1. Geography and Heritage of Russia and Eastern Europe Section 2 Early Traditions

2. Kievan Rus’ First Russian state created in late A.D. 800s in present day Ukraine First Russian state created in late A.D. 800s in present day Ukraine Vikings from Scandinavia conquered the local Slavic people and ruled over a loose confederation of city-states Vikings from Scandinavia conquered the local Slavic people and ruled over a loose confederation of city-states This state was called Kiev and resided on the Dnieper River This state was called Kiev and resided on the Dnieper River They mainly traded fur, honey, and crops They mainly traded fur, honey, and crops

3. Kievan Rus’

4. Byzantine Influences The Byzantine Empire ( also known as the Eastern Roman Empire) was the most advanced civilization in Europe at the time The Byzantine Empire ( also known as the Eastern Roman Empire) was the most advanced civilization in Europe at the time Russia borrowed two important ideas from the Byzantines which included writing and Christianity Russia borrowed two important ideas from the Byzantines which included writing and Christianity 860 A.D. two monks named Cyril and Methodius spread Christianity from Constantinople to other eastern communities 860 A.D. two monks named Cyril and Methodius spread Christianity from Constantinople to other eastern communities They created the Cyrillic alphabet, a mixture of Greek and Hebrew, that allowed Eastern Europeans to read the Bible They created the Cyrillic alphabet, a mixture of Greek and Hebrew, that allowed Eastern Europeans to read the Bible 988 A.D. Prince Vladimir converted to Byzantine Christianity (He was impressed by their wealth, the Hagia Sophia, and that the Byzantine Emperor not the Pope in Rome was the head of the Church) 988 A.D. Prince Vladimir converted to Byzantine Christianity (He was impressed by their wealth, the Hagia Sophia, and that the Byzantine Emperor not the Pope in Rome was the head of the Church)

5. Vladimir Vladimir Cyril and Methodius

6. The Hagia Sophia Nothing remains of the first church that was built on the same site during the 4th century. Following the destruction of the first church, a second was built by Constantius, the son of Constantine the Great, but was burned down during the Nika riots of 532. The building was rebuilt under the personal supervision of emperor Justinian I and rededicated on December 27, 537.

7. Split in Christianity 1054, Christians split into the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Church 1054, Christians split into the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Church Eventually the Russians had their own independent Orthodox Church Eventually the Russians had their own independent Orthodox Church The split occurred over The split occurred over 1) the use of icons 1) the use of icons 2) linguistics – Latin vs. Greek 2) linguistics – Latin vs. Greek 3) discrepancies over the Holy Trinity ( the filioque clause in the Nicene Creed) 3) discrepancies over the Holy Trinity ( the filioque clause in the Nicene Creed) 4) who is head of the Church 4) who is head of the Church

8. Mongol Rule 1200s. The Tatars, a group of Mongols destroyed Kiev and other cities, resulting in many deaths and enslavement 1200s. The Tatars, a group of Mongols destroyed Kiev and other cities, resulting in many deaths and enslavement The Mongols heavily taxed the Russians with tribute and weakened ties with the Byzantines The Mongols heavily taxed the Russians with tribute and weakened ties with the Byzantines The occupation lasted for 250 years and caused a lasting distrust for foreigners in Russia The occupation lasted for 250 years and caused a lasting distrust for foreigners in Russia

9. The Rise of Moscow Russian princes secretly withheld some tribute from the Mongols Russian princes secretly withheld some tribute from the Mongols The location of the city with its importance to trade and seat of the Russian Orthodox Church made it very powerful The location of the city with its importance to trade and seat of the Russian Orthodox Church made it very powerful Ivan the Great – Ivan III, the prince of Moscow who ruled from 1462-1505 created a unified Russian state, kicked out the Mongols, and established a strong central goverment Ivan the Great – Ivan III, the prince of Moscow who ruled from 1462-1505 created a unified Russian state, kicked out the Mongols, and established a strong central goverment

10. Ivan the Great Based his government on Byzantine traditions Based his government on Byzantine traditions Married the last Byzantine princess, Sophia, in 1472 and claimed the title of Czar (meant emperor or Caesar) Married the last Byzantine princess, Sophia, in 1472 and claimed the title of Czar (meant emperor or Caesar) He ruled as an autocrat, claiming absolute power and destroyed the power of the nobility giving himself ultimate control He ruled as an autocrat, claiming absolute power and destroyed the power of the nobility giving himself ultimate control

11. Ivan the Great

12. Ivan the Terrible Further centralized power and started feudalism Further centralized power and started feudalism Feudalism was in decline in Europe when rising in Russia Feudalism was in decline in Europe when rising in Russia Ivan had a reign of terror against nobles and citizens who opposed him Ivan had a reign of terror against nobles and citizens who opposed him He killed many and was very ruthless hence the name He killed many and was very ruthless hence the name He utilized a secret police force which was the precedent for later organizations such as the KGB He utilized a secret police force which was the precedent for later organizations such as the KGB

13. Ivan the Terrible

14. A Window on the West: Peter the Great’s Vision Tried to modernize Russia through his clandestine visit to Germany Tried to modernize Russia through his clandestine visit to Germany He tried to work as a disguised ordinary citizen in gun factories and in various trades He tried to work as a disguised ordinary citizen in gun factories and in various trades Most people recognized him because he was 7 ft. tall Most people recognized him because he was 7 ft. tall He founded Saint Petersburg, which was supposed to idealize western values He founded Saint Petersburg, which was supposed to idealize western values He forced women to take more role in public life and he forced people to dress in western clothing He forced women to take more role in public life and he forced people to dress in western clothing He even shaved his own nobles at court to make them look more western! He even shaved his own nobles at court to make them look more western!

15. Peter the Great