Kievan Rus
East & Central Europe Poles, Czechs, Hungarians were all converted to Christianity by German Monks Eastern Slavic people were converted to Orthodox Christianity by two Byzantine missionary brothers; Cyril & Methodius Croats, Serbs, & Bulgarians were converted to Eastern Orthodoxy
St. Cyril and St. Methodius
Early Byzantine Influences: Cyrillic Alphabet Byzantine missionaries, Cyril and Methodius sent to convert eastern Europe and the Balkans created the script
Kievan Rus Oleg, Viking leader, settled in Kiev at the beginning of 10th century & created principality of Kiev Oleg successors expanded Kiev until it reached territory between Baltic & Black Seas, & Danube & Volga rivers Vikings married Slavic wives & gradually assimilated into the Slavic population
Rulers of the Kievan Rus Vladimir I (980) (980) Vladimir I – Extremely war-like ruler of Kiev. Invited missionaries from Judaism, Islam and Christianity to offer reasons for conversion. Married the Byzantine emperor’s sister. Brought Christianity and Greco-Roman civilization to Russia.
Vladimir I Chose Eastern Orthodoxy
Early Byzantine Influences: Orthodox Christianity Expansion of Byzantine culture northward was through conversion of Kiev to Orthodox Christianity
Influenced by Byzantine Politics Russia adopted the concept of divinely inspired monarchy with close relations to state-controlled church Were unable to adopt the Byzantine trained bureaucracy however
Byzantine Influence on Russia Government Autocracy Czar (Tsar)
Byzantine Influence on Russia Architecture Onion Dome
St. Basil’s Cathedral Moscow