| Early Russian History Writing Exercises |
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| www.studenthandouts.com > World History > Early Russia > Early Russia Worksheets |
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This free printable handout contains three short essay questions on early Russian history.
Click here to print. Answers will vary. (1) Explain how the Russian (Cyrillic) alphabet was created. The Russian (Cyrillic) alphabet was created in the 9th century by two Byzantine missionaries, Saints Cyril and Methodius. They were sent to convert the Slavic peoples to Christianity and needed a way to translate religious texts into the Slavic language. To do this, they developed the Glagolitic alphabet, which was later adapted into the Cyrillic script by their followers. The Cyrillic alphabet was influenced by Greek letters, with additional characters to represent Slavic sounds not found in Greek. Over time, the script was modified and standardized, eventually becoming the basis for the modern Russian alphabet and other Slavic languages. (2) Why did Russia adopt Orthodox Christianity instead of Catholic Christianity? Russia adopted Orthodox Christianity instead of Catholic Christianity largely due to its close ties with the Byzantine Empire. In the late 900s, Prince Vladimir of Kiev sought a unifying religion for his people and reportedly sent envoys to observe various faiths. When his representatives visited Constantinople, they were deeply impressed by the grandeur of the Orthodox Christian worship in Hagia Sophia. Additionally, choosing Orthodoxy strengthened political and cultural connections with the powerful Byzantine Empire. Unlike Catholic Christianity, Orthodox Christianity allowed the Kievan Rus to maintain more religious independence, which appealed to Vladimir. This decision greatly influenced Russian culture, art, and identity. (3) How was Russia influenced by the Byzantines? Russia was greatly influenced by the Byzantine Empire in religion, culture, and government. After Prince Vladimir of Kiev adopted Orthodox Christianity in 988, Byzantine religious practices, art, and architecture began to shape Russian society. Russians built churches in the Byzantine style, used icons in worship, and adopted the Cyrillic alphabet, which was based on the Greek script and adapted by Byzantine missionaries. The Byzantines also influenced Russian law and imperial rule, as Russian rulers modeled their authority on the Byzantine emperor, claiming both political and spiritual leadership. This connection helped shape early Russian identity and laid the foundation for the Russian Orthodox Church and the rise of Moscow as a religious center after the fall of Constantinople. |
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