1. The Rise of Russia Preview Main Idea / Reading Focus The Rus and Kiev
Map: The Growth of Russia
Christianity in Russia
Russia under Attack
Faces of History: Alexander Nevsky

2. The Rise of Russia Main Idea Reading Focus
Starting as a blend of Slavs and northern Europeans, the Russians organized as a state, became Christian, and fought invaders.
Reading Focus
How did the Rus affect the early history of Kiev?
What factors helped establish Christianity in Russia?
What peoples attacked Russia?

3. The Rus and Kiev The Rus of Kiev Order
For thousands of years, hunter-gatherers managed to make a living in the sometimes harsh climate of what we now call Ukraine and Russia.
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
The Rus of Kiev
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
Order

4. The Growth of Kiev Yaroslav the Wise
Oleg’s victory produced advantageous trade agreement, beginning of close connection between Byzantine Empire, Russian people
Late 900s, 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

5. 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

7. Who were the Rus, and what was their connection to Kiev?
Find the Main Idea
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

8. Christianity in Russia
The Byzantine Empire affected Russia not only with warfare, trade, but also with Christianity
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
Cyril and Methodius
Used Slavonic language to celebrate mass; use of native language helped convert many Moravians
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
Slavonic Mass

9. 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

10. How did Christianity spread to Russia?
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.

11. Russia under Attack Kievan Rus Weakened
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
Princes wanted to enlarge lands
1169, one such prince, Andrew Bogolyubsky, captured Kiev, became new grand prince
Bogolyubsky
Andrew insisted on ruling from home city, Vladimir
Further weakened Kiev’s position as the capital
Stage set for fierce attacks from Europe, Asia
Stage Set

12. A Threat from the East The Mongols End of Kievan Rus Control
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

13. A Threat from the North Swedes Prince Alexander
At same time Mongols attacked Rus, danger came from different direction
1240, band of Swedes invaded Russian territory north of Novgorod
Swedes wanted to take control of lucrative trade route between Russia, Byzantine Empire
Swedes
Same Prince Alexander who calmed Mongol threat, turned attention to Swedes
July 15, 1240, Alexander launched surprise attack against Swedish camp on Neva River
Swedes defeated; Russia saved from full-scale invasion from north
Prince Alexander

14. 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
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
Teutonic Knights
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
Massacre on the Ice

16. From Kiev to Muscovy
For more than 200 years after Alexander’s battles, Russia remained under the control of Asian nomadic peoples.
Tatars, central Asian people who spoke a Turkic language, emerged as Russia’s rulers after Mongols
1480, Russia eventually freed from foreign domination
Tatars
Muscovy, east of Kiev, grew in importance within Russia
Became capital of nation that gradually expanded to occupy much of Asia
Muscovy

17. Which people first invaded Russia in 1223? What other groups invaded?
Sequence
Which people first invaded Russia in 1223? What other groups invaded?
Answer(s): Mongols; Swedes, Germans