1. Early Russia
Ch 11.2

3. Geographic Features
Steppe – large grassy, nearly treeless grassy plain, rich farmland
Ural Mountains – considered divider between Asia & Europe

4. Geographic features
Several large rivers, Vistula, Neman, & Dvina, flow to the Baltic (north)
Dniester & Dnieper flow into Black Sea

5. Slavs and Vikings
Slavs overrun by many other peoples – open plain no natural barriers
Vikings invade from Scandinavia in A.D. 800’s – originally as traders

6. Slavs and Vikings
Trading centers (cities) spring up along trade routes
Major cities were Novgorod (in the north), Kiev (in the south)

7. Kievan Russia Rus, lead by Rurik capture Novgorod & Kiev
Kiev became prosperous because of location on trade routes

8. Government Each city ruled by a Prince & council of Boyars
First Russian law code – Russkaya Pravda

9. Religion Vladimir I – Converted to Eastern Orthodox Christianity
Patriarch of Constantinople chooses Metropolitan

10. Economy Agriculture & trade most important
Great forests north of Steppe called the Taiga

11. Social Classes 1. Royalty 2. Artisans & Merchants (Boyars) 3. Clergy
4. Peasants (largest)

12. Yaroslav, the Wise Takes throne in 1019
Skillfully marries off daughters and sisters to Western powers to form alliances
Creates legal code tailored to commercial culture
Builds first library in Kiev

13. Kievan Russia in Decline
Kiev declines in power after 1054
Towns & their Princes fight each other
Polovtsians raid from the south – trade diminishes
Civil War ensues – 1169 & Princes sack Kiev

14. Kievan Russia Under the Mongols
Mongols invade from the Asian steppe
By 1240 Mongols had ravaged Kievan Russia
Mongols did not impose their culture

15. Local rule allowed as long as taxes paid
Alexander Nevsky – military hero who controlled Moscow and defeated the Swedes at the Neva River
Mongols improved infrastructure
(built roads, improved methods of taxation & communication

16. The Rise of Moscow
Prince Ivan I cooperates with Mongols, made him Grand Prince
Chief Metropolitan of Russian Orthodox Church moves to Moscow

17. Ivan III, the Great
Ivan III considers himself “Autocrat by the grace of God”
Ordered the creation of the Church of Assumption
Ivan III, also called Ivan the Great, boots out Mongols (1480)
Unites the smaller principalities into the country called Russia…Battle of Ugra

18. Ivan IV, The Terrible
Became ruler at 3yrs old (Boyars fought each other for power)
Takes power at age 17, declares himself heir to Rome & Byzantium
Calls himself Tsar (Russian for Caesar)
Slaughters Boyars that he suspected of disloyalty
Extended the borders of Russia & centralized power

19. 1. Santa sophia (Kiev)
2. Santa Sophia (Novgorod)

20. The Rise of the Mongols Increased property holdings
The Growth of the Church
Increased property holdings
Metropolitan of Russian Orthodox Church chosen by Russian Bishops
Complete break w/Orthodox church in Constantinople
Metropolitan becomes Patriarch
Russians claim to be “Third Rome”
Invent story that Christianity brought to Russia by Andrew (12 Apostles)
Russia develops new confidence
The Rise of the Mongols
Chapter 8, Sect 3