREMELY SIGNIFICANT EVENT:  brought Russia into Christian world  closer ties with Greek/Byzantine world  set Russia apart from West  introduction of written language: Church Slavonic THE FIRST RUSSIAN STATE: KIEV RUS’

THE RURIKID DYNASTY  Civil war, 1015  SVIATOPOLK THE DAMNED Killed brothers Boris & Gleb  IAROSLAV Defeated Sviatopolk, 1019 Split realm with MSTISLAV Became Grand Prince, 1036 THE FIRST RUSSIAN STATE: KIEV RUS’

THE RURIKID DYNASTY  IAROSLAV THE WISE ( ) High point of Kievan culture & society Promulgated PRAVDA RUSSKAIA Defeated external enemies THE FIRST RUSSIAN STATE: KIEV RUS’