MONGOL INVASION & DOMINATION

MONGOL INVASION & DOMINATION

Invasion

Appeared suddenly in 1223, attacked in south then disappeared

Reappeared in 1237, attacking Riazan from north

Sacked Kiev in 1240

1237-1242: Under Batu Khan, ravaged all Russian lands

MONGOL INVASION & DOMINATION

Who were the Mongols?

Mostly Tatars from Central Asia

Consolidate empire & expanded under Chingis Khan

Sacked Kiev in 1240

1237-1242: Under Batu Khan, ravaged all Russian lands

MONGOL INVASION & DOMINATION

Russia under Mongol Rule

Mongol overlordship

Russian princes invested by Khan, paid tribute

Appanage period

Individual territorial rule

Rise to prominence of:

Galicia & Volynia (southeast)

Rostov, Suzdal, Vladimir (northeast)

Novgorod (north)

MONGOL INVASION & DOMINATION

Russia under Mongol Rule

Population shift

moved west & northeast

linguistic/ethnic differentiation

• Russian

• Ukrainian

• Belorussian

MONGOL INVASION & DOMINATION

Russia under Mongol Rule

Internal division & weakness

External aggression & conquest

west & southwest fell to Lithuanians, then Poles

north subject to German (Teutonic), Swedish, Norwegian, Lithuanian attacks

Relative isolation & loss of international importance

MONGOL INVASION & DOMINATION

Social Structure

Continuity & change

Princes

Clergy & Boyars: now with votchina

Freeservants (liudi)

Traders, merchants, artisans

Peasants

Slaves (kholopy)

MONGOL INVASION & DOMINATION

Culture

Mongols interfered little with Russian life

But many consider it dark period

education/literacy declined

decline of towns meant urban culture deteriorated

poverty & political disunity

Some advancements & achievements occurred despite difficulties

MONGOL INVASION & DOMINATION

Culture

Literature

Written works diminished

Oral tradition continued, but not on same level as Kievan

MONGOL INVASION & DOMINATION

Culture

Art

Icon painting flourished & developed

• Andrei Rublev (@1370-1430)

The Trinity - RublevArchangel Michael - Rublev

The Redeemer - Rublev

MONGOL INVASION & DOMINATION

Culture

Art

Icon painting flourished & developed

• Andrei Rublev (@1370-1430)

• Theophanes (late 14th – early 15th c.)

The Dormition - TheophanesOur Lady of the Don - Theophanes

MONGOL INVASION & DOMINATION

Culture

Art

Icon painting flourished & developed

• Andrei Rublev (c. 1370-1430)

• Theophanes (late 14th – early 15th c.)

• Dionysius (c. 1440-1502)

John the Baptist - Dionysius

The Crucifixion - Dionysius

MONGOL INVASION & DOMINATION

Culture

Architecture

Considered one of glories of period

Most structures made of wood