2.  Medieval Russia connected Europe and Asia.
 Three broad times zones with different
climates.
 Northern Forests:
◦ Supplied lumber for building & fuel
◦ Good hunting
◦ No Farming - Poor soil and cold snowy climate
• Southern Farming:
 Fertile Land
 Location of Russia’s 1st Civilization

3.  3rd Region – Southern “steppe” – an open,
treeless grassland.
◦ Pastures for herds and horses of Nomadic peoples
◦ No natural barriers
◦ Great highway for Nomads to migrate
• Nomads from Asia settled and
conquered this vast territory.
• Vast River networks linked early
Russians to the advanced Byzantine
Empire.

4.  Kiev – capital city of Russian state
 Peoples:
◦ Slavic: Clans lived in small villages, farming, &
trading along rivers between Baltic & Black seas.
◦ Vikings: from Scandinavia – traveled along rivers
trading, and collecting “tribute” – forced
payments from Slav’s.
• Trade with Byzantine Empire opened Kiev up to
Christian missions.
• In 957, Princess Olga of Kiev converted and
Christianity spread widely.
• Russians adopt Byzantine
culture, art, music, architecture.

5.  Princess Olga’s grandson Vladimir and his
son Yaroslav won military victories and
spread Christianity.
 Close ties between church and state under
Yaroslav. Church dependent on State.
 Brings about the Russian Orthodox church.
 Yaroslav’s Impact:
◦ Religious texts translated into slavic languages
◦ Improvements to the city of Kiev.
◦ Written code of law & legal status to church

6.  Young leader unites nomadic Mongols of
central Asia.
 Genghis Khan – means “World Emperor”.
 Between 1236 and 1241 the grandson of
Genghis led Mongol armies called “Golden
Horde” into Russia.
 Looted & Burned Kiev and other Russian
towns.

7.  Mongols convert to Islam
 Tolerated Russian Orthodox Church
 New Trade Routes established between
China and Eastern Europe
 Ruled with absolute power – a later model
for Russian rulers.
 Mongol rule cut-off Russia from Western
Europe.
 Russians not a part of growth in arts &
science

8.  Located near important trade routes.
 Russian Princes steadily increased their
power.
 As tribute collectors for Mongols, they
subdue neighboring towns.
 Head of Russian Orthodox church made
Moscow his capital.
 Moscow now political center but also
religious center as well.

9.  Princess of Moscow take on new role of
“patriotic defenders” of Russia against foreign
rule.
 1380 – Russians defeat the Golden Horde at
the Battle of Kulikova.
 Ivan the Great – retakes northern Russia from
Lithuania.
 Establishes absolute rule & limits the power of
the boyars – great landholding nobles.
 Referred to himself as “Tsar” – the Russian
word for Caesar.
 Church declares Ivan to be “like the highest
God.

10.  Grandson of Ivan the
Great
 1st official Tsar of Russia
at age of 17 in 1547.
 Extreme Absolute Power
 Emotionally unstable after
wife dies.
 Kills own son in fit of
rage.
 Creates “Oprichniki” –
agents of terror –
slaughter anyone
suspected of disloyalty.
 Died 1584. Left country
in rebellion.