The Russian Empire

Chapter 11 Section 2

Setting the Stage

• Byzantines– Traded w/ & sent missionaries to Slavic

regions– Cultural diffusion

• Result:– Russian Culture

• Blending Slavic & Greek culture

Geography

• Location:– West Ural Mountains – In-between 2 seas?

• Black Sea & Baltic Sea

– Modern Day Nations?• Ukraine & Russia

Geography• 3 Rivers:

– Dnieper, Don, Volga

• All 3– Slow moving– Interconnecting

• Result:– Highways

• Goods & ideas • Sometimes

– Armies & disease

Location

Early Inhabitants

• Slavic Tribes– Common culture– No pol. Unity

• 800s– Vikings = Rus

• Built forts along the rivers

– 1st unified territory? • Rurik Novgorod (842)

• Blended with the Slavic people– Over time adopted Slavic culture

The Vikings

Rus• Capital moved to Kiev (880)

– Dnieper River • Better access to

– Byzantine Empire– Via ____________ Sea

• Grew into principality– Small state ruled by a prince

Cathedral of St. Sophia

Vladimir (980)

• What do all politicians want?– Power

• What would help them control their people?– Unity

• What is the greatest unifier?– Religion

Vladimir

• Sent envoys out to observe the major religions– What are the major religions (4)?

• Failures:– Islam

• No alcohol or pork

– Judaism • loss of Jerusalem evidence abandoned by God

– Western Christianity • Churches no beauty

Vladimir

• Winner:– Eastern Christianity

• Why? – Splendor of Constantinople– God’s presence – Caesaropapism

Vladimir

Vladimir

• The Baptism of Vladimir

Viktor Vasnetsov (1890)

Result:• Vladimir & subjects converted

– Imported teachers • Instruct the people in the new faith

The Baptism of Kievans by Klavdy Lebedev

Yaroslav the Wise

Yaroslav the Wise

• Vladimir’s son• Achievements:

– Pol. Marriages forge trading alliances – Legal code– Built 1st library

• Not so wise– He ÷ his realm among his sons

• Fought amongst themselves

– Became new practice

Decline

• Yaroslav’s succession policy

• Crusades disrupted trade

• Mongols– From the steppes of Asia

• Swept into Europe

– 1240 Batu Khan (Genghis’ grandson) • Sacked Kiev

– Ruled southern Russia = 200 yrs.

Mongols

• Khanate of the Golden Horde– K = kingdom– G = Royal Color of the Mongols– H = camp

Russia Under Mongol Rule

• 2 demands– Absolute obedience & heavy tribute

• Russians could follow their customs– Practice their religion

• Russian nobles cooperated w/ Mongols– Crushed revolts & collected taxes

• Isolated – Little access to new ideas & inventions

Moscow

• Founded 12th century– 1156 crude village

• Strategic location – Near the 3 rivers– Control rivers = control European Russia

The Mongols

The Mongols

Moscow

Ivan I (1304-1340)

• Russian Noble• 1320s crushed R revolt against Mongols• Rewards:

– Tax collector of all Slavic lands – Title “grand prince”

• Result:– Most powerful & wealthiest Russian prince

• Patriarch moved city’s prestige & new ally

Ivan I & Successors

• Enlarged Moscow’s territory – Land purchases– Wars– Trickery– Shrewd marriages

Ivan III

Ivan III Tearing the Great KhanIvan III Tearing the Great Khan’’s Letter Requesting More s Letter Requesting More Tribute in 1480Tribute in 1480

Ivan III (1440–1505)

• 43 yr reign (longest-reigning Russian ruler)• Took title Czar

– Caesar

• Goal: – Make Moscow 3rd Rome

• Refused to pay tribute (1480)– Battle of Ugra River (150 mi. SW of Moscow) – Neither side advanced

• Result:– Bloodless standoff = liberation