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==Introduction==__NOTOC__[[File: RUS 2.jpg|200px|thumbnail|left|A 19th-century painting of the baptism of Prince Vladimir]]Russia has a unique history, and in order to understand the country, it is necessary to realize the influence of Byzantium on its Russia's culture, society, and politicscannot be understated. It could be argued that the The influence of the Eastern Roman Empire was decisive on the Russian people. The Byzantines changed Russia not through conquest but through cultural exchange. This article examines the nature of this cultural exchange and its impact on the development of the Russian people. It demonstrates that the Byzantines, Christianized the Russian people, which in turn influenced its culture, society, and its political system, over many centuries. ==The Background==The Eastern Roman Empire, often known as the Byzantine Empire, was the successor to the Roman Empire. After the fall of the Western Empire, the eastern provinces continued to keep alive the traditions of Rome. However, over time the Eastern provinces became Greek in culture and outlook. After the expansion of the Byzantine Empire during the reign of Justinian II, it fell into a period of decline known as the ‘Byzantine Dark Ages’. The eastern Roman Empire faced complete extinction at the hands of first the Persians, then the Arabs. However, it recovered and by the 9th century AD under a series of soldier-emperors, it was once again flourishing, politically and culturally. To the north, the area occupied by modern Ukraine and Russia was people by mainly Slavic tribes. Legend has it that a group of Viking warriors under a leader known as Rurik was invited by them to become their leader. The Norsemen who came from Sweden were part of the great expansion from Scandinavia that changed Europe. The Vikings became a ruling aristocracy who governed a great many tribes and who eventually created a state centered around Kiev and this became a very important trading center <ref>, David Christian. A History of Russia, Mongolia and Central Asia (London, Blackwell, 1999), p 189</ref>. The Vikings over time began to merge with their Slavic and Finnic subjects and became known as the Rus, from this comes the name of Russia. Over a period of decades’, the Rus expanded from Kiev and dominated large areas of modern Ukraine and central and southern Russia. The Rus state was not only the first Russian polity but is also seen as an important stage in the emergence of the Russian people. [[File: RUS 2.jpg|200px|thumb|left|A 19th-century painting of the baptism of Prince Vladimir]]

==Byzantine-Rus contacts==It appears that This article examines the Rus dominated the trade routes between northern Europe nature of this cultural exchange and its impact on the Black Sea and that their merchants acted as middlemen specifically in development of the fur tradeRussian people. It also appears demonstrates that Rus merchants often visited the spectacular city of Byzantium. However, the Byzantines preoccupied with the Bulgars and the Arab threats paid little attention to the growing power of Rus. However, this was to change in 860 when Christianized the Rus raided the environs of Byzantium before being beaten back. In 941Russian people, the Rus threatened the Christian Empire with invasionwhich over centuries influenced Russia's culture, but a peace agreement prevents war<ref>, John Julius Norwich. Byzantium, The Apogee (Londonsociety, Penguin Books, 1992), p 145</ref>. This treaty led to the development of more trade and it appears that Christians missionaries began to follow the merchants and brought the Gospel to the people of the Steppepolitical system. However, in 970 A.D under Grand Prince Sviatoslav====The Background====The Eastern Roman Empire, often known as the Rus after conquering the Bulgar Byzantine Empire invaded Byzantium. It took two years of hard fighting for , was the Byzantines successor to defeat the RusRoman Empire. All After the time it appears that Byzantine cultural and religious influence spread in Kievan Rus. It seems that a mother fall of a Grand Princethe Western Empire, Olga was baptized by Byzantine missionaries. The Grand Princess Olga ruled as regent for her son Sviatoslav, however despite his mothers’ influence he remained an avowed pagan. Christianity was slowly growing in Rus, but it remained overwhelmingly pagan <ref>Norwich, p 67</ref>. This