2. Location, location, location!!!Location, location, location!!!
Importance of location of Russia!Importance of location of Russia!
– Steppe provided a natural highway forSteppe provided a natural highway for
nomads.nomads.
Steppe is a grassland plains with few treesSteppe is a grassland plains with few trees
or bushes.or bushes.
3. Location, location, location!!!Location, location, location!!!
ImportanceImportance
of location ofof location of
Russia!Russia!
Network of riversNetwork of rivers
providedprovided
transportationtransportation
that led to tradethat led to trade
Kiev was locatedKiev was located
at the center ofat the center of
trade among thetrade among the
Vikings, Slavs,Vikings, Slavs,
and Byzantines.and Byzantines.
4. Influence on Eastern Europe andInfluence on Eastern Europe and
RussiaRussia
Byzantine civilization influencedByzantine civilization influenced RussianRussian
andand E. EuropeanE. European civilizations throughcivilizations through
itsits religionreligion, culture and, culture and tradetrade..
Trade RoutesTrade Routes
Adoption of Orthodox ChurchAdoption of Orthodox Church
Adoption of Greek alphabet to SlavicAdoption of Greek alphabet to Slavic
languages (Cyrillic alphabet)languages (Cyrillic alphabet)
Church architecture and artChurch architecture and art
6. Prince Vladimir adopted OrthodoxPrince Vladimir adopted Orthodox
Christianity, and Russia spreadChristianity, and Russia spread
it to much of Eastern Europe!it to much of Eastern Europe!
7. St. Cyril was a GreekSt. Cyril was a Greek
monk who broughtmonk who brought
written language towritten language to
Christian converts inChristian converts in
the mid-9th centurythe mid-9th century
(c.860) in what is now(c.860) in what is now
Russia. The CyrillicRussia. The Cyrillic
alphabet is closelyalphabet is closely
based on the Greekbased on the Greek
alphabet, with about aalphabet, with about a
dozen additionaldozen additional
letters invented toletters invented to
represent Slavicrepresent Slavic
sounds not found insounds not found in
Greek.Greek.
8. Cyrillic AlphabetCyrillic Alphabet
• Adoption ofAdoption of
GreekGreek alphabet toalphabet to
the Slavicthe Slavic
languages bylanguages by St.St.
CyrilCyril, called the, called the
Cyrillic alphabet.Cyrillic alphabet.
• SignificantSignificant
because it allowedbecause it allowed
Slavs toSlavs to read theread the
biblebible!!!!!!
9. Church architecture and
religious art
St. Sophia, KievSt. Sophia, Kiev
Churches with onion-shaped
domes were built, and
modification of Byzantine
domes occurred.
Icons and mosaics were used
as decoration for buildings
