The Rise of the Mongols

8/7/2019 The Rise of the Mongols

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The Rise of the Mongols

8.3


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Setting the scene

After Yaroslav the Wise died, the princes

gave their sons outlying lands to rule

Infighting among the rulers weakened thegovernment


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Mongols in Eastern Europe

Mongols pushed into Europe in 1237

Kievan forces were too weak to resist

In 1242, Mongol leader Batu called offattacks and headed home because he

wanted to influence the choice of the next

Mongol leader


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Kievan Russia Under the Mongols

Did not impose their way of life on the

Kievans

As long as taxes were paid, people wereable to keep their own customs and

government

Mongols built roads and improved taxation

and communication


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Kievan Russia and its Neighbors

During Mongol rule, Slavs had very littlecontact with rest of Europe

Kievan territory steadily lessened throughthe 1300s

Slavs clung to Eastern Orthodoxy whilethe Poles and others were western

Christian (RC) Caused deep seated mistrust

Can still be seen today


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The Rise of Moscow

Mongol rulers became weaker, which

allowed the princes to become more

independent Moscow (Muscovy) became the

preeminent principality

Prince Ivan I had cooperated with Mongols

and they, in return, granted him the title of

Grand Prince

Ivans power increased when seat of

Orthodox church moved to Moscow


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Ivan the Great

Under Ivan III (Ivan the Great) Moscow

asserted independence from the Mongols

Eventually overthrew Mongol rule in 1480 United many principalities and became the

first ruler of a free and independent Russia


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Ivan considered himself as autocrat by

the grace of God

What does this mean?


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Divine Right

People

King

God


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Divine Right

"the figure of God's majesty, is captain, steward, deputy-elect,

Anointed, crowned," ~Shakespeare, Richard II

"Kings are called gods by the prophetical King David because they sit upon

God his throne in the earth.... ~King James I, England

The state of monarchie is the supremest thing upon earth; for kings are not

only Gods lieutenants upon earth, and sit upon Gods throne, but even by God

himselfe they are called gods. ~Sir Walter Raleigh


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Divine Right

What reasons could the king possibly have

to purport this theory?

How would this affect the masses?


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No matter what religion you hold,

faith makes an individual a better

person and will cause you to actlike a better human being.


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Ivan IV

Actually became ruler of Russia when he

was only three years old.

Because of his age, the boyars essentiallytook control infighting (murder, betrayal!)

When Ivan finally assumed power, he

believed he was heir to Roman and

Byzantine thrones

Called himself Czar (Russian for Caesar)


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Ivan IV

Reformed laws of Yaroslav

Reestablished trade with West

Opened Siberia for settlement

Overall, pretty able administrator


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However.

Ivan formed a personal army of severalthousand men

Oprichniki

Wore black clothing and had broom on theirhat (theyre sweeping away treason)

Used this army to intimidate and control

Had boyars arrested Attacked and destroyed Novgorod,

murdered inhabitants


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Ivan the Terrible

We are going to watch a movie about Ivan.

While we watch, focus on these three

questions

What is evidence of Ivans religiosity?

How did Ivan become a god?

What was the turning point in Ivans life?

What evidence is there that Ivan felt remorse?


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Growth of the Church

What did Ivan believe he was the heir to?

How do you think this belief would affect

the church?


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The Church gained more and more land

By the 1500s, the Church owned a huge

portion of Russian land Moscow was the center of the church in

Russia


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A Change in History

The Russians reinterpreted history at this

point:

Began to claim that the Apostle Andrew hadChristianized Russia

Why would this matter?

Why would they want to believe this?


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After Constantinople fell, Moscow

proclaimed the Third Rome

Believed Constantinople fell because of

heresy

Moscow destined to be the spiritual light to

the rest of the world


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Light

Matthew 5:14- You are the light of the world.

A city on a hill cannot be hidden

John 8:12- When Jesus spoke to the people,

he said, I am the light of the world.

Whoever follows me will never walk in

darkness, but have the light of life.


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Light

What does light do?

Why would Moscow want to be the light

of the world? Does this make them more special than all

of the other Christians?

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The Rise of the Mongols