was to change in around 1000 AD when Emperor Basil II and Grand Prince Vladimir of Kiev (958-1015 AD) came to an arrangement. The Rus leader agreed the eastern provinces continued to support Basil in his civil war with a rebel in return for keep alive the hand traditions of his sister in marriageRome. As part of this bargainHowever, Vladimir agreed to convert to Greek Orthodox Christianity. Vladimir under over time the influence of his wife Eastern provinces became a zealous Christian and the Grand Prince personally tossed pagan idols into a river<ref>Norwich, p 71</ref>. The Grand Prince is today recognized as a saint Greek in the Orthodox Church. It is widely believed that Vladimir used the Christian Church to unify his realm. Like many other ‘state-builders’ Vladimir used religion to extend his own power culture and to discipline his peopleoutlook. After the death expansion of Vladimir, the Kiev Rus state flourished for several more decades until Byzantine Empire during the Empire began to fragment because reign of Justinian II, it fell into a series period of succession disputesdecline known as the ‘Byzantine Dark Ages. Interactions between the Byzantine ’ The eastern Roman Empire and the various Russian states that emerged in faced complete extinction at the wake hands of first the fall of Persians, then the Rus continued for some centuries but was interrupted by the Mongols conquest of the Russian principalitiesArabs. [[File: Rus 3.jpg|200px|thumb|left| A good example of Byzantine influence on Russian architecture, the Dormition Cathedral in Vladimir (1186—1189)]]

== The Orthodox Church==The adoption of the Byzantine version of Christianity, which is now known as Orthodox Christianity by Grand Prince Vladimir was revolutionary. Vladimir and his successors modeled their church on that of that in the Byzantine Empire. Its hierarchy and organization were identical to that of Byzantium and so too was its theology and rituals. InitiallyHowever, the Patriarch of Constantinople appointed the head of the Church in Rus lands. It should be noted that Christianity did not supplant paganism but often integrated it into its religious calendar and festivities<ref>Billingtonrecovered, James. Icon and Axe: An Interpretative History of Russian Culture. (London, Vintage, 2010),p. 101</ref>. Following to by the conversion of Vladimir, churches9th century AD, and monasteries began to develop and soon became very important landowners and under a dominant force in Russian society. The teachings series of the Orthodox Church over time became very influential and began to change society, for instance, they helped to improve the status of women. <ref>Angold, Michael. The Byzantine Empire, 1025soldier-1204: a political history (New Yorkemperors, Longman Publishing Groupit was once again flourishing, 1997), p 118</ref>politically and culturally. The Orthodox Church in Russia, following the example of To the Byzantine Churchnorth, saw itself as distinct from the Latin Christianity, which it viewed as heretical<ref> Shepard, J. The expansion of Orthodox Europe: Byzantium, the Balkans area occupied by modern Ukraine and Russia (London, Routledge, 2017), p 116</ref> This was to result in Russia remaining outside the influence people by mainly Slavic tribes. Legend has it that a group of Europe for many centuries, in Viking warriors under a conscious effort leader known as Rurik was invited by them to preserve the purity become their leader. The Norsemen who came from Sweden were part of its religion which they held was the only orthodox form of Christianitysignificant expansion from Scandinavia that changed Europe. It also ensured that the Russian Church, closely related to Byzantine practices and beliefs, became central to Russian national identity

==Culture The Vikings became a ruling aristocracy who governed many tribes and eventually created a state-centered around Kyiv, a vital trading center. <ref>David Christian. A History of Russia, Mongolia and Central Asia (London, Blackwell, 1999), p 189</ref> The Vikings over time began to merge with their Slavic and Finnic subjects and became known as the Rus, from this comes the name of Russia .  Throughout the decades’, the Rus expanded from Kyiv and dominated modern Ukraine and central and southern Russia. The Rus state was the first Russian polity and Byzantiumis also seen as an important stage in the emergence of the Russian people.  ====Byzantine-Rus contacts====Within a century or so [[File: Rus 3.jpg|250px|thumbnail|left| A good example of Byzantine influence on Russian architecture, the conversion of Dormition Cathedral in Vladimir, (1186—1189)]]It appears that the Rus dominated the Church was trade routes between northern Europe and the dominant social institution Black Sea and that their merchants acted as middlemen specifically in the Russian landsfur trade. The new religion needed new places It also appears that Rus merchants often visited the spectacular city of worship Byzantium. However, the Byzantines were preoccupied with the Bulgars, and the Arab threats paid little attention to meet Rus's growing powers. This changed in 860 when the Rus raided the demand; environs of Byzantium before being beaten back. In 941, the Kievan Rus state and its successors imported Greek architects to build new Churchesthreatened the Christian Empire with invasion, but a peace agreement prevented war.<ref>BillingtonJohn Julius Norwich. Byzantium, The Apogee (London, Penguin Books, 1992), p 189145</ref>. They used Byzantine models This treaty led to more trade with Byzantium and this is seen in encouraged Christian missionaries to follow the distinctive domes of merchants into Russia and bring the churches and Gospel to the cathedrals people of the Orthodox ChurchSteppe. The influence  However, in 970 A.D under Grand Prince Sviatoslav, the Rus after conquering the Bulgar Empire invaded Byzantium. It took two years of Byzantine architects on palaces and hard fighting for the homes of Byzantines to defeat the elite soon became evidentRus. Within decades of All the conversion time it appears that Byzantine cultural and religious influence spread in Kievan Rus. It seems that a mother of the a Grand Prince, the city of Kiev Olga was considered to be one of the most beautiful in medieval Europebaptized by Byzantine missionaries. After the Mongol InvasionsThe Grand Princess Olga ruled as regent for her son Sviatoslav, architecture went into declinehowever despite his mothers’ influence he remained an avowed pagan. Christianity was slowly growing in Rus, but Byzantine models still influenced subsequent Russian buildingit remained overwhelmingly pagan.<ref>Norwich, as evidenced in the Kremlinp 67</ref> Hamilton, George HeardThis was to change around 1000 AD when Emperor Basil II and Grand Prince Vladimir of Kyiv (958-1015 AD) came to an arrangement. The art and architecture Rus leader agreed to support Basil in his civil war with a rebel in return for the hand of his sister in marriage. As part of Russia (Yalethis bargain, Yale University PressVladimir agreed to convert to Greek Orthodox Christianity. Vladimir under the influence of his wife became a zealous Christian, 1983)and the Grand Prince personally tossed pagan idols into a river.<ref>Norwich, p 19871</ref>.  The influence of Grand Prince is today recognized as a saint in the Orthodox Church was also important in . It is widely believed that Vladimir used the Christian Church to unify his realm. Like many other ‘state-builders,’ Vladimir used religion to extend his own power and discipline his people. After Vladimir's death, the Kyiv Rus state flourished for several more decades until the development Empire began to fragment because of Russian paintinga series of succession disputes. Icons were introduced into Russia by missionaries Interactions between the Byzantine Empire and soon they were popular with converts. Frescoes were also popular the various Russian states that emerged in many Russian Cathedralsthe wake of the Rus's fall continued for some centuries. InitiallyStill, Greek artists introduced they were interrupted by the art Mongols conquest of Byzantium to the Russian artistsprincipalities. In  ==== The Orthodox Church====The adoption of the centuries after the adoption Byzantine version of Christianityby Grand Prince Vladimir was revolutionary. Grand Prince Vladimir and his successors, Greek artists such as Theophanes (1330-1405) helped to introduce new styles based especially Yaroslav the Wise, modeled their church on the Byzantine RenaissanceEmpire. Its hierarchy and organization were identical to that of Byzantium, ‘which emphasized realism’ and so too were its theology and rituals. It should be noted that Christianity did not supplant paganism but often integrated it into its religious calendar and festivities.<ref> HamiltonBillington, James. Icon and Axe: An Interpretative History of Russian Culture. (London, Vintage, 2010), p 189. 