1. Chapter 23- The Eastern Slavs
Section 4: The Rise of Moscow
The small trading post of Moscow (Muscovy) gains power and becomes the center of government.

2. The Early Slavs
Origins- Indo-European people who settled the land north of the Byzantine Empire (present-day countries- Ukraine and Poland)
Varangian Route (trade route protected by the Varangian Vikings) to trade with the Byzantine Empire and the Greeks
Eastern Orthodox- isolation made them develop their own rituals and customs but they were all based on Christianity.

3. Moscow
1240- Tribes of Mongols came out of central Asia and took control of the Rus states
The invasions sent people North for safety
Settled near the small trading post of Moscow and its fortress- the Kremlin
The Princes of Moscow worked with the Mongols and in return had the power to tax and pass on their power from father to son.
1380- Moscow Prince, Dmitry, attacked and beat the Mongols- they lost a large amount of power and influence

4. Ivan the Great Ended Mongol control in Muscovy
Expanded boundaries to the north and west
Married into Byzantine Empire- this made Moscow the new center of religion and government
Called himself Czar- emperor
The Czar had power of church and state

5. Ivan the Terrible Became Czar at age 3
Raised by cruel boyars, hated them, but followed in their ways
As ruler he ordered peasants to not leave their land- turning the free workers into serfs
He conquered remaining Mongol lands in the east- a Easter Slavic people known as the Cossacks began to resettle the area (near Volga river)
1564- left throne, went to live in a monastery- the people begged him to return…

6. Ivan is Awesome…
He returned- took over boyar lands and gave it to 5,000 of his loyal supporters.
His supporters formed the Oprichnina- secret police or soldiers of terror, they killed thousands, fought treason, and defeated the boyars.
Ivan the Terrible is actually Ivan the Awesome! (translation gives him a bad rap)
He encouraged learning and established link to the west (England and Holland)
Left no heir- chaos followed in the years after his death