Russian Culture Timeline: Russian Culture
Part I: Rise of Russia
by David Johnson

888 1036 1300 1411 1505 1655 Next: Peter's Revolution

888-889
Monks Cyril and Methodius develop written Slavic alphabet, called Cyrillic; birth of spoken dialect, Church Slavonic.
988-989
Vladimir I adopts Orthodox Christianity; commissions Byzantine craftsmen to build churches, adorn them with mosaics and religious art; origins of Russian icon painting.
996
Church of the Tithe, first stone church in Russia
996
Russkaya Pravda, first written compilation of Russian law, completed under Yaroslav the Wise, Grand Prince of Kiev
1116
Sylvester, a monk, writes Primary Chronicle, outlining 400 years of Russian history
Circa
1150
Cathedral of Sancta Sophia rebuilt in Novgorod featuring early example of onion-shaped dome
Circa
1187
The Song of Igor's Campaign, anonymous epic poem on Prince Igor; masterpiece of early Russian literature
Before
1300
Carved log churches, chalet-style wooden houses exemplify distinctive Russian style
1378
Church of the Transfiguration in Novgorod, decorated with finest examples of icon painting
Circa
1390
Crimean immigrants fleeing Mongol hordes introduce vodka to Russia
1411
Andrei Rublev, greatest icon painter, completes Old Testament Trinity (now in Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow), official church model for icon painting
1487-1491
Ivan III (the Great) builds Palace of Facets, first great Kremlin palace; religious leaders proclaim Moscow "the third Rome"; heir to Rome, Constantinople
1505-1509
Cathedral of St. Michael, Moscow, outstanding example of Italian High Renaissance
1555-1560
Ivan IV (the Terrible) builds St. Basil's Cathedral, Red Square, Moscow; painted onion domes become symbol of Russia, epitome of Russo-Byzantine architecture
1563
Ivan IV orders first printing press brought to Russia
1655-1656
Patriarch Nikon sponsors sweeping reforms, increases power of patriarch, reduces Slavic practices, favors Greek classicism
Circa
1675
Archpriest Avvakum writes autobiography, opposes Nikon

Infoplease Links
 More Resources
Academic, university:
Boston University Institute for the Study of Conflict, Ideology and Policy
Harvard University, Davis Center

Academic, K-12:
TeacherVision.com, Russia

Government:
Embassy of the Russian Federation to U.S.
CIA World Factbook, Russia

News:
Moscow Times
Russia Today
St. Petersburg Times

Nuclear/Environment:
Bellona Foundation

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