Eastern+Europe+Questions+(p.203+-+209)

Cyril and Methodius were missionaries sent by the Byzantine gov't to present day Czech and  Slovak republics. Their venture was not as successful there because of  Roman Catholic missionaries, but their ability to speak the  Slavic language  repaid for their efforts in the Balkans and southern Russia. Cyril and Methodius devised a written script for the Slavic language, derived from Greek letters; the Slavic alphabet is known as Cyrillic to this day. They spread literature as well as Christianity.
 * 1. Who were  Cyril and Methodius ? What did they accomplish?**

Jews migrated to the East Central borderlands from the Middle East to flee intolerance in western Europe.
 * 2. How did events in the Middle East affect the demographics of the East Central borderlands?**

-Scandinavia traders gradually set up some gov't along their  trade route with Constantinople in the city of Kiev -a man named Rurik, a native Denmark, became the first prince in 855 C.E, renamed the city, Kievan Rus' -under monarchy, even though loosely organized through alliances with regional, landed aristocrats, flourished until the 12th century -Kiev was centrally located so it became a trading center, and many Russians visited Constantinople from there
 * 3. Outline the development of the Kievan Rus  **

Vladimir I converted not only himself but also all of his people to Christianity through organized mass baptisms for his subjects, forcing conversions by military pressure. Russian Orthodox Church was soon to be developed.
 * 4. What important decision was made by Vladimir I?**

Similarities -Yaroslavl created legal codification / Justinian did the same - Orthodox Christianity -focused on building churches, and religious rituals, such as icon paintings -used marriages to create ties with other countries Differences -no bureaucracy in Kievan Rus -no elaborate educational system in Kievan Rus
 * 5. What were some of the major  similarities and differences between** Byzantium **and the Kievan Rus?**

-internal conflicts; rival princes set up regional gov'ts -decline of Byzantium reduced Russian trade and wealth -two invasions by Mongols , 1237-1238 and 1240-1241, from central Asia moved through Russia and other parts of eastern Europe / Tatar controlled Russia for over two centuries
 * 6. What factors led to the decline of the Kievan Rus?**