Notes

When you hear "Slav" = Think Eastern Europe

Slavic Peoples and the Origins of Russia

Vikings brought back Democracy and a paid tribute system.

Kevin Culture -
Prince Vladimir I married sister of a Byzantine Emperor in 989 C.E. As part of the agreement, he had all his subjects convert

Golden Age of Kievan Rus
"Russkaya Pravda" (Russian Justice)

Slave Trade -
Kiev had no agricultural surplus, so could not trade much with Constantinople, but honey, hides, furs, and timber

So a number of peasants were selected from each community to be sent to Kiev as slaves, and traded with Constantinople

Sometimes this went well, other times they just raided the city of Constantinople.

Decline of Kiev -
Kiev became tied to Constantinople and as the Byzantine empire declined, so did Kiev

Then came the Mongols who stayed there for almost 250 years, hated the forests, but loved the grassy steppes.

Novgorod - One of the largest city-states in northern Kievan Rus

Population of around 400,000

Warming climate allowed for a larger surplus of crops between 800-1300 C.E. like most major cities.

Earned it's independence in the 12th century, but absorbed into the Russian Empire in the 15th century.