101</ref> Following the conversion of Vladimir, churches, and monasteries began to develop and soon became very important landowners and a dominant force in Russian society. This influence from Byzantium led The teachings of the Orthodox Church over time became very influential and began to change society, for instance, they helped to improve the development status of important schools of icon painting such as Pskovwomen. <ref>Angold, Michael. The Byzantine tradition Empire, 1025-1204: a political history (New York, Longman Publishing Group, 1997), p 118</ref> The Orthodox Church in Russia, following the example of icon painting the Byzantine Church, saw itself as distinct from Latin Christianity, which is one that is still practiced in Russia to this dayviewed as heretical.<ref> Shepard, J. Another important result The expansion of Orthodox Europe: Byzantium, the cultural exchanges between Byzantium Balkans and early Russia was that Byzantine chants and music was used in Russian Orthodox Church services. (London, Routledge, 2017), p 116</ref> This was to have an important impact on result in Russia remaining outside the development influence of Russian musicEurope for many centuries, including in a conscious effort to preserve the purity of its religion which they held was the great classical composers only orthodox form of Christianity. It also ensured that the 19th centuryRussian Church, closely related to Byzantine practices and beliefs, became central to Russian national identity. ====Culture of Russia and Byzantium====

==Literacy and This influence from Byzantium==The introduction of Byzantine Church rites and above all the Bible, led to Russia becoming a literate society. There may have been a nascent Russian alphabet prior to the conversion development of Vladimiressential schools of icon painting such as Pskov. However, the adoption The Byzantine tradition of Orthodox Christianity was decisive icon painting is one that is still practiced in the development Russia to this day. Another significant result of a literate culture in the Russian lands. Constantine-Cyril (826-69) cultural exchanges between Byzantium and Methodius (815-85), two Greek missionaries who proselytized in Slavic lands, ‘’created the alphabet for the liturgical language Old Church Slavonic early Russia was that was influenced by Greek models in vocabulary, phraseology, syntax and style, and was the common literary language of all the Orthodox Slavs’’ <ref> Ryan, Norma "Byzantine Influence on Russia Through the Ages", Culture & Memory. Special Issue of Modern Greek Studies (Australia chants and New Zealand), 2006: 279-290 </ref>. This alphabet became the language of the Church music were used in Russian lands and all literary works for many centuriesOrthodox Church services. The development of Old Slavonic meant that the production of literary works This was in to have a meaningful impact on Russian music, right up to the hands great classical composers of the Church and this tended to restrain intellectual life in Russia, for many centuries19th century.

==Relationship between the ruler and the ruled==The Byzantine Emperors were absolute rulers, they were both the head of state and the Church, in a form of government known as Caesaropapism <ref>Runciman, Steven. "Byzantium, Russia and Caesaropapism." Canadian Slavonic Papers 2, no. 1 (1957), p. 9</ref>. They were seen as God’s representative on earth and defying the authority of the Emperor was, therefore, a mortal sin. This meant that the Byzantine Emperor was as usual as not an autocrat. Vladimir and his successor adopted the political ideology of Byzantium. This meant that they were both heads of state and of the Orthodox Church and this meant that they were at least in theory the absolute rulers in their territories and they were answerable only to God. Autocracy was considered the best form of government. This created a society in Russia where obedience and hierarchy, was divinely sanctioned. Moreover, the early Rus rulers adopted the law codes of Byzantium, replacing the traditional law codes and this further enhanced their power over their subjects <ref>Billington, p. 178<dh-ad/ref>. There are many who believe that the very autocratic nature of Russian political culture down the centuries owed much to the Caesaropapism’ that was imported into Kievan Rus, during the Christianization of the state.

