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The Rise of Russia and the Great Schism
7.4 | The Rus takes form while the Church gets a divorce
Kievan Rus
Established c.900 by the “brothers” Frying at Constantinople and
subsequent settling – 988 AD convert to Christianity
Yaroslav the Wise – Grand Prince 1019 AD
Collected religious books Court of scribes to translate Greek
works (Slavic) Hired Byzantine architects to beautify
Kiev Issues with migrations (Russian
steppe)
{The Great Schism 1054 AD
We’re the same
Yes, we are. Why are you
“better”?
That makes no sense
I’m better than you
God talks to me, so I
knowNo we’re
not!
The East refused to acknowledge the West’s superiority over the East
Because God said so
Over time, decentralization created powerful nobles
Internal disputes weakened the state c.1150 AD Then the Mongols came 1223 AD
The Russian Steppe Batu Kahn – Grandson and leader of the Golden
Horde Kiev falls 1240 AD
The Rus Under Siege
For the most part, the Russians were left to themselves Mongols not interested in administration
Russians did this for them Appanage Russia – rulers vying for power under the
Mongols, who sat back and simply… ruled Cooperation = not too bad Rebellion = slaughter
Russia Under the Mongols
Grand Prince of Novgorod c.1240 Encouraged Russians to cooperate with
Mongols Became a hero of Russia
Stabilized situation with Mongols Fought off Swedish invasion from the
north Crusades launched against Russia
(Teutonic Knights) Defeated German crusaders – Battle on
the Ice 1242 AD
Alexander Nevsky
As a center of political power and learning GP of Muscovy – Dmitry Donskoy c.1365 AD Defeats the Mongols but still under their hegemony
This trend is dying however – his succession was personal Russians will begin to unify in face of the Mongols
Like the Greeks against Persia
Moscow Rises
{Russia Rises
Ivan III (the Great) 1440-1505 AD – Late bloomer
Why?1) Asserted Russian independence2) Stopped paying tribute 3) Conquered appanages to unify them4) Marries niece of last Byzantine Emperor
(successor)5) Adopts title Czar (Tsar)