Ch. 10 Sec. 2 The Rise of Russia

The Setting and People A large plain stretches across eastern Europe & central Asia which extends from Carpathian Mtns. to the Ural Mtns. In the south this plain is grassy & mostly treeless & is called the steppe – has black, fertile soil that is ideal for agriculture

Many rivers cross the plain, providing transportation networks (some flow to the Black Sea) Beginning in the 1500s B.C., the groups from the southern part of the region repeatedly invaded S.W. Asia After the 400s, Slavs settled in much of E. Europe

The Avars, Huns, & Magyars also invaded the region & made the Slavs their subjects During the 800s, Vikings from Scandinavia invaded, seeking to extend their trade routes

Kievan Russia Along the Viking trade routes lay the cities of Novgorod & Kiev Rurik, the leader of a people called the Rus, took control of Novgorad in the 800s Rurik & his successors established rule over Kiev & over nearby Slavic tribes

Kiev was on the trade route between Constantinople & the Baltic Sea Kiev became the capital Many areas in Kievan Russia were led by princes who governed w/ 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 1000s He built many churches & introduced Russia’s 1st law code, the Pravda Russkia Yaroslav’s code combined Slavic tribal customs w/ older laws & traditions

Religion Christianity had little effect until the mid 900s when ruler Vladimir I sent observers to visit Christian churches elsewhere His officials were impressed w/ the Eastern church in Constantinople so he converted to Christianity & ordered all Kievans to become Christians

Many Kievans still worshipped their ancestors or nature gods but the Byzantine church became an important force Monasteries became centers of religious thought, social service, & the arts Religious themes dominated Kievan writing & art

Icons, mosaics, & frescoes on religious themes became distinctive Kievan art forms

Economy Kievan Russia included two major agricultural regions The steppe has a mild climate & a long growing season North of the steppe lies the taiga, which has great forests, much rainfall, long winters & a short growing season

Kievan Russia traded food, wood, iron, salt, furs, & honey w/ the Byzantines They imported jewelry, silver, & 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 & merchants The largest class were the peasants, who lived in villages & produced the crops The clergy were also important having much influence over daily life, but not directly involved in gov’t