The document summarizes how Russian culture adapted Byzantine culture through Orthodox Christianity. It describes how the Slavs originally interacted with the Byzantines, the conversion of Prince Vladimir to Orthodox Christianity in 988 which made it the dominant religion, and how Russian law and culture continued to be influenced by Byzantium under Vladimir's son Yaroslav the Wise. It then discusses the invasion of the Mongols and how their rule indirectly allowed Moscow to flourish and an Russian empire to eventually emerge, breaking from Mongol rule under Czar Ivan III.

1. Russians Adapt
Byzantine Culture
Chapter 11.2
S

2. Do-Now
What do you know
about Russia? S

3. The Slavs and Greeks
S The Byzantians were afraid of the “barbarians” from the
forests north of the Black Sea
S Slavs: the people from the forests north of the black sea.
S Eventually, they began trading and interacting
S Russian culture was a mix of Greeks (Byzantine) and the
Slavs

4. Kiev
S The city of Novgorod was the 1st Russian city.
S Later, Kiev became the cultural center of Russia

6. Kiev Becomes Orthodox
S Princess Olga visited
Constantinople in 957 and shortly
after converted to Christianity.
S Her son wasn’t much on Christianity,
but her grandson was.
S Vladimir, in scientific fashion, sent
out teams of men to study the
different world religions.

7. Primary Source
Three of the teams returned with lukewarm accounts of
Islam, Judaism, and Western Christianity. But the team
from Byzantium told quite a different story about Eastern
Orthodox Christianity:

8. Christian Conversion
S This report convinced Vladimir to
convert to Byzantine Christianity and to
make all his subjects convert, too.
S Kiev, already linked to Byzantium by
trade, now looked to Constantinople for
religious guidance.
S All the beliefs and traditions of
Orthodox Christianity flourished in Kiev.
S Vladimir appreciated the Byzantine
idea of the emperor as supreme ruler
of the church, so the close link
between Church and state took root in
Russia as well.

9. Yaroslov the Wise
S Vladimir’s son, Yaroslov the Wise, continued to build up
Kiev’s power.
S Yaroslov created many laws to benefit Kiev’s commercial
culture.
S Greater punishment for crossing your neighbor’s property line
than cutting of a man’s finger.
S Under Yaroslov, Christianity also prospered.

10. Problems in Kiev
S But, Kiev’s power was short lived.
S Yaroslav did an unwise thing.
S Historically, the throne is passed along to the eldest son.
S Yaroslov thought this to be unfair, so he divided the throne
evenly amongst his sons.
S They tore the state apart fighting for control of each other’s
land and power.

11. The Mongols
S In the 1200’s, Russia was invaded by
the Mongols, a ferocious group of
horsemen from central Asia.
S The Mongols had been around for
some time, but had exploded onto the
world scene under the leadership of
Ghengis Khan.
S In 1240, the Mongols attacked and
demolished Kiev

12. Mongol Ruled Russia
S Although the Mongols ruled Russia, the Russians were allowed
to follow their own customs, traditions, and religions.
S The Mongols only demanded 2 things:
S Slavish obiedience
S Massive amounts of tribute (money)
S Russian leaders were happy to comply.
S They were allowed to keep their power, as long as they were
obedient and put down any Russian revolts

13. Mongol Rule Serves Moscow’s
Interests
S Because the Mongol rulers
viewed Russia as a unified
empire, eventually so did the
Russians themselves.
S Also, the shared beliefs and
customs of all Russians created a
strong culture.
S Under Mongol rule, the city of
Moscow flourished.

14. An Empire Emerges
S Ivan III, begins to call himself “czar” (after the Roman
word for Caesar), even though Constantinople has been
under Mogol rule for years (since 1453).
S In 1480, Ivan III and Russia break away from the
Mongols.
S A bloodless battle ensues (neither side engaged a fight)
S The Russians mark this day as their independence from
Mongol rule.

15. Ivan the Terrible
S 3 yrs old becomes ruler= 1533
S 1547 –took power for himself
S Considered to be the true heir
of Roman & Byzantine Empire
S Took title of Czar
S Developed a legal code
S Oprichniki
S Destroy city of Novgorod
S Murdered oldest son

16. Review of Terms
S Slavs
S Russians
S Olga
S Vladamir
S Yaroslav the Wise
S Czar
S Mongols

17. Questions