Since its appearance on the radar of the western world, Russia has always presented a mystery to other nations. Winston Churchill famously described it as “a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma,” (Churchill). One particular period of interest in the tumultuous history of this enigmatic country: the Kievan Rus. To truly understand all the available points and facets of this period, one should examine how it came to be as well as the varying ideas and theories that have been formulated to explain the birth such a powerful civilization. Like any origin story, theories vary surrounding the creation of the Kievan state. Chief among these disputed details, the issue of which people(s) were actually responsible for its establishment. …show more content…
In the Primary Chronicle, it is recorded of the 9th Century Slavic tribes that “There was no law among them, but tribe rose against tribe. Discord thus ensued, and they began to war against one another….Accordingly they went overseas to the Varangian Russes. [And they] said to the people of Rus ‘Our whole land is great and rich, but there is no order in it. Come to rule and reign over us,’.” Hosking argues that “this was not a single event but a gradual process,” (Short Introduction pg. 1-2). This “gradual process” would be one of Slavic tribes accepting Viking rule rather than necessarily inviting …show more content…
For ease of reference, this individual was Prince Oleg. It should also be considered just why the city of Kiev was so vital to the success of any empire in the area. Kiev was centered above the Dnieper River, at an average elevation of nearly 800 feet above sea level, controlling Kiev was crucial to controlling both military and trade operations in the area. Now, the trade operations conducted here included trade with the powerful and renowned Byzantine Empire. This trade was often conducted (at least in the early period of Slavic history), through Khazar tribes, who collected a percentage tribute on goods shuttled through their lands. On the Byzantine/Eastern Roman Empire, the Primary Chronicle records that Prince Oleg even set out on an expedition to conquer it, sufficiently frightening the Byzantines such that they agreed to a treaty of tribute with the Russian Empire. However, later historians and analysts have found this to be quite an exaggeration, although the Byzantines did agree to this trade treaty, it was very likely not out of fear for Russian military might, but more to avoid a draining conflict, (Wallace