Intro to Russia Vikings Kievan State Objectives Explain

Intro to Russia, Vikings, Kievan State

Objectives �Explain how geography helped shape early Russia and the growth of Kiev. �People �Cyril and Methodius �Olga of Kiev �Yaroslav the Wise �Great Prince Vladimir �Varangians �Rurik

Geography of Russia �Vast plains in the eastern most part of Europe �Northern part of Russia immense forest used for lumber, fuel, hunting

South of forests---steppes---prairie grasslands used as pasture land

Geography �People settled mostly in the northern forests �Climate was warm in the summer , cold in the winter, fertile soil and enough rain �Rivers helped trade �*** Lack of mountains also helped trade and transportation. �Draw back easily invaded

Slavic Russia �Lived in tribal groups �No written language �Polytheistic �Lived by farming, hunting , and fishing �Not affected by outside contact

**Vikings—called Varangians** �Sailed on many rivers �Came for trade /collected tributes from Slavs �Traded with Slavs---slaves and other goods �South to Black Sea—Byzantine silk and Persian spices

�Raided Slavic settlements, demanded payment of goods as tribute �Forts grew into cities ruled by princes �Most important cities***Novogrod and Kiev***---center of the first state in Russia(Be able to locate on a map)

Kievan State �***Rurik—First Great Prince of Kiev*** � 957 Olga –princess converted to Christianity �Great Prince Vladimir

Effects of conversion: �brought peace between China and Eastern Europe �Benefited from new trade �Isolated upper class women/subject to male authority �Absolute power of centralized government �****Cut off contact with Western Europe****

Byzantine Influence �Christian missionaries converted Slavs �Greek monks translated the Bible �***Cyril and Methodius start a new alphabet called the Cyrillic alphabet. �Took on Christianity as well as art, music and architecture

�Domes became onion domes

�Russian rulers controlled the church �**Yaroslav the Wise—Ruled during the Golden Age for Kiev** �Internal struggles---Mongols invade

Objectives �Explain how geography helped shape early Russia and the growth of Kiev. � Settled along rivers near the Baltic Sea. Good for trade

�People �Cyril and Methodius – �new alphabet �Olga of Kiev--�center of first state of Russia �Yaroslav the Wise— �ruled Kiev during its Golden Age �Great Prince Vladimir— �established Christianity in Russia �Varangians---�Vikings �Rurik--� 1 st Great Prince of Kiev