Themes
in Russian History
 Expansion by conquest.
Need for warm-water ports.
 The necessity of a strong, central
government.
Kievan Rus
• Begun by invasion of
Viking tribes – also
known as Slavs –
from north of the
Baltic.
• Both trade partner
and sometime enemy
of the Byzantine
Empire.
Kievan Rus
During Roman times, the Slavs expanded into southern Russia.
Like the Germanic peoples who pushed into western Europe,
the Slavs had a simple political organization divided into clans.
They lived in small villages, farmed, and traded along the rivers
that ran between the Baltic and the Black seas.
In the 700s and 800s, the Vikings steered their long ships out
of Scandinavia. These expert sailors were as much at home on
Russian rivers as on the stormy Atlantic. The Vikings, called
Varangians by later Russians, worked their way south along the
rivers, trading with and collecting tribute from the Slavs. They
also conducted a thriving trade with Constantinople.
Located at the heart of this vital trade network was the city of
Kiev. In time, it would become the center of the first Russian
state.
Viking Invasions
Kievan Rus
Rulers of the Kievan Rus
Vladimir I (980)
(980) Vladimir I –
Extremely war-like ruler
of Kiev. Invited
missionaries from
Judaism, Islam and
Christianity to offer
reasons for conversion.
Married the Byzantine
emperor’s sister.
Brought Christianity and
Greco-Roman civilization
to Russia.
Rulers of the Kievan Rus
Yaroslav I (1010 – 1054)
Created a Russian law code
based on Justinian’s Code.
Instituted a Golden Age of
Kievan Russia. Built
churches and a new capital
city.
Allied Russia with the rest
of Europe by marrying his
children to European rulers.
Early Byzantine Influences:
Orthodox Christianity
Expansion of Byzantine culture
northward was through
conversion of Kiev to Orthodox
Christianity
Early Byzantine Influences:
Orthodox Christianity
Religious artifacts included churches, icons, and
liturgical music as expressed in Byzantine culture
Influenced by
Byzantine Politics
• Russia adopted the concept of divinely
inspired monarchy with close relations to
state-controlled church
• Were unable to adopt the Byzantine
trained bureaucracy however
Early Byzantine Influences:
Cyrillic Alphabet
Byzantine missionaries, Cyril and Methodius sent to convert
eastern Europe and the Balkans created the script
Alexander Nevsky: 1220-1263
Battle on the Ice
(Neva River)
Against the
Swedes
Teutonic
Knight
Russian Expansion
The Mongols Invade Russia
Tartars conquered Russian cities during the 13th century and left
Russian church and aristocracy intact, as long as tribute was paid.
“Third Rome”
• Russians re-emerged after Mongol
control ended in the 15th century and
claimed to be the successors of the
Roman and Byzantine states
• Moscow was considered to be the “Third
Rome”
Rulers of the Kievan Rus
Ivan the Great (1462-1505)
(1462-1505) Ivan III or
Ivan the Great –
absolute ruler. Took
the title of czar
Czar – Absolute ruler
of Russia: from
Roman word – Caesar
Defeated the Mongols,
who had gained
control of Russia
Extended Russian
territory
Byzantine Influence on Russia
• Kiev  small Viking state on Dnieper River
– River provided easy access to sea  promotes
trade and cultural diffusion
– Lays foundations for modern Russia
Byzantine Influence on Russia
• Olga, Vladimir, & Conversion to Christianity
– Princess Olga visits Constantinople in 957 and
converts to Christianity
– Vladimir
• Olga’s grandson
• Decides his realm should adopt an official religion
• Commissions a report on the three major religions
– Christianity, Judaism, and Islam
– Adopts Christianity
» Baptizes all citizens of Kiev in the Dnieper River
» Imports teachers from the Byzantine Empire
Byzantine Influence on Russia
• Government
– Autocracy
– Czar (Tsar)
Byzantine Influence on Russia
• Architecture
– Onion Dome