Europe

CIVILIZATION: Russia (600-1450) Time Period: 600-1450CE Geographic Description: -Dneiper River flows North to South into the Black Sea which provided interaction with Constantinople; Kiev (early center of Russia- now Ukraine)developed along the river to the north as a major trading city -lands surrounding Dneiper and Kiev are a bread basket -tundra to the north -Ural Mountains (old and not very high serve as the East divide between Europe and Asia -Russia?s topography is relatively flat because it is located along the Eurasian Plain P -Early Russia borrowed heavily from Constantinople (Byzantine Empire) -the Cyrillic Alphabet was made when the Bible was translated into Slavic Languages; adopted from the Greek alphabet that the Byzantine Empire used

Chapter 18 The Rise of Russia Russia's great land empire was formed between 1450 and 1750. Unlike Western colonial empires, Russia's expansion involved only limited commercial exchange. Nevertheless, it fundamentally altered power balances from Europe to Asia. Russian leaders, casting off Tatar (Mongol) domination between 1450 and 1480, proceeded on a fairly steady course of expansion. Much of the new territory was Asian, but Russia also gained the leading role in eastern Europe by the 17th century. Regional kingdoms remained in eastern Europe, and many of them differed from Russia in important ways. Poland and Lithuania continued to rival Russia into the 17th century. But Russia was increasingly the focal point as it became a significant force in world history.

Chapter 18 The Rise of Russia Russia's great land empire was formed between 1450 and 1750. Unlike Western colonial empires, Russia's expansion involved only limited commercial exchange. Nevertheless, it fundamentally altered power balances from Europe to Asia. Russian leaders, casting off Tatar (Mongol) domination between 1450 and 1480, proceeded on a fairly steady course of expansion. Much of the new territory was Asian, but Russia also gained the leading role in eastern Europe by the 17th century. Regional kingdoms remained in eastern Europe, and many of them differed from Russia in important ways. Poland and Lithuania continued to rival Russia into the 17th century. But Russia was increasingly the focal point as it became a significant force in world history.