Geography and Heritage Geography and Heritage of Russia and Eastern of Russia and Eastern

EuropeEurope

Section 2Section 2

Early TraditionsEarly Traditions

Kievan Rus’Kievan Rus’

First Russian state created in late A.D. First Russian state created in late A.D. 800s in present day Ukraine800s in present day Ukraine

Vikings from Scandinavia conquered Vikings from Scandinavia conquered the local Slavic people and ruled over the local Slavic people and ruled over a loose confederation of city-statesa loose confederation of city-states

This state was called Kiev and resided This state was called Kiev and resided on the Dnieper Riveron the Dnieper River

They mainly traded fur, honey, and They mainly traded fur, honey, and cropscrops

Kievan Rus’Kievan Rus’

Byzantine InfluencesByzantine Influences The Byzantine Empire ( also known as the Eastern The Byzantine Empire ( also known as the Eastern

Roman Empire) was the most advanced Roman Empire) was the most advanced civilization in Europe at the timecivilization in Europe at the time

Russia borrowed two important ideas from the Russia borrowed two important ideas from the Byzantines which included writing and ChristianityByzantines which included writing and Christianity

860 A.D. two monks named Cyril and Methodius 860 A.D. two monks named Cyril and Methodius spread Christianity from Constantinople to other spread Christianity from Constantinople to other eastern communitieseastern communities

They created the Cyrillic alphabet, a mixture of They created the Cyrillic alphabet, a mixture of Greek and Hebrew, that allowed Eastern Greek and Hebrew, that allowed Eastern Europeans to read the BibleEuropeans to read the Bible

988 A.D. Prince Vladimir converted to Byzantine 988 A.D. Prince Vladimir converted to Byzantine Christianity (He was impressed by their wealth, Christianity (He was impressed by their wealth, the Hagia Sophia, and that the Byzantine Emperor the Hagia Sophia, and that the Byzantine Emperor not the Pope in Rome was the head of the Church)not the Pope in Rome was the head of the Church)

VladimirVladimirCyril and Methodius

The Hagia SophiaThe Hagia SophiaNothing remains of the first church that was built on the same Nothing remains of the first church that was built on the same

site during the 4th century. Following the destruction of the first site during the 4th century. Following the destruction of the first church, a second was built by Constantius, the son of church, a second was built by Constantius, the son of

Constantine the Great, but was burned down during the Nika Constantine the Great, but was burned down during the Nika riots of 532. The building was rebuilt under the personal riots of 532. The building was rebuilt under the personal

supervision of emperor Justinian I and rededicated on December supervision of emperor Justinian I and rededicated on December

27, 53727, 537..

Split in ChristianitySplit in Christianity

1054, Christians split into the Roman 1054, Christians split into the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox ChurchCatholic and Eastern Orthodox Church

Eventually the Russians had their own Eventually the Russians had their own independent Orthodox Churchindependent Orthodox Church

The split occurred over The split occurred over 1) the use of icons1) the use of icons 2) linguistics – Latin vs. Greek2) linguistics – Latin vs. Greek 3) discrepancies over the Holy Trinity ( the 3) discrepancies over the Holy Trinity ( the

filioque clause in the Nicene Creed)filioque clause in the Nicene Creed) 4) who is head of the Church4) who is head of the Church

Mongol RuleMongol Rule 1200s. The Tatars, a group of 1200s. The Tatars, a group of

Mongols destroyed Kiev and other Mongols destroyed Kiev and other cities, resulting in many deaths and cities, resulting in many deaths and enslavementenslavement

The Mongols heavily taxed the The Mongols heavily taxed the Russians with tribute and weakened Russians with tribute and weakened ties with the Byzantinesties with the Byzantines

The occupation lasted for 250 years The occupation lasted for 250 years and caused a lasting distrust for and caused a lasting distrust for foreigners in Russiaforeigners in Russia

The Rise of MoscowThe Rise of Moscow

Russian princes secretly withheld some Russian princes secretly withheld some tribute from the Mongolstribute from the Mongols

The location of the city with its importance The location of the city with its importance to trade and seat of the Russian Orthodox to trade and seat of the Russian Orthodox Church made it very powerfulChurch made it very powerful

Ivan the Great – Ivan III, the prince of Ivan the Great – Ivan III, the prince of Moscow who ruled from 1462-1505 Moscow who ruled from 1462-1505 created a unified Russian state, kicked out created a unified Russian state, kicked out the Mongols , and established a strong the Mongols , and established a strong central govermentcentral goverment

Ivan the GreatIvan the Great

Based his government on Byzantine Based his government on Byzantine traditionstraditions

Married the last Byzantine princess, Married the last Byzantine princess, Sophia, in 1472 and claimed the title Sophia, in 1472 and claimed the title of Czar (meant emperor or Caesar)of Czar (meant emperor or Caesar)

He ruled as an autocrat, claiming He ruled as an autocrat, claiming absolute power and destroyed the absolute power and destroyed the power of the nobility giving himself power of the nobility giving himself ultimate controlultimate control

Ivan the GreatIvan the Great

Ivan the TerribleIvan the Terrible

Further centralized power and started Further centralized power and started feudalismfeudalism

Feudalism was in decline in Europe when Feudalism was in decline in Europe when rising in Russiarising in Russia

Ivan had a reign of terror against nobles Ivan had a reign of terror against nobles and citizens who opposed himand citizens who opposed him

He killed many and was very ruthless He killed many and was very ruthless hence the namehence the name

He utilized a secret police force which was He utilized a secret police force which was the precedent for later organizations such the precedent for later organizations such as the KGBas the KGB

Ivan the TerribleIvan the Terrible

A Window on the West: Peter A Window on the West: Peter the Great’s Visionthe Great’s Vision

Tried to modernize Russia through his clandestine Tried to modernize Russia through his clandestine visit to Germanyvisit to Germany

He tried to work as a disguised ordinary citizen in He tried to work as a disguised ordinary citizen in gun factories and in various tradesgun factories and in various trades

Most people recognized him because he was 7 ft. Most people recognized him because he was 7 ft. talltall

He founded Saint Petersburg, which was He founded Saint Petersburg, which was supposed to idealize western valuessupposed to idealize western values

He forced women to take more role in public life He forced women to take more role in public life and he forced people to dress in western clothingand he forced people to dress in western clothing

He even shaved his own nobles at court to make He even shaved his own nobles at court to make them look more western!them look more western!

Peter the GreatPeter the Great