REEES 395 flashcards

Primary Chronicle

• A medieval East Slavic chronicle describing the history of the early Rus, including the origins of the Rus state, its rulers, and conversion to Christianity and Vladimir’s baptism from the perspective of a monk.

• Early 12th century

• Kyiv

• One of the most important written sources for early Rus history. It explains the origins of Rus and provides moral lessons about leadership, authority, religion, and good vs. bad rulers.

Varangians

• essentially vikings, traders, and settlers who traveled through Eastern Europe and become involved in the development of the Rus state

• 9-11th centuries

• Baltic-Dnieper river routes and Kyiv

• Important in the formation of the early Rus state. According to the primary Chronicle, Rurik and the Varangians were invited to rule, connecting the vikings to the origins of the Rurikid dynasty

Rurikid Dynasty

• ruling dynasty descended from Rurik, the Varangian ruler associated with the founding of the Rus ruling house

• 9th-17th centuries

• Kyivian Rus → Rus states → moscow

• The first Slavic state, went on the rule over its principalities for 700 years (1598). Started by Vladmimir the Great, and went on to have huge religious and cultural impact to Modern Russia

Vladimir the Great

• Grand Prince of Kyiv who converted to Christianity and made Eastern Orthodox Christianity the official religion of Rus

• Late 10th- early 11th century

• Kyiv

• his conversion fundamentally changed Rus politically and culturally. connected Rus to the Byzantine Christian world and helped establish Orthodox Christinity as a central part of Rus identity

“Baptism of Rus”

• the mass conversion of the people of Ru soto Christinity under Vladimir the Great, traditionally dated to 988

• late 10th century

• Kyiv and the Dnieper River

• Marked the Christianization of Rus and strengthened ties with the Byzantine Emrpire. Influenced Rus’s art, architecture, literacy, politics, and culture

Russkaia Pravda

• “Rus Justice”, unique only to Rus, their local law.

• 11th century

• Kyiv

• one of the earliest legal codes of Rus. Shows the development of organized law and social hierarchy. Empowered the growing class of administrators and also the growing social hierarchy.

Appanage period

• appanage → A gift of land, an official position, or money given to the younger ids of kings/princes to provide for their maintenance

• a period when Rus was divided into multiple principalities and ruled by different princes from the Ruririkid family.

• 12th-15th century

• represents the political fragmentation and eventual decline of Rus. The competition between the princes weakened centralized authority in Kyiv and made them vulnerable.

Novgorod Republic

• Land that was very far from Kyiv and was sovereign for 300 years (1136-1478). They had access to the Baltic Sea → trade routes, fur trade, lots of economic development.

• 12-15th centuries

• Novgorod

• Showed that other regions had power outside of Kyiv. They also had a more democracy centered government, could get rid of a prince from kyiv if they did not like him in public assemblies. However, their freedom was still more restricted than other principalities, they adhered more to the Russkaia Pravda.

Golden Ring

• 8 cities surrounding Moscow that were centers of religion and culture, became major seeds of power, and also have incredible architecture.

• 10th-14th centuries

• Northeastern Russia → Moscow

• Idea of other regions outshining the center —> other principalities outshining Kyiv. These cities became important centers of political and religious life and contributed to the development of later Russian Culture

Smerd

• Medieval Rus term for peasants. These can be free (pay taxes to the gov), or half free (still owe labor to people). Could own property, death was worth the same as a slave.

• 11th-14th centuries

• Rus

• Demonstrates the social stratification in Rus and how there was a large gap to go from Liuidi (townsfolk) down to smerdy (peasants).

The Golden Horde

• Area of land that the Mongols captured; included majority of Rus and parts of Central Asia

• 1225-1502 (-1408)

• Most of Rus

• Implemented a kind of ruling where they adjusted to local customs. Had locals do the administrative work in their towns and then pay tribute to the government. This included princes, and when they paid tribute, they received a jarliq (permission to rule token) in return.

The Mongol - Tatar Yoke

• A view that makes Mongol rule out to be a burden upon local Rus society

• 1220-1480

• Rus

• References Mongols keeping the Rus in line, restricting freedom, and emphasizes the Mongols’ non-christian ideals. However, Eurasianists state that these ruling systems heavily influenced Russia’s later ruling, and possibly even their autocracy.

Muscovy

• Territory in Rus that ended up becoming the epicenter of Rus

• 13th-18th century

• Moscow

• New regional power center that emerged from the Golden Horde. Became a Grand Duchy and was referred to as the “Throne of all Rus”. It had lots of power and had rapid expansion into other principalities.

Ivan Kalita

• Transformed Muscovy from a small area to a regional power center. Became the Grand Prince of Moscow after being appointed and gaining trust from the Mongols.

• 14th century

• Muscovy

• Was able to make Moscow this powercenter through protecting it from raids, collecting tribute and tax, buying nearby lands, and making it a religious center. He was also the first to wear the Cap of Monomakh.

The Battle of Kulikovo

• Major victory for Russian forces under Grand Prince Dmitry of Moscow over the Mongol-Tatar army of the Golden Horde led by Mongol Commander Mamai

• 14th century

• Kulikovo Field

• Massive victory or Muscovy over the Mongol Golden Horde. Established Muscovy as the political and military center for future resistance.

“Gathering of the Russian Lands”

• Process where the Grand Principality of Moscow united fragmented principalities of former Kievan Rus' under its control.

• 14th-16th century

• All around Moscow

• The phrase claims that this is “natural” and that these principalities should be rightfully returned to Muscovy because it was the “will of the people”. In reality, this process was not benign at all and was full of violence. However, this is also where we see the beginnings of the Russian Empire forming.

Conquest of Kazan

• Brutal military campaign led by Ivan the Terrible that captured the capital of the Kazan Khanate. The siege lasted 6 weeks and was done because of Kazan’s fur.

• 16th century

• Kazan Khanate

• Seen as the traditional origin point of the Russian Empire (beginning to rule non-Russians). This was not only a siege for fur, but also of religious conquest (tearing down mosques).

Yazak

• a kind of tax/payment paid by people with lesser rights and status/non-orthodox subjects. fur and cattle

• 16th-20th century

• Kazan

• Contributed to Russia’s expansion into the fur trade and in the East. Russia utilized yasak furs to establish itself as a dominant commercial force in Western Europe and Asia.

Yermak

• Kazan soldier that led the Russian conquest of Siberia under Tsar Ivan the Terrible

• 16th century

• Kazan/Siberia

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Pereiaslav Agreement