Chpt. 9, Eastern Europe Flashcards
Hagia Sophia
a new church constructed in Constantinople during the reign of Justinian
Belisarius
one of Justinain’s most important military commanders during the period of reconquest of western Europe; he commanded in north Africa and Italy
Greek fire
A Byzantine weapon consisting of a mixture of chemiclas that ignited when exposed to water. It wa used to drive back the Arab fleets that attacked Constantinople.
Bulgaria
a Slavic kingdom established in northern portions of the Balkan peninsula; it was a constant source of pressure on the Byzantine Empire until it was defeated by Byzantine Emperor Basil the 2nd in 1014
icon
an artistic representation, usually of a religious figure; their use
Saint Cyril
Along with Methodius, he was a missionary sent by the Byzantine government to eastern Europe and the Balkans who converted southern Russia and the Balkans to Orthodox Christianity. They were responsible for the creation of a written script for Slavic known as Cyrillic.
Saint Methodius
Along with Cyril, he was a missionary sent by the Byzantine government to eastern Europe and the Balkans who converted southern Russia and the Balkans to Orthodox Christianity. They were responsible for the creation of a written script for Slavic known as Cyrillic.
Kiev
A trade city in southern Russia that was established by Scandinavian traders in the 9th century. It became a focal point for the kingdom of Russia that flourished to the 12th century.
Rurik
A legendary Scandinavian who was regarded as the founder of the first kingdom of Russia based in Kiev in 855 CE.
Kievan Rus’
The predecessor to modern Russia, this was a medieval state which existed from the end of the 9th to the middle of the 13th century. Its territory spanned parts of modern Belarus, Ukraine, and Russia.
Vladimir 1
The ruler of the Russian kingdom of Kiev from 980 to 1015, he converted the kingdom to Christianity.
Russian Orthodoxy
A Russian form of Christianity imported from the Byzantine Empire and combined with local religion. The king, characteristically of Russia, controlled major appointments.
Yaroslav
The last great Kievan monarch, he issued legal codification based on formal codes developed in Byzantium.
boyars
The Russian aristocrats who possessed less political power than did their counterparts in western Europe.
Tatars
Mongols who captured Russian cities and largely destroyed the Kievan state in 1236; they left Russian Orthodoxy and aristocracy intact.
