Chapter 10, Section Russia & The Byzantine Connection

Chapter 10, Section The Geography of Russia Russia’s varied climate zones helped shape early Russian life: A band of fertile land in the south was home to Russia’s first civilization. The steppe provided a highway for nomads migrating from Asia to Europe. A network of rivers provided transportation for both people and goods. Major rivers ran north to south, linking Russia to the Byzantine world in the south. The city of Kiev, 1 st major Russian city, was located on a vital trade network linking Vikings, Slavs, and Constantinople. Kiev would later become the center of the first Russian state. 2

Chapter 10, Section Slavs People from forests north of Black Sea who settled in present day Ukraine & Russia Mainly farmers & traders organized in tribes that spoke similar languages Began trading with Constantinople in 9th century Modern-day Russian culture =result of blending of Slavic, Viking & Byzantine culture

Chapter 10, Section Rus AKA Varangians (vikings) Bands of Germanic adventurers who came from Scandinavia and settled/ built forts along rivers w/Slavs Slavs and Varangians blend to become present-day Russians 9th cent.-trade between Kiev (Ukraine) and Constantinople became important By 800s, Greek monks sent to Russia to convert Slavs 1st leader to convert to Christianity-Olga- Russian Princess who governed Kiev from ad

Chapter 10, Section Cyrillic Alphabet Who? Cyril & Methodius-Byzantine missionaries What? created alphabet for the Slavic languages When? 9th cent. ad (800s) Where? present day Czech Republic/ Slovakia Significance? Bible translated in their tongue/ most Slavic languages, including Russian today are written with this alphabet

Chapter 10, Section Vladimir Who? Olga’s grandson When? 987 ad Where? Kiev (Ukraine) What? Prince of Kiev, sent teams out to observe major religions Significance? Report on religions convinced Vladimir to convert to Byzantine Christianity & all his subjects were made to convert to Byzantine Christianity

Chapter 10, Section Yaroslav the Wise Who? Vladimir’s son When? ad Where? Kiev (Ukraine) What? led Kiev to greater glory than father/ legal code Significance? Crucial error that led to Kiev decline=divided realm among his sons-sons tore apart the state

Chapter 10, Section Alexander Nevsky Novgorod prince, military hero, saint ad Defeated invading Neva River (1240) & an order of Teutonic Knights in 1242 Cooperated and acted as a go between when Mongols invade His son, Daniel inherited Moscow (his heirs would produce a line of princes that would be prominent in 1400s)

Chapter 10, Section Moscow Emerged as the Chief Russian Power During the Mongol period, the princes of Moscow steadily increased their power. Moscow benefited from its location near important river trade routes. Moscow was made the capital of the Russian Orthodox Church. Ivan the Great and Ivan the Terrible centralized power and recovered Russian territories. 2

Chapter 10, Section Ivan III (the Great) Who? Muscovian prince When? Where? Moscow/ Russia What? Married niece of last Byzantine Emperor-began calling himself Czar (Russian version of Caesar) (tsar) Significance?-Built framework for absolute control, limited power of nobles/ final break with Mongols/ Byz./Roman connection- started to refer to Moscow as the ‘third Rome’ after fall of Constantinople

Chapter 10, Section Byzantine Influences Cyrillic Alphabet Ancient Greek classics Byzantine art, music, architecture Byzantine Christianity Ideas of church & emperor ruling jointly as head of state (ultimate authority; however, lies with emperor who picks Patriarch) Autocratic rule (Absolute) Russian ‘czar’ from Byzantine ‘caesar’

Chapter 10, Section Ivan IV (the Terrible) Limited boyar power Strengthened feudalism Centralized royal power (extreme absolute rule) Killed eldest son leading to weak rule by younger son

Chapter 10, Section Effects of The Mongols Conquest Kiev and other Russian towns were destroyed. The Mongols tolerated the Russian Orthodox Church (grew in power.) Absolute power of the Mongols served as a model for later Russian rulers-led to Czarist Russia. Russia =cut off from Western Europe at an important time-(don’t modernize- feudalism lasts into 1900s). Boyars (Russian Nobles)-crushed revolts against Mongols-allowed to keep titles, collect tribute (status increased) The Mongol takeover of Russia was brutal & contributed to a sense of tragedy that’s in Russian culture and art. The amazingly rapid and uneventful Russian expansion to the Pacific in the 1600's may have been facilitated by the Russian czars being seen as the legitimate successors of the khans. From , Mongol armies, led by Batu Khan, conquered Russia. The Mongols ruled Russia for 240 years. 2