1. The Byzantine Empire’s influence on Russia

2. The Byzantine Empire

3. Byzantine Empire Strong/Centralized Government
Officials were skilled, efficient, well paid
Created alliances through marriages
Military forces well trained, weapons/armor well designed
Greek Fire- chemical weapon of the Navy, liquid that burst into flames
Constantinople
Capitol, heart of Byzantine government, religion, culture
location allowed control of sea trade routes between Europe and Asia

4. Byzantine Culture Architecture Built the Hagia Sophia…a church
Byzantines were the 1st to solve the issue of putting a dome over a rectangular building

5. Byzantine Empire
Style of Government, architecture, customs, and religion of the Byzantine Empire was admired and imitated by the Russians
Byzantine missionaries to Kiev helped convert Russians to Eastern Orthodox Christianity
Power, wealth, splendor of Hagia Sophia, the Emperor’s palace, the city of Constantinople impressed Russians
Ivan the Great marries niece of the last Byzantine Emperor – this marriage demonstrates the strong ties between Russian and the Byzantine Empire

6. The Rise of Russia Russian Empire sees itself as “Third Rome”
After fall of Byzantine Empire in A.D – Russia becomes center of Eastern Orthodox Christianity
Ivan the Great leads Russia to independence from Mongol/Golden Horde rule
Ivan the Great incorporated Byzantine customs and traditions in his government and marries niece of last Byzantine Emperor

7. Geography of Russia
Ural Mountains serve as a border between Europe and Asia
The steppe covers the southern part of the great plains of Russia
Rivers crisscross the plain to provide transportation
Eastern Europe primarily populated by the Slavs
Volga River and valley – location of first Russia cities - Kiev

9. Kievan Russia
Cities of Kiev and Novgorod lie along the Viking trade route
City of Kiev prospered- location as trade route between Constantinople and the Baltic Sea
Kiev served as the capital of Russian Empire for 300 years

10. Byzantine Culture
Cyril and Methodius [Byzantine Missionaries] created the Cyrillic alphabet to teach the Bible to Slavs
Byzantine Art copied by Russians
Religion was the main subject
Murals, Paintings, icons, and mosaics
Helped people look toward the afterlife

12. Kievan/Russian Religion
Missionaries from the Byzantine Empire brought Eastern Orthodox Christianity to the area
Vladimir I- 1st Russian ruler to convert to Orthodox Christianity
Ordered Kievan Russia to become Eastern Greek/Eastern Orthodox Christians NOT
Western Roman Catholic Christians
Russia’s religious writings, singing,
art, and architecture imitated
Byzantine Empire’s culture

13. Russia and the Mongols Russia also influenced by the Mongols
Mongols in Russia were called the Golden Horde because when the Mongols visited Russia to receive their annual tribute, their army created a tent city – tent material was golden in color
Mongol ways of ruling – not customs – influenced the Russian way of ruling – strong central government with powerful ruler

14. Moscow replaces Kiev as capital of Russian Empire
Reasons for fall of Kiev
Declined due to infighting among Kievan rulers
Competition with Italian city-states that developed new trade routes
The sacking of Kiev by various Russian rulers

15. Kiev under the Mongols Ruled from 1240 to about 1500 from Kiev
Mongols [called Golden Horde] Gained wealth by taxing heavily
Used peasants for labor for projects
Mongol [Golden Horde] influence
Built roads to improve transportation
Mongol customs, traditions, behavior, not imitated by Russians
How the Mongols ruled Russia was copied by later Russian Rulers – centralized, absolute power in hands of one ruler

16. Rise of Moscow Prince Ivan I or Ivan the Great
Head of the Orthodox Church moved to capitol of Russia from Kiev to Moscow
Ivan the Great
Took control and power away from the Mongols
Established independent state of Russia
Began absolute monarchy in Russia
Married niece of last Byzantine Emperor
Copied Byzantine government structure, customs, and traditions

17. Moscow – “Third Rome”
Became the center of the Orthodox Church after the fall of Constantinople in A.D. 1453
Made Russia more like the Byzantine Empire
Elaborate dome churches and other types of Byzantine architecture
Ivan the Great - thought churches would inspire people & make Russia the spiritual light to the whole world.