Transcript The Byzantine Empire Influences Russia

The Byzantine Empire
Influences Russia
Byzantine missionaries converted the Slavs
• Saint Methodius
and Saint Cyril
invented the
Cyrillic Alphabet
which led to the
spread of
Orthodox
Christianity in
Russia.
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Rise of Russia
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Geography-lies on Eurasian plain and borders China
Ural Mts. Physical boundary
Wanted Moscow to be the “Third Rome”
3 regions helped shape early Russian life
– North-Lumber and hunting
– South-Fertile land for farming
– Steppe-treeless grassland Open to nomads from Asia
and Europe
•Kiev – Commercial city in Ukraine established by
Scandinavians in 9thc, became the center for a kingdom
that flourished until the 12th c.
Steppe Areas
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Great “Highway”
Nomadic migrates
Rivers linked Byzantine to Russia
Vladimir I – ruler of Kiev (980-1015)
converted kingdom to orthodox Christianity
• Russian Orthodoxy – Russian form of
Christianity brought from the Byzantine
Empire
First Civilization
• Kiev Rus in Present day Ukraine
• Home of vital trading networks
• Would become the center of the first
Russian state
• Boyars – Russian landholding
aristocrats; possessed less political
power than their western European
counterparts
Kiev and the Byzantine Empire
• Trade helped Kiev enter the Byzantine empire
• 957 Princess Olga of Kiev converted to
Byzantine Christianity
– Grandson, Prince Vladimir, spread religion which
gained strength
• Yaroslav the Wise – led Kiev at its’ height
– Built Santa Sophia Church
– Cyrillic alphabet was devised and used
• Russians started to adapt religious art, music
and architecture
– Onion domes
Onion Domes
• Type of architectural dome that frequently
adorns Russian Orthodox Churches.
•The domes are often brightly
painted; the colors symbolize different
aspects of religion. Green, blue, and
gold domes represent the Holy Trinity,
the Spirit of God, and Jesus,
respectively.
•Onion domes often appear in
groups of three or five,
representing the Holy Trinity or
Jesus and the Four Evangelists,
respectively. Domes standing
alone represent Jesus.
Mongol Influences
• Nomadic people from central Asia
– United by Genghiz Khan (Later Chapters)
• Looted and burned Kiev
• Russian princes had to pay money to rule without
Mongol interference
• Mongol rule cut off Russian contacts with Western
Europe which were making advances in art and
science
• Russian Orthodox grows stronger due to religious
toleration
• Tatars – Mongols who conquered Russian cities
during the 13th c.; left Russian church and
aristocracy intact
Moscow Takes Lead
• With their location near
trading rivers, Moscow
steadily increased their
power
• Head of Russian
Orthodox church made
Moscow capital, became
political and spiritual
center
Ivan the Great ---- Ivan III
• Recovered Russian
territories that were lost
to invading Mongols
• Tried to limit the power of
boyars (landowning
nobles)
• Took on the title of Czar
(Russian for Caesar)
Ivan the Terrible --- Ivan IV
• Grandson
• Nobles granted land for
military service
• Tied serfs to land
• Violent, killed own son
• Black horses and black
robes-slaughtered rebels
• Introduced Russia to
extreme absolute power
Eastern Europe
Shaping Eastern Europe
• Geography
makes area
cultural
crossroads
• Crusades will
bring in a lot
of Muslims to
area
Recap
• Byzantine
• Greek language
• Claimed right to appoint
the head of the church
• Did not accept pope
• $$ Good – Silk, Paper
• Taxes provided money to
run govt. and army
• Western Europe
• Latin in churches
• Pope had power and
the people accepted
• Trade, town life and
learning declined
after the fall of Rome