1. Byzantine Influence on
Early Russia

2. Origins
Historians date the beginning of the Russian people at 862 A.D.
In that year, Prince Rurik, a Viking leader, was invited by the local Slavic tribes to become their ruler
He started his civilization at Novgorad and then moved to Kiev, on the Dnieper River – one of the main north-south water trade routes.

3. Viking Invasion Routes

4. Kievan Rus

5. Kievan Rus
Both trade partner and sometime enemy of the Byzantine Empire.

6. 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.

7. Rulers of the Kievan Rus Yaroslav I (1010 – 1054)
Created a Russian law code based on Justinian’s Code.
Instituted a Golden Age of Kievan Russia. Built churches and a new capital city.

8. Early Byzantine Influences: Orthodox Christianity
Expansion of Byzantine culture northward was through conversion of Kiev to Eastern Christianity

9. Early Byzantine Influences: Orthodox Christianity
Religious artifacts included churches, icons, and liturgical music as expressed in Byzantine culture

10. Icons

11. Religion of the Byzantine Empire
How was religion similar?
ROMAN RELIGION
BYZANTINE RELIGION

12. Because of its location close to Judea, most Byzantines had converted to Christianity before people in the Western Roman Empire did

13. The Division of Christianity
However, Christianity developed differently in the East due to the distance and lack of contact between the Eastern and Western halves of the Roman Empire

14. The Division of Christianity
All Christians, both in the East and the West, based their faith on Jesus Christ and the Bible
However, there were many differences in Eastern and Western religious practices

15. The Division of Christianity
Christianity was organized the same way on both sides of the Empire
Archbishops and bishops oversaw regions where Christianity was practiced

16. The Division of Christianity
Priests led individual churches
However, Christians in the East and West disagreed over the leadership of the Church

17. The Division of Christianity
Christians in Western Europe believed that a leader called the Pope (Latin for “father”) should oversee the bishops
Christians in Western Europe accepted the Pope as the top authority figure of the Church

18. The Division of Christianity
Eastern European Christians believed that the Byzantine emperors had authority over Church matters
The emperors relied on a religious leader called a Patriarch to oversee Church operations, but the emperors had final authority

19. The Division of Christianity
Byzantine Christians did not accept the authority of the Pope

20. The Division of Christianity
The biggest controversy between Christians of the West and East was over the use of icons
Icons were religious images (paintings, statues) that Christians would have during prayers and worship

21. The Division of Christianity
Some Christians thought icons were “idol worship” (worshipping false images of God)
In the year 730, the Byzantine emperor banned all icons and many Christians reacted violently

22. Emperor Leo III ordered the destruction of icons in the Byzantine Empire
Riots broke out between people who wanted icons and iconoclasts (those who wanted to ban icons)

23. The Pope in Western Europe supported the use of icons and called Leo III a heretic (a believer of false religious ideas)
The Pope excommunicated the Byzantine emperor (formally banned him from the Church)

24. The Division of Christianity
These disagreements led to deep divisions between Christians
The Great Schism (split) occurred in 1054 CE

25. Christians in Western Europe became the Roman Catholic Church
Christians in Eastern Europe became the Eastern Orthodox Church

26. Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox Christians practice their religions differently:

27. Religion in Europe Today
CATHOLIC CHRISTIANS
PROTESTANT CHRISTIANS
ORTHODOX CHRISTIANS
BUDDHISTS
MUSLIMS
JEWS

28. 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

29. Early Byzantine Influences: Cyrillic Alphabet
Byzantine missionaries, Cyril and Methodius sent to convert eastern Europe and the Balkans created the script
Cyrillic
Greek

30. Russian Expansion

31. The Mongols Invade Russia
Tartars conquered Russian cities during the 13th century and left Russian church and aristocracy intact, as long as tribute was paid.

32. “Third Rome”
Russians re-emerged after Mongol control ended in the 15th century and claimed to be the successors of the Roman and Byzantine states
Moscow was considered to be the “Third Rome”

33. Rulers of the Kievan Rus Ivan the Great (1462-1505)
( ) Ivan III or Ivan the Great – absolute ruler. Took the title of czar
Czar – Absolute ruler of Russia: from Roman word – Caesar
Defeated the Mongols, who had gained control of Russia
Extended Russian territory