AN03b2

Unit03: Age of Exchange & Encounter

Ch.11

Timeline: 9th C. - 15th C. CE

FS: The Birth of a Eurasian Empire- The Russians
Main Idea: Russia grew out of a blending of Slavic and Byzantine cultures and adopted Eastern
Orthodox traditions. In addition to sending its missionaries to the land of the Slavs during the
ninth century, Byzantium actively traded with its neighbors to the north. Because of this
increased interaction, the Slavs began absorbing many Greek Byzantine ways. It was this
blending of Slavic and Greek traditions that eventually produced Russian culture.
CCSS...

I. Russias Birth!
Russias origins can be traced to an area west of the Ural Mountains from the Black Sea
to the Baltic Sea. Slow-moving, interconnecting rivers allow boat travel across these plains in
almost any direction. The Vikings, and others, would use the Dnieper, Don, and Volga rivers to
penetrate the terrain.
In the early days of the Byzantine Empire, these forests were inhabited by tribes of Slavic
farmers and traders. They spoke similar languages but had no political unity. Sometime in the
800s, small bands of adventurers came down among them from the north. These Varangians, or
Rus as they were also called, were most likely Vikings. (The name Russia is taken from this
group.) These Vikings settled among the Slavs.
A. Slavs&Vikings
Russian legends say the Slavs invited the Viking chief Rurik to be their king. So
in 862, he founded Novgorod, Russias first important city. That account is given in The
Primary Chronicle, a history of Russia written by monks in the early 1100s. From Novgorod,
in the late 9th C., Vikings moved south to Kiev, a city on the Dnieper River. From Kiev,
Vikings could sail by river and sea to Constantinople and trade for products from distant
lands.
Kiev grew into a principality (a small state ruled by a prince) while Viking nobles intermarried
with their Slavic subjects. Gradually, any distinction between Viking and Slavic culture
vanished as cultural diffusion worked its ancient magic.
B. Kiev&EasternOrthodoxy
In the 10th C., according to The Primary Chronicle, Vladimir (ruling prince of
Kiev), came to the throne. His grandmother had converted to Eastern Orthodox Christianity,
but he would not consider conversion to any of the monotheistic faiths until four teams
researching Islam, Judaism, Western (Roman Catholic) Christianity, & Eastern (Orthodox)
Christianity returned with a report. All the teams gave a mediocre report except for the one
that visited Constantinople, the seat of the Eastern Orthodox Christian Church. Vladimir was
convinced he should convert- and did so along with all the people of Kiev (a mass
conversion through baptism in a river). The close relationship between Church and State
appealed to early Russians.
II. Kievs Rise & Decline!
A. Kievan Russia
Vladimir expanded Kievs power west into Poland and north almost to the Baltic Sea. He
also fought off troublesome nomads from the steppes to the south. In 1019, Vladimirs son,
Yaroslav the Wise, came to the throne and led Kiev to even greater glory. Yaroslav...

AN03b2

Unit03: Age of Exchange & Encounter

Ch.11

" ...married off his daughters and sisters to kings and princes of Western Europe to
forge important trading alliances."
" ...created a legal code tailored to Kievs commercial culture.
" ...built the first library in Kiev.
" ...and his successors nurture and support the Eastern Orthodox
Church. By the 12th C., Kiev was home to some 400 churches.
B. Kievs Decline
The decline of the Kievan state begins with Yaroslavs death in 1054. Contributing to the
decline were:
" Yaroslavs decision to divide Kievan territory amongst his sons.
" Successors to Yaroslav similarly ignored traditions of Primogeniture and
divided the realm further among all sons."
" The Crusades (a 200 year period of conflict amongst Christians and
between Christians and Muslims for control of the Holy Land during the 11th 13th C.)
added to Kievs troubles by disrupting trade. This period brings additional turmoil to the
Byzantine Empire and its allies because of The Great Schism, when In 1054 the
Western (Roman Catholic) Church and the Eastern (Orthodox) Church officially split.
The Pope excommunicates the Patriarch and the Patriarch excommunicates the Pope.
" Arrival of the Mongols. The worst of all the problems facing the early Russian people.
III. The Mongol Invasion!
A. In the mid-13th C., a group of nomadic peoples from central Asia rode their horses into
Russian territory. These nomads were the Mongols. They had exploded onto the world
scene at the beginning of the 1200s under Chinggis Khan, one of the most feared warriors
of all time.
1. The Mongols may have been forced to move from their ancestral lands by economic
or military pressures.
2. They rode their swift horses across the steppes of Asia and on into Europe.
3. They won a reputation for ruthless brutality.
4. At its fullest extent, the Mongol Empire stretched from the Yellow Sea to the
Baltic Sea, and from the Himalayas to northern Russia.
5. In 1240, the Mongols attacked and demolished Kiev. They rode under the
leadership of Batu Khan, Chinggis grandson.
6. After the fall of Kiev, Mongols ruled all of southern Russia for 200 years. The
empires official name was the Khanate of the Golden Horde.
B. Mongol Rule in Russia"
Under Mongol rule:
1. Russians could follow all their usual customs, as long as they made no attempts
to rebel.
2. The Mongols tolerated all religions in their realms. The Church, in fact, often
acted as a mediator between the Russian people and their Mongol rulers.
3. The Mongols demanded two things from Russians: absolute obedience and massive
amounts of tribute (payments). Russian nobles generally did as the Mongol overlords
instructed.
4. Mongol rule isolated the Russians from their neighbors in Western Europe,
limiting access to European culture and innovation.

AN03b2

Unit03: Age of Exchange & Encounter

Ch.11

IV. Russians Break Free!

The city of Moscow was founded in the 12th C. It was located near three major rivers: the
Volga, Dnieper, and Don. From that strategic position, a prince of Moscow who could gain
control of the three rivers could control nearly all of European Russia, and perhaps successfully
challenge the Mongols."
A. Moscows Powerful Princes
During the late 1320s, Moscows Prince Ivan I had earned the gratitude of the
Mongols by helping to crush a revolt. In gratitude, the Mongols appointed Ivan I as tax
collector over all Slavic lands with the title of Grand Prince. Ivan I had become the most
powerful and wealthiest of Russian princes.
To heighten Moscows prestige, Ivan I convinced the Patriarch of Kiev to move there. In turn,
the Church becomes a powerful ally. Ivan I and his successors used numerous strategies to
enlarge their territory and control the small states around Moscow: land purchases, wars,
trickery, and shrewd marriages.
B. An Empire Emerges
The Russian state would become a genuine empire during the long, 43-year reign of Ivan III.
Upon becoming the prince of Moscow, Ivan III:
1. Openly challenged Mongol rule.
2. Took the name czar, the Russian version of Caesar, and publicly claimed his
intent to make Russia the Third Rome.
3. In 1480, Ivan III refused to pay tribute. Russian and Mongol armies marched
toward battle and came to face each other at the Ugra River. However, neither side
advanced to fight. Both armies turned around and marched home. This, traditionally,
marks Russian liberation from Mongol rule. The czars could openly pursue an empire.
VI. Why it Matters Now.
Early Russia was separated from the West, contributing to a culture with qualities that differ from
Western Europe even today."
Materials/Sources: Refer to the course calendar for additional materials, assignments and pertinent due dates."
" World History: Patterns of Interaction