Post on 16-Aug-2021
The Rise of Russia
Background Information
● Two sects of Christianity competed for followers
● Eastern Orthodox tried to convert the Slavs
○ Groups who lived in the forest north of the Black Sea
The Black Sea
Europe and Asia
Russian Culture
● Due to trade, Slavic and Greek/Byzantine cultures blended to
create Russian culture
Novgorod
● Russia’s first important city
○ Est. by Vikings
Kievan Rus’
● Oleg, a Russian prince, traveled from Novgorod and settled
in Kiev
Kiev
● Vikings also settled in Kiev
○ Located on the Dnieper
○ Vikings married Slavs, which blended the two cultures
Kievan Rus’● Loose federation of
East Slavic tribes
● Federations have one
government, but
much independence
Dnieper river
Kiev and the Spread of Christianity
● Princess Olga visited Constantinople
○ So impressed, she converted to Christianity
● Her grandson, Vladimir sent teams to observe various
religions
○ Chose Eastern Orthodox Christianity
● Further linked Kiev and Constantinople
Yaroslav the Wise
● Vladimir’s son
● Married daughters/sisters to Western Europe’s princes
○ Created alliances and increased trade
● Created legal code
● Built first library
● Built over 400 churches
Kiev’s Decline
Internal Factors
● Yaroslav divided land between 3 sons
○ Tore the state apart by fighting
External factors
● The Crusades (religious wars) disrupted trade
● Mongol invasions
Mongols
● Nomadic horsemen warriors
● Brutally killed and burned conquered persons
● Led by Genghis Khan
Evaluating Genghis Khan
In your opinion, was Genghis Khan a positive or negative
influence on the world? Please list three reasons from the video
to support your conclusion.
Mongols Rule Kiev
● Russians could follow usual customs & religion
● Demanded:
○ Absolute obedience
○ Large tributes (payments)
● Mongols cut off trade and spread of ideas/inventions
Russia Gains Freedom Under Ivan III the Great● Grand Prince of Moscow
● Challenged Mongol rule c. 1480
● Dubbed himself czar* (Russian word for
Caesar)
○ *An emperor of Russia before 1917
● Sought to make Russia the third Rome
Ivan III Accomplishments
● Father of modern Russia
● First ruler of an independent state called Russia
○ a politically unified people occupying a definite territory
● Took complete control of both the church and the gov’t
Ivan IV or Ivan the terrible
● Brutal harsh dictator
● Reestablished trade with Western Europe
● Established the secret police
The New Romes
● First Rome: Rome
● Second Rome: Constantinople
● Third Rome: Moscow