The Origins of Modern Russia

1. The Origins of Modern Russia Eastern European Development

2. Kievan Rus • Vladimir’s Kiev was the first organized Slavic state • They adopted Byzantine culture around 989 • Vladimir, seeing the splendor of Byzantium, imported teachers, priests, and many elements of Greek/Byzantine culture during his reign (980-1019)

3. Under Byzantine Guidance • Kiev grew into a “glittering city” • They grew from Kiev (the capital of today’s Ukraine) toward modern Poland and Lithuania • As time went by, the city grew very wealthy by tying to Byzantium’s trade networks.

4. Under Yaroslav the Wise (Vladimir’s Son) • The country adopted Byzantine diplomatic traditions • The marriage of daughters to royal and powerful allies • Personal Property became protected by the King • A new legal code favoring merchants was adopted – based on ?? • Built the first library in eastern Europe

5. The Decline of Kievan Rus • When Yaroslav died, he did not follow Byzantine tradition, but rather that of the Slavs: he divided his kingdom between his sons. • This led to many wars as each son tried to get the best parts of the Kingdom for themselves. • This continued for several years until what was left were ever smaller parts that were constantly at war with each other.

6. Then Came the Mongols • In the mid-1200s, the Mongols “slashed” their way westward. • They brought new technology with them in the forms of “armor,” silk underwear, and stirrups.

7. 1240 • In 1240, the Mongols invaded and destroyed Kiev and Kievan Rus • This invasion was brutal – Under the leadership of Batu Khan, Genghis’ grandson, the devastated all before him. • To quote your text, “so many were slaughtered, . . . no eye remained to weep.” • For over 200 years, Kiev and all of Russia would remain under the rule of the Khanate of the Golden Horde.”

8. The Mongol Empire

9. Mongol Rule • Russians were allowed to follow all of their usual customs as long as they didn’t revolt. • The Orthodox church acted as the mediator between the people and the Mongols • They prayed for the Mongol rulers, and won some semblance of acceptance

10. Indirect Rule • Like their later British counterparts, the Mongols practiced “indirect rule,” by appointing local leaders to collect “tribute” • The most famous of these leaders was Alexander Nevsky of Moscow.

11. Alexander Nevsky • So – how does a tax collector become a Russian hero? • As long as he sent tribute back to China, he was allowed to build an army to collect it. • With this army, he put down revolts wherever and whenever they occurred. • The result – the army of Muscovy (Moscow’s provinces) became the largest and most powerful in the area. • Eventually, more powerful than that of the Mongols

12. The Down Side • The Mongols forbade trade with any country outside of their empire. • The result, ideas stopped also. • What they lost: • The Scientific Revolution • The Renaissance • The Reformation • The foundations of The Enlightenment

13. Moscow’s Rise • Because of their large army, and their location along three rivers, Moscow became very powerful under the Mongols. • By the 1320s, Moscow had crushed enough rebellions to gain some autonomy.

14. Ivan I of Moscow • Also worked on enhancing his prestige in another way – he got the Patriarch of Kiev to move to Moscow • Now the Church was his ally also. • Together, they expanded Moscow’s territory through marriage, conquest, and by purchasing land

15. Moscow as the Third Rome • When the Byzantine Empire finally collapsed in 1453, the new “Grand Prince” of Moscow, Ivan III married the niece of the last Byzantine Emperor • From there, he adopted the title of Czar/Tsar, and began calling Moscow the “Third Rome”

16. What this meant . . . • Because the royal blood of Rome was now flowing in the veins of the Russian/Muscovy royal family, clearly Moscow was now the heir to all that was civilization. • This gave the Russians the idea that they, their culture, etc., were superior to anyone else’s. • It also meant that the way to heaven was through the Russian church

17. Under the Rule of Ivan the Great (1462-1505) • Muscovy/Russia formally broke from the Mongols • He refused to pay the tribute and the Mongols sent a huge army against Ivan • Ivan won the war because nobody really wanted to fight it. The Russian army was too big for the Mongols to defeat easily, and both sides, after a long staring contest across the Ugra River, went home.

18. It would be another 90 years • Before Russia emerged from the depths of isolation during the reign of Peter the Great (1682-1725) • The results of Mongol rule were that Russia, while part of Europe, was a curious mixture of Byzantine, Mongol, and Slavic culture

19. This shows up in the • Economy • They, like their French cousins, focused on agriculture (by 1650, think about what was happening in Britain and its colonies) • They ruled through traditional manorial estates – Russia’s were huge, some larger than US states • Government • An absolute monarchy, that was based on the heavenly kingdom of Christianity

20. Russia continued • Government Continued • Punishments were harsh – like both their Roman and Mongol predecessors • From both Europe and Japan – they had a strict feudal system – the local lord ruled all • The peasants were serfs – tied to the land and a life of service to the local lord