KIEVAN RUS Geography Stretches from Europe to China

KIEVAN RUS

Geography ■ Stretches from Europe to China ■ Use Urals mountains to divide Europe and Asia ■ Three regions: – Taiga- Snowy northern forests supplied lumber and fur – Temperate forest- good for farming – The Steppe ■ Rivers provide transport and connection to Byzantine.

Early History ■ Originally occupied by Nomads ■ Overrun by same groups that attacked Rome ■ Settled by tribal Slavs ■ Largest group were called the Rus ■ Vikings called the Varangian's sailed thru Russian rivers ■ Invited to establish a Monarchy over the Rus

Prince Rurik ■ Viking who established the Rurikid Dynasty ■ Ruled as the Grand Prince ■ Original capital in Novgorod ■ His successor captured Kiev and made it the capital ■ This new state became known as Kievan Rus

Economics ■ Kiev became an important trading center – War treaties and laws revolved around trade ■ Traded fur, wax, and slaves ■ Agriculture hugely important – Often done by serfs, people tied to the lands (think helots) ■ Connected Kievan Rus with Byzantines

Byzantines gain influence ■ Byzantines sent missionaries Cyril and Methodius to Kiev – Created Cyrillic alphabet still used there ■ Vladimir the Great wanted to convert his people – Islam and Orthodox the choice – Picked Orthodoxy for political reason and drinking ■ Adopted Byzantine art, music, and architecture

Yaroslav the Wise ■ Ushered in its golden age ■ Spread his principalities borders ■ Controlled the new church – Became vital to state power ■ Codified Kievan Rus laws ■ State collapsed after his death