Chapter 10 The Byzantine Empire and Russia Section 2 - The Rise of Russia

The Story Continues The people who came to rule Russia were first mentioned in historical records in A.D In that year they launched a fierce surprise attack against the city of Constantinople. “The unexpectedness of the incursion [attack] and its extraordinary speed...,” recalled one Byzantine leader, “prove that this blow has been sent from heaven like a thunderbolt.” Although the attack was unsuccessful, the Byzantines would not soon forget this fighting force.

I. The Setting and People A large plain stretches across eastern Europe and central Asia from the Carpathian to the Ural Mountains

I. The Setting and People In the south is the steppe, a grassy and mostly treeless area with fertile soil

I. The Setting and People North of the steppe is the forested taiga, which has long, cold winters and a short growing season

I. The Setting and People In the east, dividing Europe and Asia, are the Ural Mountains

I. The Setting and People There are many rivers, some flowing into the Black Sea, that provide transportation networks

I. The Setting and People The area has been inhabited since Neolithic times European Late Neolithic (c BCE), showing the main cultures

I. The Setting and People After the A.D. 400s, Slavs settled in eastern Europe but were often invaded by the Avars, Huns, and Magyars

I. The Setting and People During the A.D. 800s Vikings invaded, seeking to extend their trade routes with cities such as Novgorod and Kiev

II. Kievan Russia Rurik, the leader of a people called the Rus, took control of Novgorod in the A.D. 800s Rurik, Grand Prince of Kiev Born circa 800 Died in 879

II. Kievan Russia Rurik ruled over Kiev and the Slavic tribes and the region under their control was called the Rus

II. Kievan Russia Kiev, the capital, was on the trade route between Constantinople and the Baltic Sea

II. Kievan Russia Areas in Kievan Russia were led by princes who governed with the advice of councils of boyars

II. Kievan Russia Yaroslav I (Yaroslav the Wise) ruled in the A.D. 1000s, built many churches, and introduced Russia’s first law code 2 grivnas with the image of Yaroslav the Wise. The grivna has been the national currency of Ukraine since 1996

II. Kievan Russia The law code, Pravda Russkia, combined Slavic tribal customs with older laws and traditions Russkaya Pravda being read to people

II. Kievan Russia In the mid-900s, Vladimir I became impressed with the Eastern Orthodox Church in Constantinople Vladimir I: the Grand Duke of Kiev

II. Kievan Russia Vladimir converted to Christianity and ordered all Kievans to become Christians Saint Vladimir Vladimir having his subjects baptized

II. Kievan Russia The Byzantine church became an important force and monasteries became centers of religious thought, social service, and the arts Saint Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Sofia

II. Kievan Russia The clergy were very important and had much influence over daily life Russian Orthodox clergy carrying icons in a procession in commemoration of Saints Cyril and Methodius, the founders of the Cyrillic alphabet

II. Kievan Russia Religious themes dominated Kievan culture in writing, icons, mosaics, and frescoes Icon of St. Nicholas, the miracle worker Mosaic of St. Demetrius

II. Kievan Russia Kievan Russia traded with the Byzantines, and trade built Kievan Russia into a strong, wealthy society

II. Kievan Russia Social classes emerged - princes at the top, followed by the boyars, artisans, merchants and the peasants