Look at the maps in the textbook and find the areas where the peoples/tribes listed below (and mentioned in the text) lived in relation to the following cities: Kiev, Moscow, Novgorod, Constantinople (Istanbul). Which groups lived closest to which of these four cities? Be prepared to explain, in Russian, the significance of these people/tribes for Russian history as described in the text of this chapter.

1. With whom is Alexander of Macedonia compared? Why?
2. Why was Prince Vladimir sneered at?
3. According to the text, why did Vladimir decide that Orthodox Christianity would be the state religion for Kievan Rus’?
4. What are the primary characteristics of an early feudal monarchy?
5. What were the primary reasons for the decline of Kievan Rus’ as a central nation-state?
6. Go back to section 1–2 and review the chronology. Find the events in the chronology that are referenced in the text.

1. What is the author’s attitude toward the establishment of Christianity in Russia? Identify words and phrases that convey implicitly or explicitly the author’s attitude or ideological perspective, bringing evidence from the text to support your argument.
2. Did the information in the text depart from what you had previously read or thought about the period discussed in this chapter?