The Rise of Russia

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfe1wEQzSzM

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.

History Versus Genghis Khan

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