The Invitation of the Varangians: Rurik and His Brothers Arrive in Staraya Ladoga by Viktor Vasnetsov

From 400 A.D. (C.E.) through the late fifteenth century, Russia transitioned from a collection of small princely states to a strong centralized state with its capital in Moscow. After the Slavs migrated from the forests north of the Black Sea into the region in the early fifth century, Russians faced invasions from the Vikings, who originated in Scandinavia, and later from the Mongols, who originated in central Asia. The invasions ultimately shaped Russian culture, and marked an important element in the rise of the Russian nation-state.

Moreover, Russia was shaped through trade and travel around the Black Sea and with the Byzantine Empire. Not only were Russian art and architecture heavily influenced by the Byzantines, but their religion was as well. Orthodox Christianity quickly spread to Russia, and with the help of St. Cyril, and the creation of the Cyrillic alphabet, Slavs in Russia could read the Christian Bible for themselves.

Extend Your Learning

Take a moment to revisit the drawing you created during the warm-up activity. As a reminder, your illustration explained one of the following questions based on your analysis of the given quotation:

• What was the biggest impression that the Byzantine Empire made on the Russian visitors?
• What impact might this report have on the relationship between the Byzantines and Russians?
• What impact might this report have specifically on the religious decisions made by the Russian ruler at the time?

Considering what you learned in the content section of this topic, do you believe your analysis of the quotation was correct? Choose a coursemate, share your illustrations, and discuss how you believe Byzantine culture influenced Eastern Europe and Russia.