The Emergence of Rus 750-1200This eagerly awaited volume, the first of its kind by western scholars, describes the development amongst the diverse inhabitants of the immense landmass between the Carpathians and Urals of a political, economic and social nexus (underpinned by a common culture and, eventually, a common faith), out of which would emerge the future Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. The authors explore every aspect of life in Rus, using evidence and the fruits of post-Soviet historiography. They describe the rise of a polity centred on Kiev, the coming of Christianity, and the increasing prosperity of the region even as, with the proliferation of new dynastic centres, the balance of power shifted northwards and westwards. Fractured, violent and transitory though it often is, this is a story of growth and achievement - and a masterly piece of historical synthesis. |
Common terms and phrases
Andrei Baltic Birka bishop Black Sea Boleslaw Boris and Gleb brother burial-grounds Byzantine Byzantium Caves centre chaganus Chernigov Christian chronicle’s church coins Constantinople culture Danube Derevlians dirhams Donets Drevnei Rusi druzhina dynasty early east eleventh century elite emperor evidence excavated father Finno-Ugrians fortresses furs Galich Gnezdovo Gorodishche Greek grivnas Hagiography hoards Iaropolk Iaroslav Ibid ibn Rusta Igor Ilarion inhabitants istorii Iurii Iziaslav Khazars Kievan Lake lands Leningrad Liubech metropolitan Middle Dnieper monastery monks Moscow Moslem Mstislav ninth century nomads north-east Novgorod Novgorodian Oleg Oleg Sviatoslavich Olga ornaments Pechenegs Pereiaslavl political Polotsk Polovtsy Primary Chronicle prince’s probably PSRL raid ramparts region river Rostov routes ruler Russian Russkaia Scandinavian settlements silver Slavonic Slavs Smolensk sources St Sophia Staraia Ladoga steppes suggests Suzdal Sviatopolk Sviatoslav Sviatoslavich tenth Timerevo Tmutorokan towns trading tribute Turov twelfth century Varangians Viatichi Vladimir Monomakh Vladimir-in-Volynia Volga Bulgars Vseslav Vsevolod