K I E V T O T H E M O N A R C H Y T O W O R L D W A R

A short History of Russia

Kievan Rus

Slavic confederation of different principalities

Located north of the Black Sea

Kievan Rus

Kievan Rus converted to Christianity under rulership of Vladimir I. His kingdom lasted from 980 to 1015

Adopted the feudal system (borrowed from Byzantine Empire), making power consolidated to one powerful ruler everyone owes honor and loyalty.

Grand Duchy of Moscow

Successor state to Kiev, consolidated power in Moscow

Helped drive away the “Golden Horde”

Ivan the Great

Tsardom

The title Tsar taken from Roman title “Caesar”

Ivan the terrible first to take title, consolidated feudal representative body, expanded Russian borders, set stage for Russian history to come

Tsardom

Peter the Great, turned Russia into an Imperial Empire, made many reforms, expanded borders through military success, founded new capital Saint Petersburg as a window to the west.

Tsardom

Last Tsar of Russia was Nicholas II, was overthrown as Russian weakness was exposed during World War 1.

Tsardom lasted for nearly 400 years