Russia between 800-1584
The history of Russia began many centuries ago. By the 800's Slavic groups had founded many towns in what is now the European part of Russia and Ukraine, of which the two most important once are Novgorod and Kiev (1). In 882 a Viking chieftain named Oleg, captured the city of Kiev, situated on the Dnepr River. Kiev became the capital of the state Kievan Rus, and extended from the lakes north of Novgorod to south of Kiev. Kievan Rus became an important power and was recognized as a cultural and commercial center. It had a flourishing trade with the Bezantine Empire, with Constantinople as it's capital, as well as with western European and Asian states. The ruler of Kiev came to be called Grand prince and ranked above the other princes of Kievan Rus followed by the retainers of the prince, the druzhina. With the evolution of the Kievan state the retainers of the prince and the regional nobility fused into a single group named the boyars. The chief Kievan political institutions were the office of prince, the duma or council of the boyars, and the veche or town assembly, which have been linked to monarchic, aristocratic, and democratic aspects of the Kievan state. In both justice and administration the prince occupied the key positio
In about 1318 Prince Yuri was appointed Russian Grand Prince. Mongols also started to allow the Grand Prince of Moscow collect taxes for them. This practice started with Ivan I (Moneybag) about 1330. Princes and boyars started to serve in Moscow's army and government. In addition, Ivan persuaded the chief bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church to remain in Moscow. Until then Kiev had been the spiritual center of Russia. Kiev's power began to decrease after the mid-1000's. The rulers of other Kievan Rus principalities grew in power, and they fought many destructive wars. Badly weakened by civil wars, and without strong central control, Kievan Rus fell to huge armies of Mongols (4). During 1200's, Mongol armies swept across Russia from the east, destroying one town after another (1). Changing trade roots, and wars with nomadic peoples, weakened the Kievan state (2). In 1240, when Mongols destroyed Kiev and Russia became part of Mongol Empire (Golden Horde). The capital of the Golden Horde was in Sarai (4). There were numerous uprisings against Mongols, but the Russians also fought against Lithuanians, Germans crusaders, and the Swedes (6). The social structure of appanage Russia represented a continuation and a further evolution of the society of the Kievan period. The prices occupied the highest rung on the social ladder. They acted as virtual rulers of their large estates, levying taxes and administering justice. Votchiny, hereditary landholdings, prevailed in the appanage period. Peasants constituted the bulk of the population. Political division, invasions, and general insecurity increased the peasant's dependence on the landlord and his bondage. However, the peasant could still leave his master once a year, in late autumn, provided his accounts had been settled. The veche ceased to exist. In the appanage period the Church maintained and developed its strong and privileged position. It enjoyed the benevolence of the khans and received exemptions from taxation Kievan Rus grew into it's golden age under Prince Yaroslav(1036-1054). The structure of society was
Some common words found in the essay are:
Kievan Rus, Western Influences, Kievan Russia, Ivan IV, Russian Mongol, Lithuanians Germans, Moscow Mongol, Culture5 Fundamental, Ivan III, Volga River, kievan rus, grand prince, appanage period, mongol control, orthodox church, appointed russian grand, golden horde, russian orthodox, veche town, prince druzhina, retainers prince, veche town assembly, russian orthodox church, russian grand prince,
Approximate Word count = 1408
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)
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