Eastern Europe

Alexis Begnoche, Catherine Clarke, Katelyn Helton, Allyson Bridewell, Kiona Tenhundfeld

Social Class and Gender

Byzantine Empire- Women could hold the throne and had more rights due to Empress Theodora.

ex. Divorce and Own Property

Emperor(Head of Church AND State) ^

Officials(Selected from all classes)

^Military(Leaders develop Regional Power)

^Provincial Governors

^Merchants

^ Peasants

Kievan Rus-Women had more freedom, but it decreased as cultural diffusion occurred with traders

Ruler^

Priests^

Merchants^

Peasants^

Jews

Political

Byzantine -A spy system was produced to ensure loyalty-Military organization defends-Bureacracy regulates trade and food prices-Roman Law introduced by Justinian

Famous Rulers-Justinian-- Law Code, Rebuilt Constantinople-Empress Theodora-- Pushed for women's rights.

Kievan Rus- Pre-cultural diffusion government was centered in family tribes and villages-Post-cultural diffusian government had a strong central ruler-Formal Law Code

Famous Rulers-Vladimir I-- Diffused Christianity-Yaroslav-- Intermarriages, Law Code, Golden Age-Ivan the Great-- Defeated the Mongols, Expanded Empire-Ivan the Terrible-- Centralized Government, Terror-Tactics

Interactions Between Groups and/or Environment

Similarity- Both were strong trading partners > Similar Societies

Byzantine -Bulgaria was a strong rival-Permanent Muslim Threat-- Ototman-Turks seize Empire (Muslim people)-Constantinople's control the countryside > Social and Economic Dependence-Conquered some of the previous Old Roman Provinces-Fall produces a loss of provinces-- Asia Minor>Limited Food Resources

Kievan Rus-Strong connections through intermarriges-Rival princes established competing governments--Royal families quarreled-Asian invaders seized control-- Fall from Mongols-Scandinavians moven in for trade> Basis of Society> Strong Trade Contact with Slavs and Constantinople

Cultural

Similarity- Both focused on luxury and the Eastern Orthodox religion

Byzantine- Domed buildings, COlored Mosiacs, painted icons focused on religion-Hellenistic Traditions-Art and Architecture-- Hagia Sophia- Greek langauge

Kievan Rus-Literature focused on royal events and religion-Art was mainly icon paintings and religious manuscripts--Oral Legends-Monastic, ornate churches-Crylic Langauge

Economic

Byzantine-Large urban class

-Silk production technology from China> Luxury

-Expansive Trade with Asia, Russia, Scandinavia, and Africa

-Constantinople is a major trading center

Kievan Rus-Prosperous commercial trading center with Constantinople and the Slavs-Peasants = Free Farmers-Iron and extended agriculture-Prime location on river for trade-Local trade has more of an impact, while maintaining cultural influence from other societies (Byzantine)

Religion

Byzantine-Eastern Orthodox Christianity

-Draws rituals from Greek and Latine versions of the Bible

-Priests maintains power under the ruler

-Weakened by Crusades

-Uses taxes for major religious building projects

Kievan Rus-Pre-cultural diffusian-- Animistic Religion-Post-cultural diffusion-- Russian Orthodox Religion-Almsgiving-- Money to the poor-Prince Vladimir encourages diffusipon through mass force baptisms