Chapter 10 The Byzantine Empire and Russia

Section 2 - The Rise of Russia

The Story ContinuesThe people who came to rule Russia were

first mentioned in historical records in A.D. 860. In that year they launched a fierce

surprise attack against the city of Constantinople. “The unexpectedness of

the incursion [attack] and its extraordinary speed . . . ,” recalled one Byzantine leader, “prove that this blow has been sent from heaven like a thunderbolt.” Although the attack was unsuccessful, the Byzantines would not soon forget this fighting force.

I. The Setting and PeopleA large plain stretches across eastern Europeand central Asia from the Carpathian to theUral Mountains

I. The Setting and PeopleIn the south is the steppe, a grassy andmostly treeless area with fertile soil

I. The Setting and PeopleNorth of the steppe is the forested taiga, whichhas long, cold winters and a short growingseason

I. The Setting and PeopleIn the east, dividing Europe and Asia, are theUral Mountains

I. The Setting and PeopleThere are many rivers, some flowing into the Black Sea, that provide transportationnetworks

I. The Setting and PeopleThe area has been inhabited since Neolithic times

European Late Neolithic (c. 3500 BCE), showing the main cultures

I. The Setting and PeopleAfter the A.D. 400s, Slavs settled in easternEurope but were often invaded by the Avars,Huns, and Magyars

I. The Setting and PeopleDuring the A.D. 800s Vikings invaded, seekingto extend their trade routes with cities such asNovgorod and Kiev

II. Kievan RussiaRurik, the leader of a people called the Rus, took control of Novgorod in the A.D. 800s

Rurik, Grand Prince of Kiev

Born circa 800

Died in 879

II. Kievan RussiaRurik ruled over Kiev and the Slavic tribes and the region under their control was called theRus

II. Kievan RussiaKiev, the capital, was on the trade routebetween Constantinople and the Baltic Sea

II. Kievan RussiaAreas in Kievan Russia were led by princes who governed with the advice of councils ofboyars

II. Kievan RussiaYaroslav I (Yaroslav the Wise) ruled in theA.D. 1000s, built many churches, andintroduced Russia’s first law code

2 grivnas with the image of Yaroslav the Wise. The grivna has been the national

currency of Ukraine since 1996

II. Kievan RussiaThe law code, Pravda Russkia, combinedSlavic tribal customs with older laws andtraditions

Russkaya Pravda being read to people

II. Kievan RussiaIn the mid-900s, Vladimir I became impressedwith the Eastern Orthodox Church inConstantinople

Vladimir I: the Grand Duke of Kiev

II. Kievan RussiaVladimir converted to Christianity and orderedall Kievans to become Christians

Saint VladimirVladimir having his subjects

baptized

II. Kievan RussiaThe Byzantine church became an importantforce and monasteries became centers ofreligious thought, social service, and the arts

Saint Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Sofia

II. Kievan RussiaThe clergy were very important and had muchinfluence over daily life

Russian Orthodox clergy carrying icons in a

procession in commemoration of

Saints Cyril and Methodius, the founders of the Cyrillic alphabet

II. Kievan RussiaReligious themes dominated Kievan culture in writing, icons, mosaics, and frescoes

Icon of St. Nicholas, the miracle worker

Mosaic of St. Demetrius

II. Kievan RussiaKievan Russia traded with the Byzantines, and trade built Kievan Russia into a strong,wealthy society

II. Kievan RussiaSocial classes emerged - princes at the top,followed by the boyars, artisans, merchantsand the peasants