====Literacy and Byzantium====The introduction of Byzantine Church rites and above all the Bible, led to Russia becoming a literate society. There may have been a nascent Russian alphabet prior to the conversion of Vladimir. However, the adoption of Orthodox Christianity was decisive in the development of literate culture in the Russian lands. Constantine-Cyril (826-69) and Methodius (815-85), two Greek missionaries who proselytized in Slavic lands, ‘’created the alphabet for the liturgical language Old Church Slavonic that was influenced by Greek models in vocabulary, phraseology, syntax, and style, and was the common literary language of all the Orthodox Slavs.’’ <ref> Ryan, Norma "Byzantine Influence on Russia Through the Ages," Culture & Memory. Special Issue of Modern Greek Studies (Australia and New Zealand), 2006: 279-290 </ref>  This alphabet became the language of the Church in Russian lands and all literary works for many centuries. The development of Old Slavonic meant that the production of literary works was in the hands of the Church and this tended to restrain intellectual life in Russia, for many centuries. ====Relationship between the ruler and the ruled====The Byzantine Emperors were absolute rulers, they were both the head of state and the Church, in a form of government known as Caesaropapism. <ref>Runciman, Steven. "Byzantium, Russia and Caesaropapism." Canadian Slavonic Papers 2, no. 1 (1957), p. 9</ref> They were seen as God’s representative on earth, and defying the authority of the Emperor was, therefore, a mortal sin. This meant that the Byzantine Emperor was as usual as not an autocrat. Vladimir and his successor adopted the political ideology of Byzantium. This meant that they were both heads of state and of the Orthodox Church and this meant that they were at least in theory the absolute rulers in their territories and they were answerable only to God.  Autocracy was considered the best form of government. This created a society in Russia where obedience and hierarchy, was seen as divinely sanctioned. Moreover, the early Rus rulers adopted the law codes of Byzantium, replacing the traditional law codes and this further enhanced their power over their subjects.<ref>Billington, p. 178</ref> many believe that the very autocratic nature of Russian political culture down the centuries owed much to the Caesaropapism’ imported into Kievan Rus during the Christianization of the state. ====Moscow as the Third Rome==== The influence of Byzantine the Eastern Roman Empire was complex and enduring. The Russian people stayed remarkably loyal to the Orthodox faith , and the Church played a very important vital role during the long and dark years of Mongol rule. The Russians, continued to revere the Byzantine heritage, that was transmitted by the their Church. In 1453, to the shock of all in Russia, the Ottoman Turks captured Constantinople. This came at a time when the Duchy of Moscow was transforming itself into a mighty state, under Ivan III. Ivan III of Russia who had He later married, a niece of Constantine XI, the last Byzantine emperor, and he claimed to be the heir of the Roman Empire. This was to play  The Turkish takeover of Constantinople played an important role in the consolidation of consolidating his power and gave the expansion of expanding his territories a veneer of legitimacy. The idea that Moscow was the Third Rome, was used to justify the foundation of the Russian Empireand later led successive Tsars to see themselves as the protectors of the Orthodox Churches in Eastern Europe. The importance of the idea that Moscow, was the heir of Rome can be seen in the adoption of the title of Tsar, by the Grand Dukes of Moscow, which is the Russian for Caesar, a title used frequently not only by Roman but also by Byzantine rulers.  ====Conclusion====The conversion of Grand Prince Vladimir was in many ways the birth of modern Russia. It ensured that the Eastern Orthodox Church, its theology, rites , and government style of government was imported into Russia. This led to a social revolution and changed Russia in every way and played a crucial role in the development of Russian national identity. Moreover, the influence of Byzantine ideology 's influence helped to create an autocratic political culture in Russia, that it could be argued, exists to this day. The fall of Constantinople led to the development of the idea that Moscow was the Third Rome, and this was crucial in the ideological justification of the development of the Russian Empire. The Byzantium's influence of Byzantium on Rome was decisive and an enduring one on that nations nation's particular history and uniqueness.  ====Recommended Reading====

Meyendorff, John. Byzantium and the rise Rise of Russia: A study of Byzantino-Russian relations in the Fourteenth Century (Cambridge University Press, 2010)

Runciman, Steven. "Byzantium, Russia , and Caesaropapism." Canadian Slavonic Papers 2, no. 1 (1957): 1-10. <youtube>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfe1wEQzSzM</youtube> ====References====<references/>