Development of Russia

Impact of the Byzantine Empire

Slavic people divided into 3 groups: western, eastern, & southern Slavs

Western Slavs formed the Polish & Bohemian kingdoms

Poles, Czechs, Hungarians were all converted to Christianity by German Monks

Eastern Slavic people were converted to Orthodox Christianity by two Byzantine missionary brothers; Cyril & Methodius

Croats, Serbs, & Bulgarians were converted to Eastern Orthodoxy

East & Central Europe

Eastern Slavic people settled in present day Ukraine & Russia

8th century, Swedish Vikings began to move in search of plunder & trade routes

Vikings eventually dominated the native people

Vikings named it Rus = where word Russia is derived

Russia

St. Cyril and St. Methodius

Oleg, Viking leader, settled in Kiev at the beginning of 10th century & created principality of Kiev

Oleg successors expanded Kiev until it reached territory between Baltic & Black Seas, & Danube & Volga rivers

The growth of Kiev attracted Byzantine missionaries

Kievan Rus

Vikings married Slavic wives & gradually assimilated into the Slavic population

Rus leader, Vladimir, married sister of Byzantine Emperor

Officially accepted the Eastern Orthodox Church for himself and all the people in 988 (It became the state religion)

Kievan Rus prospered up until invasions brought an end to the 1st Russian state in 1169

Kievan Rus Continued…

Vladimir I ChoseEastern Orthodoxy

13th century, Mongols conquered Russia & forced Russian princes to pay tribute to them

Alexander Nevsky, prince of Novgorood, defeated a German army in northwest Russia in 1242

Khan, leader of Mongolia, rewarded Nevsky title of grand prince

Nevsky descendants became princes of Moscow & eventual leaders of Russia

Mongol Rule in Russia

AlexanderNevsky, PrinceOf Novgorod

Ivan III Ruled from1462 – 1505 United the Russian nation and strengthened

the authority of the monarchy His reign marks the beginning of Muscovite

Russia. He assumed the title of 'Sovereign of all Russia', and adopted the emblem of the two-headed eagle of the Byzantine Empire.

After the fall of Constantinople to the Turks in 1453, the Russians came to regard their branch of the Orthodox Church as the last stronghold of true Christianity.

Freed Russia from the Mongols in 1480

P. 300 Geography Skills P. 302 Read the Eyewitness to History and

answer the three questions YOU MUST WRITE THE QUESTIONS!

Classwork