10-2 Russia

The Byzantine Empire and Russia

Section 2: The Rise of Russia

In this section

1. You will learn about the geography of eastern Europe and the different groups of people who settled there.

2. You will also learn about Kievan Russia.

3. You will discover how its government and religion differed from those of the Byzantine Empire.

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Focus Questions

1. What groups of people lived in eastern and southeastern Europe between the late 1500s B.C. and the A.D. 800s?

2. How did Kievan Russia’s government and religion offer from the Byzantine Empire’s?

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Section 2 Vocabulary

steppe: Large, grassy plain stretching across eastern Europe and central Asia that is ideal for agriculture

Rurik: Leader of a people called the Rus who came to rule Kiev and a region called the Rus

Rus: People led by Rurik who came to rule Kiev; also, the region they ruled

boyars: Nobles who advised the prince in each Kievan city

Yaroslav the Wise: Ruler of Russia in the A.D. 1000s who introduced Russia’s first law code

Pravda Russkia: Russia’s first law code, created by Yaroslav the Wise

Vladimir I: Russian ruler who converted to Christianity and ordered all Kievans to become Christian

taiga: Russian region north of the steppe that has great forests, much rainfall, and long winters

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Section 2 Summary

Eurasia is the combined continental landmass of Europe and Asia

A large plain stretches across eastern Europe and central Asia. It extends from the Carpathian (kahr·PAY·thee·uhn) Mountains in the west to the Ural (yoor·uhl) Mountains in the east. In the south this plain is grassy and mostly treeless and is called the steppe. The steppe has black, fertile soil that is ideal for agriculture.

Many rivers cross the plain, providing transportation networks. Some flow into the Black Sea, which leads to the Mediterranean. The southern part of the region was inhabited since Neolithic times.

Beginning in the 1500s B.C., groups from this region repeatedly invaded southwest Asia. After the A.D. 400s, Slavs settled in much of eastern Europe. The Avars, Huns, and Magyars also invaded the region and made the Slavs their subjects. During the A.D. 800s Vikings from Scandinavia invaded, seeking to extend their trade routes. Along the Viking trade routes lay the cities of Novgorod and Kiev.

Rurik, the leader of a people called the Rus, took control of Novgorod in the A.D. 800s. Rurik and his successors established rule over Kiev and over nearby Slavic tribes. The large region under their control was called the Rus. Kiev, on the trade route between Constantinople and the Baltic Sea, became the capital.

Link to brief history of Russia

Many areas in Kievan Russia were led by princes. They governed with the advice of councils of boyars, or nobles. The princes also held town meetings to discuss wars or other emergencies. Yaroslav I, known as Yaroslav the Wise, ruled Russia in the A.D. 1000s. He built many churches and introduced Russia’s first law code, the Pravda Russkia (meaning “Russian Justice”). Yaroslav’s code combined Slavic tribal customs with older laws and traditions.

Although Christianity had reached Kievan Russia it had little effect until the mid- 900s. Then the ruler Vladimir I sent observers to visit Christian churches elsewhere. His officials were impressed with the Eastern church in Constantinople. Vladimir converted to Christianity. He ordered all Kievans to become Christians. Many Kievans still worshiped their ancestors or nature gods. However, the Byzantine church became an important force.

link to source - Russian Architecture

Monasteries became centers of religious thought, social service, and the arts. Religious themes dominated Kievan writing and art. Icons, mosaics, and frescoes on religious themes became distinctive Kievan art forms. Kievan Russia included two major agricultural regions. The steppe has a mild climate and a long growing season. North of the steppe lies the taiga (ty·guh), which has great forests and much rainfall. But winters are long, and the growing season is short.

Kievan Russia traded food, wood, iron, salt, furs, and honey with the Byzantines. They imported jewelry, silver, and textiles. Trade built Kievan Russia into a strong, wealthy power.

At the top of the social structure were local princes, followed by the boyars, then artisans and merchants. The argest class were the peasants, who lived in villages and produced the crops. The clergy were also important. Although not directly involved in government, they had much influence over daily life.

Answers to the focus questions

1. What groups of people lived in eastern and southeastern Europe between the late 1500s B.C. and

the A.D. 800s?

· Between the late 1500s B.C. and A.D. 800s, Slavs, Avars, Huns, Magyars, and Vikings lived in eastern and southeastern Europe.

2. How did Kievan Russia’s government and religion offer from the Byzantine Empire’s?

· Unlike the Byzantine government, which was centralized, Kievan Russia’s government was ruled by many princes who governed with the advice of boyars. Also, its laws were based on Slavic laws and customs, not Roman laws and customs. In religion, Kiev followed the Orthodox church, the Byzantine Empire did not.