Putin's Justifications for War in Ukraine

Understanding Putin and Modern Russia

Exploring Putin's goal to restore the Russian world and regain superpower status for Russia.

P.E.R.S.I.A.

An acronym representing Political, Economic, Religious, Social, Intellectual, and Artistic aspects.

Crimea

Territory annexed to Russia in 2014, leading to international controversy.

Boyars

Close advisors to the prince in the war band of Kyivan Rus.

Prince Vladimir's role in early Russian History

Vladimir accepted Orthodoxy on behalf of the Rus, significantly impacting Russian history.

Russian Primary Chronicle

A monk-written history of Rus, including the story of Vladimir accepting a monotheistic faith, providing crucial insights into early Russian history.

Church of St. Sofia

The largest dome cathedral at the time, influencing Rus art and architecture.

Kyivan Rus political organization

Princedoms ruled by individual princes, with Kyiv as the center, defining the political structure of Kyivan Rus.

Mir/obshchina

A community-based land ownership system, shaping the social and economic structure of early Russian communities.

Cyril and Methodius

Byzantine missionaries who brought the Cyrillic alphabet to Ukraine, significantly impacting the development of Slavic languages.

Vladimir-Suzdal

A historical region in Russia, significant for understanding the territorial expansion and political dynamics of the time.

Ukraine

putin views as russian land

Orthodoxy

belief the Rus adopted

cyril and methodus

two of the most successful Byzantine missionaries were, gave the slavs their alphabet

Putin's justifications for Russian's attack on Ukraine

Putin's reasons for the attack on Ukraine include the expansion of NATO and the desire to restore the Russian World.

Putin's use of history to justify Russia's war in Ukraine

Putin justifies the war in Ukraine by citing the need to stamp out neo-nazism and expressing dissatisfaction with the post-WWII settlement.

Russian Orthodox Church

An influential religious institution in Russia.

Donbass

A region in Ukraine with a Russian-speaking population desiring liberation by Russia.

NATO

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, which has expanded into former Soviet satellites, causing tension with Russia.

Russian World

A concept important to Putin, representing wherever Russian speakers live.

Implications of Russia embracing Orthodoxy

The embrace of Orthodoxy led to a separation from the Western world in mindset, religion, and landscape.

Byzantine Empire

An influential empire that greatly influenced Rus art and architecture.

Novgorod

A city where the Rus settled, built by Slavs, and played a significant role in early Russian history.

Kyiv

The capital of Kyivan Rus, a pivotal city in early Russian history.

Primary source

A contemporary account of events, essential for understanding historical contexts.

Norman theory controversy

A debate about the origins of the Rus, whether Scandinavian or Slavic, shaping early Russian identity.

Rurikid Dynasty

Varangians who established territory from Novgorod to Kyiv, shaping early Russian history.

Vikings/Varangians

Referred to as Rus; they came to Russia and founded Kyivan Rus, significantly impacting early Russian history.

Periodization of Russian History

Divided into Prehistory, Ancient, Medieval, Early Modern, and Modern eras, providing a framework for understanding Russian historical development.

Patrimonial state

A state where the Grand Prince regards land as his own and residents pay tribute, shaping the political structure of early Russian states.

Steppe

A dry grassland in Southern Ukraine, influencing the lifestyle and economy of early Russian societies.

Black earth

Nutrient-rich soil in Ukraine and Siberia, crucial for agricultural development in the region.

Subsistence agriculture

The practice of growing only enough to feed oneself, significantly influenced by geographical factors in early Russian history.

Western civilization's influence on Russia

Russia was influenced by ancient Rome/Greece, Christianity, and the Germanic element, shaping its cultural and intellectual development.

Origins of the Russian Language

Rooted in Indo-European and East Slavic families, giving birth to Russian, Belarussian, and Ukrainian languages, defining the linguistic landscape of the region.

Yaroslav's stature in Kyivan Rus

Yaroslav provides insights into life in Kyivan Rus, influencing the political and cultural landscape of the time.

Kyivan Rus decline

Factors leading to the decline of Kyivan Rus, providing insights into the historical trajectory of the region.

Dynastic marriage

Marriage for political or strategic purposes, shaping the alliances and power dynamics of early Russian states.

Druzhina

war band below boyars

how did Rus become orthodox

Prince Vladimir wanted more power and money and he was at war so he offered to marry Constanitnes daughter. He also wanted to unify the Rus

What does Russia say in the RPC

First one is about the orgin of the Rus. It talks about Vladimir having idols set up and recieving ppl to hear about relgion. He sends out boyars aswell. He went to war with Kherson and married constantines daughter to end the wa and accepted orthodoxy. His sight was restored upon his baptism. The second is embeded in the Christian relgion bit the timing is off. Talks about the land being split between the three brothers (Japeth, Ham, and Shem) and the founding of Novgorod which was ruled by Rurik

Rurik

ruled novgorod

Who were the Rus

vikings of swedish descent, created the Rus state of Kyivan Rus

How did others percieve Rus

Ibn Fadlan, a muslim, said the physically the Rus were the perfect speciman but he had reservations about the public sex, not washing in running water, and the creamation/gang rape/ human sacrifice cermony

How did geography and the environment shape Russia

Climate is cold and very north which is bad for agrilcuture, worlds largest forest, steppe in South Ukraine, vast plain (eastern European), flat makes it esay to invade, trade on river system (Dnieper and Volga)

Virgin land

lots of land so soil got exhausted quickly, rapid overuse of soil

What other languges is Russian related to

Relarussian and Ukranian

Cyrillic Alphabet

an alphabet drived from the Greek alphabet and used for writing Slavic languages

Indo-European

A large language family of hundreds of languages, including English.

East Slavic

language group for Russian, Ukrainian, and Belarussian

Church Slavonic

common language the the ppl of the east slavonia spoke, language cyril and methodus created script for