1. Kievan Rus

2. boyars – Russian nobility. B. IDENTIFY
The Vikings of Scandinavia
have been called other names
in history –
the Norsemen (North-men),
and the Slavs referred to them as Varangians,
or the Rus.
850 – Scandinavian chief Rurik
establishes first Rus
Principality in Novgorod.
860 – First Russian raid on
Constantinople.
879 – Prince Oleg moves the
principality to Kiev.
Kiev would remain the capital of Kievan Rus (a loose federation of small states) for the next 300 years. The society was divided between the peasant masses and the Russian nobles called boyars.
NORSEMEN
Novgorod
RUS
Kiev
SLAVS
Rome
Constantinople
820 – Vikings begin explorations and
terrorize Europe
B. IDENTIFY
boyars – Russian nobility.
B. IDENTIFY
Slavs – people of the Black Forest Region north of the Black Sea. They were Russia’s first unified territory.
The Vikings (or, Norsemen)
settled around Kiev and intermarried with the eastern Slavs. These are the ancestors of the Rus (or, Russian people).
PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.

3. Olga – Russian princess who converted to Christianity.
850 – Scandinavian chief Rurik
establishes first Rus
Principality in Novgorod.
860 – First Russian raid on
Constantinople.
879 – Prince Oleg moves the
principality to Kiev.
Kiev would remain the capital of Kievan Rus (a loose federation of small states) for the next 300 years.
NORSEMEN
Novgorod
RUS
Kiev
SLAVS
945 – Trade agreements with the
Byzantine empire establish
close ties and
cultural exchanges.
957 – Russian Princess Olga
visits Constantinople and
is converted to Christianity.
Rome
Constantinople
B. IDENTIFY
Olga – Russian princess who converted to Christianity.
Russian Icon of St. Princess Olga
PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.

4. Visits Constantinople and Converts to Christianity
Sets up the first Rus principality in Novgorod; establishes Russian dynasty
Moves Rus capital to Kiev
PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.

5. Byzantine Christian Missionaries Visit the Slavs
The brothers Cyril and Methodius were living in a monastery in Constantinople
when the Slavic leaders sent for a Christian teacher.
Cyril was selected and was accompanied by his brother. The two “missionaries” who learned the Slav language and converted many of the people to Christianity.
Because they were acquainted with the language of the Slavs, Cyril and Methodius were then chosen to provide a written alphabet for them. Cyril invented an alphabet for the Slavs, using the Greek letters and, with the help of Methodius, translated the Gospels into the Slavic people’s language.
Today the Cyrillic alphabet is still used in Russia and other parts of eastern Europe.
ä×ÅÒØ- Door
õÞÉÔÅÌØ - Teacher
ðÁÒÔÁ - Desk

6. 1. What ties linked Kiev to Byzantium?
Trade – along the Dnieper river and
Sea route to Constantinople.
Religion – cultural diffusion will lead
the Kievan Rus to adopt the
Christian religion of Byzantium.
Orthodox Icon of Saints Vladimir and Olga.
B. IDENTIFY
Olga – Russian princess who converted to Christianity.
Vladimir – He established permanent links with Byzantine empire
and under his rule all Russians converted to Christiantiy.
PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.

7. 1. What ties linked Kiev to Byzantium?
Map showing the principality of Kievan Rus,
1. What ties linked Kiev to Byzantium?
Trade – along the Dnieper river and
Sea route to Constantinople.
Religion – cultural diffusion will lead
the Kievan Rus to adopt the
Christian religion of Byzantium.
B. IDENTIFY
Olga – Russian princess who converted to Christianity.
Vladimir – He established permanent links with Byzantine empire
and under his rule all Russians converted to Christiantiy.
PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.

8. 1. What ties linked Kiev to Byzantium?
Trade – along the Dnieper river and
Sea route to Constantinople.
Religion – cultural diffusion will lead
the Kievan Rus to adopt the
Christian religion of Byzantium.
B. IDENTIFY
Vladimir – He established permanent links with Byzantine empire
and under his rule all Russians converted to Christiantiy.
PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.

9. 2. How did Vladimir and his son Yaroslav
contribute to the power of Kiev?
Vladimir expanded the size of the state
west into modern-day Poland and
north to the Baltic Sea.
Yaroslav married off his daughters and sisters to the kings and princes of western Europe to forge trading alliances. Yaroslav also compiled Russia’s first law code.
Yaroslav the Wise
is considered the greatest
ruler of the Kievan period.
He led an extensive building program of churches – modeling the Byzantine style. He also copied the Byzantines model of law, ordering the revision of all Russian laws accordingly.
B. IDENTIFY
Vladimir – He established permanent links with Byzantine empire
and under his rule all Russians converted to Christiantiy.
PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.

10. 1054 was the year that Christianity had its Schism, or split.
Ironically, it is also the year that Yaroslav died, and division began to occur in Kievan Rus as well as his descendants fought over territory.
Yaroslav the Wise
is considered the greatest
ruler of the Kievan period.
He led an extensive building program of churches – modeling the Byzantine style. He also copied the Byzantines model of law, ordering the revision of all Russian laws accordingly.
B. IDENTIFY
Vladimir – He established permanent links with Byzantine empire
and under his rule all Russians converted to Christiantiy.
PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.

11. 3. What factors brought about Kiev’s decline?
Yaroslav had divided his empire among
his sons. Their internal fighting for
territory tore the state of Kievan Rus
apart.
Also, the Crusades disrupted trade
between the Byzantines and the
Russians, creating economic hardship
in Russia.
In its weakened state, Russia was
suddenly attacked
by the Mongols from Asia
who demolished Kiev.
PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.