Look at the maps in the textbook and find the following cities, rivers, and kingdoms in relation to the location of Moscow and explain in Russian why they are important to our understanding of the rise of Moscow in this period.

Read the questions below and find the answers in the text.

1. What are the four major reasons for the rise of Muscovy?
2. Who were the major foreign powers that threatened Russia in this period?
3. What was the nature of the relationship between Moscow and the Golden Horde in this period?
4. What was Moscow’s religious status during this period?

1. What is the author’s attitude toward Dmitrii Donskoi, Khan Batyi, and the events described in the text? What is the author’s attitude toward the role of chance in the rise of Muscovy? 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?