Russia Timeline

Kievan Rus

900

During the 900s Russia was named "Kievan Rus" and was made up of a group of principalities, or countries.

Christianity

988

In around 988, Grand Prince Vladimir I converted to Christianity and made it the state religion.

The Formal Division

1054

A formal division was made in 1054 when the relationship between the eastern and western wings of the Christian church gradually declined.

Kiev's Fall

1200

In the 1200s Kiev and the other principalities fell to Mongol invaders, weakened by the civil war.

The Mongols

1240

In 1240 The Mongols, led by Genghis Khan, destroyed Kiev and incorporated Russia into the Mongol Empire.

Prince Yuri

1300

In the 1300s, the principality of Moscow began to increase its power and Prince Yuri of Moscow married the sister of the Golden Horde’s ruler. Prince Yuri started to expand his territory. He increased the size and strength of his army.

The Mongols' Defeat

1380

In 1380, Moscow’s army defeated the Mongols at the Battle of Kulikovo and the army drove the Mongols out of the region. The Mongols later regained control of Moscow, but they were not as powerful as before.

The End of the Mongols' Rule

1400

In the late 1400s, Ivan III of Moscow refused to pay taxes to the Mongols, so the Mongols sent troops to attack Moscow. However, after a while, they went back to their capital, which ended the Mongol rule of Russia.

Ivan IV

1547

In 1547 Ivan IV was the Grand Prince of Moscow. He became the first to rule all of Russia. This ruler came to be called the tsar. Ivan feared that other nobles might try to overthrow him, therefore he arrested and murdered thousands of nobles.

Serfdom

1800

In the 1800s serfdom was abolished in Russia.