Notes: Chapter 11, Section 2
“The Russian Empire”
Early Russia
Two early cities developed
importance in early Russia:
Novgorod and Kiev.
In 989, Kiev converted to
Eastern Christianity when
the ruler Vladimir had all
the citizens of Kiev
baptized in the Dnieper
River.
Soon after, Kiev was
linked to the Byzantine
Empire by trade and
religion.
Kiev a Central Part of Russian
Development
Kiev grew from a cluster of
crude wooden forts to a
glittering capital with
prosperous and educated
people.
Vladimir expanded the
state of Kiev west into
Poland and north to the
Baltic Sea.
After Vladimir, Yaroslav
the Wise came to power
and brought even greater
glory to Kiev.
Mongol Invasions
In the middle 1200s, a
ferocious group of
horsemen, called the
Mongols, came out of
central Asia and slashed
their way into Russia.
Led by Genghis Khan, the
Mongols were one of the
most feared warriors of all
time.
In 1240 the Mongols
attacked and demolished
Kiev.
Mongol Rule in Russia
Though brutal warriors, the
Mongols allowed the
Russians to follow their
usual customs as long as
the Russians made no
attempt to rebel. As a
result, the Russians were
free to practice their
religion of Eastern
Christianity.
Mongol rule isolated the
Russian people from the
rest of Western Europe.
Russia Breaks Free
During the 15th century
Russia finally began to
break with the Mongols.
Ivan III, a prince of
Moscow, openly
challenged the Mongol rule
in Moscow. Ivan took the
name czar (king) and
publicly claimed his intent
to make Russia a “third
Rome.”
The Final Break
The final break came in
1480, when the Mongols
and Russian armies faced
each other at the Ugra
River. In a strange battle,
both armies stood in the
field but neither side
advanced to fight. Finally,
the Mongols turned a left.
After this point, the
Russians realized that the
Mongols no longer had the
heart to defend their
territory.