Kingdoms and Christianity
Section 2
The Rise of Russia
Main Idea
Starting as a blend of Slavs and northern Europeans, the
Russians organized as a state, became Christian, and fought
invaders.
SWBAT:
• Explain how the Rus affect the early history of Kiev?
• Identify the factors helped establish Christianity in Russia?
• Identify the people who attacked Kiev?
Section 2
Kingdoms and Christianity
The Rus and Kiev
For thousands of years, hunter-gatherers managed to make a living in
the sometimes harsh climate of what we now call Ukraine and Russia.
The Rus of Kiev
• Slavs among those who
occupied plains
• Entered historical record AD
800s, as written in The
Russian Primary Chronicle
• During mid-800s, Slavs along
Dnieper River fighting among
selves; asked for help from
northern Europeans, called the
Rus
Order
• Three brothers, Rus people
migrated to Novgorod, trading
center; oldest brother, Rurik,
brought order to Slavs
• 882, Rurik’s successor, Oleg,
ventured further south to Kiev,
united region
• 907 Oleg wanted to extend
Kiev south, successfully
attacked Constantinople
Kingdoms and Christianity
Section 2
The Growth of Kiev
• Oleg’s victory produced advantageous trade agreement, beginning of
close connection between Byzantine Empire, Russian people
• Late 900s, under Igor and his son Svyatoslav Rus extended control
far beyond Kiev
• Defeated Khazars, freed several Slavic tribes Khazars had controlled
Yaroslav the Wise
• Kievan region became state called Kievan Rus
• During height of Kievan Rus’ power, prestige, ruler was Yaroslav the
Wise
• 1019, Yaroslav became grand prince, ruled until 1054
• Made many cultural, administrative improvements to Kievan Rus
Kingdoms and Christianity
Section 2
Cultural and Administrative Improvements
• Collected religious books, hired scribes to translate
from Greek into Slavic language
• Began ambitious building program to beautify Kiev
• Military record was mixed
– Regained lost territory, defeated nomadic Pechenegs
– Tried to attack Constantinople, but forces were crushed
• More successful dealing with western Europe
– Maintained good diplomatic, trade relationships
– Arranged marriages between daughters, European princes
Kingdoms and Christianity
Section 2
Kingdoms and Christianity
Section 2
Mini Summary
Who were the Rus, and what was their
connection to Kiev?
Answer(s): a group of northern Europeans—
perhaps Vikings—who came to rule the Slavs
Section 2
Kingdoms and Christianity
Christianity in Russia
Cyril and Methodius
Slavonic Mass
• The Byzantine Empire affected
Russia not only with warfare,
trade, but also with Christianity
• Used Slavonic language to
celebrate mass; use of native
language helped convert many
Moravians
• Before Rurik, Oleg, Slavs
practiced native religion based
on nature, with many gods
• 863, Constantinople churchman
sent two Greek monks to
Moravia to convert Slavs to
Christianity, brothers Cyril and
Methodius
• The two developed written
alphabet for Slavonic language,
based on Greek alphabet,
called Cyrillic alphabet
• Thanks to Cyril, Methodius
Byzantine version of Christianity
spread to Russia
Kingdoms and Christianity
Section 2
Christian Russia
Establishment
• Important convert, Grand Duke Vladimir I of Kiev
• Baptized a Christian; married sister of a Byzantine emperor
• Conversion helped gain economic, political advantages from Byzantine
Empire
State Religion
• Even if conversion politically motivated, he built libraries, schools, churches
• In 988, Vladimir made Christianity state religion of Kievan Russia
• Christianity spread, but tensions between branches of church grew worse
Russian Orthodox Church
• Following 1054 schism, semi-independent church set up in Russia still linked
to Orthodox Church in Constantinople
• Eventually became Russian Orthodox Church
• Vladimir made saint in new church
Kingdoms and Christianity
Section 2
Summarize
How did Christianity spread to Russia?
Answer(s): Monks from the Byzantine Empire
traveled to Moravia and established the Cyrillic
alphabet and a Slavonic mass to spread
Christianity.
Section 2
Kingdoms and Christianity
Russia under Attack
During the mid-1000s, Kievan Rus reached the height of its power as a center
of trade and culture. But by the end of the 1200s, it had suffered a steep
decline. Kievan Rus was under attack—first by princes within its borders, and
later by invaders from beyond.
Kievan Rus
Weakened
• After death of
Yaroslav, internal
disputes common
among Rus
• Main threat from
princes whose
lands were within
state’s borders
Bogolyubsky
• Princes wanted to
enlarge lands
• 1169, one such
prince, Andrew
Bogolyubsky,
captured Kiev,
became new grand
prince
Stage Set
• Andrew insisted on
ruling from home
city, Vladimir
• Further weakened
Kiev’s position as
the capital
• Stage set for fierce
attacks from
Europe, Asia
Kingdoms and Christianity
Section 2
A Threat from the East
The Mongols
• 1200s, Mongols, led by Genghis Khan, swept across Asia
• Genghis Khan and Mongols created immense empire
• Mongol raiders defeated Rus and their allies in 1223
End of Kievan Rus Control
• 1227, Genghis Khan died, empire divided into four regions
• 1240, Kiev fell to Mongols led by Batu Khan
• Mongol state established in southern Russia; Kievan Rus dominance over
Disaster Avoided
• Mongols mostly left local princes in charge, did not interfere with church
• Prince Alexander encouraged Russians not to rebel against new masters
• As result Mongols did not destroy as much as in other lands
Section 2
Kingdoms and Christianity
A Threat from the North
Swedes
Prince Alexander
• At same time Mongols attacked
Rus, danger came from
different direction
• Same Prince Alexander who
calmed Mongol threat, turned
attention to Swedes
• 1240, band of Swedes invaded
Russian territory north of
Novgorod
• July 15, 1240, Alexander
launched surprise attack
against Swedish camp on Neva
River
• Swedes wanted to take control
of lucrative trade route between
Russia, Byzantine Empire
• Swedes defeated; Russia
saved from full-scale invasion
from north
Section 2
Kingdoms and Christianity
Invasion from the Baltic
• Alexander known as Alexander Nevsky after victory
• Banished by city of Novgorod after meddling in internal affairs
• When another invader threatened, Novgorod turned again to
Alexander
Teutonic Knights
• German military order of knights
wanted to force Russians to
abandon Orthodox Church, convert
to Roman Catholicism
• Teutonic Knights invaded from
Baltic Sea; Alexander fought
several battles with them
Massacre on the Ice
• April 1242, Alexander’s army lured
Knights onto thinning ice
• Ice cracked; men, horses fell into
freezing water
• Battle known as massacre on the
ice, one of Russia’s most famous
• Nevsky celebrated as hero
Kingdoms and Christianity
Section 2
Section 2
Kingdoms and Christianity
From Kiev to Muscovy
For more than 200 years after Alexander’s battles, Russia remained
under the control of Asian nomadic peoples.
Tatars
• Tatars, central Asian
people who spoke a
Turkic language,
emerged as Russia’s
rulers after Mongols
• 1480, Russia eventually
freed from foreign
domination
Muscovy
• Muscovy, east of Kiev,
grew in importance within
Russia
• Became capital of nation
that gradually expanded
to occupy much of Asia
Kingdoms and Christianity
Section 2
Sequence
Which people first invaded Russia in 1223?
What other groups invaded?
Answer(s): Mongols; Swedes, Germans