People
Quotable Quotes
Dates
Great Works
Grab Bag
100
This man is the semi-legendary founder of the first ruling dynasty of Rus.
Who is Riurik?
100
Russia's "first" history book describes a medieval trade route as one that ran "from the Varangians to the Greeks."
What is the Primary Chronicle?
100
In this year, Grand Prince Vladimir was baptized, got married, and become Tsar.
What is 988?
100
This early history of Kievan Rus is a "first."
What is The Primary Chronicle?
100
This system of government determined succession to the Kievan throne.
What is the rota system?
200
This "vengeful" saint converted to Christianity long before her grandson, Grand Prince Vladimir I of Kiev.
Who is Saint Olga of Kiev?
200
The emissaries of this prince said this about a church service: "We knew not whether we were in heaven or on earth."
Who is Vladimir I (987)?
200
In this year, the Varangian founder of Rus arrived in Novgorod.
What is 862?
200
In Russian epic songs, this technique tells you what something is by telling you what it is not.
What is the negative Slavic antithesis?
200
This is Kievan Rus's answer to an entourage.
What is the druzhina?
300
This prince adopted Orthodoxy as the state religion in 988.
Who is Grand Prince Vladimir I of Kiev?
300
Russia's first political martyrs embodied brotherly love. The older said, "It is not for me to raise my hand against my brother."
Who are Boris and Gleb?
300
In this year, Grand Prince Vladimir I of Kiev died, sparking a struggle for succession.
What is 1015?
300
In the Russian epics, this character is not quite a bird, although his name would suggest it.
Who is Nightingale the Robber?
300
This crown was supposed to have come from Byzantium, but probably came from the east.
What is the Cap of Monomakh?
400
This prince ushered in the Golden Age of the Kievan era (1019-1054).
Who is Yaroslav the Wise?
400
"Igor looked up at the bright sun, and saw that all his warriors became enveloped in darkness."
What is the "Lay of Igor's Campaign"?
400
In this year, two saintly sons of Vladimir I died.
What is 1015?
400
This element of Russian epic songs include a hero saddling his horse or taking leave of his mother.
What is a theme (also pattern scenes or commonplaces)?
400
This is the first church Vladimir I built.
What is the Church of the Tithes (a.k.a., The Church of the Dormition of the Holy Mother of God)?
500
You might admire this man's testament to his children or his hat.
Who is Vladimir Monomakh?
500
"By that Swamp, by that Black Swamp; By that birch, by that crooked birch; By that stream, by Smorodina; By that cross, by that cross of Lebanon, Sits Nightingale the Robber in a damp oak."
What is "Ilya Muromets and Nightingale the Robber"?
500
In this year, Igor was "eclipsed" by the Kumans, also known as Polotsovians.
What is 1185.
500
"Honorable widow" and "good steed" are examples of this poetic element of Russian epic songs.
What is an epithet?
500
This instrument sometimes accompanied epic songs.
What is the gusla?