Russian Coat of Arms
The Mongol occupation of Russia changed Russia forever. Before the Mongols, Russia had been divided into several competing territories run by princes, and afterwards resembled a late medieval version of the Byzantine Empire.
Due to the fact that the Mongols began many bureacratic traditions during the time they controlled Russia, Russia emerged from Mongol occupation as a much different place, especially politically. "The Ivans" began the long-standing line of czars who ruled the country as a political and religious leader, and centralized the power in the hands of the czar and his bureaucracy. Over time, the power of the boyars (nobles) was reduced, and a Russian Empire emerged which began to mimic the Byzantines; Ivan I actually adopted many practices of the Byzantines, and tried to make Moscow the "new Constantinople", since it had fallen to the Turks nine years before he took the throne. He even married a descendant of the last Byzantine Emperor, and was the czar who finally ended the Mongol occupation once and for all. During the reigns of Ivan III and Ivan IV, power became more centralized in Russia, as the bureaucratic and autocratic policies of both continued to establish the power of the czar for nearly 500 years.
Although the Mongol influence made Russia a stronger, centralized power during the Middle Ages, historians argue that the Mongols had negative impacts on Russia as well. Russia was isolated for almost 200 years from the rest of Europe, and during this time, Western European countries began to transition into the "modern era", while Russia lagged behind.
CAN ANYONE BEAT MY BEST TIME BELOW???
Due to the fact that the Mongols began many bureacratic traditions during the time they controlled Russia, Russia emerged from Mongol occupation as a much different place, especially politically. "The Ivans" began the long-standing line of czars who ruled the country as a political and religious leader, and centralized the power in the hands of the czar and his bureaucracy. Over time, the power of the boyars (nobles) was reduced, and a Russian Empire emerged which began to mimic the Byzantines; Ivan I actually adopted many practices of the Byzantines, and tried to make Moscow the "new Constantinople", since it had fallen to the Turks nine years before he took the throne. He even married a descendant of the last Byzantine Emperor, and was the czar who finally ended the Mongol occupation once and for all. During the reigns of Ivan III and Ivan IV, power became more centralized in Russia, as the bureaucratic and autocratic policies of both continued to establish the power of the czar for nearly 500 years.
Although the Mongol influence made Russia a stronger, centralized power during the Middle Ages, historians argue that the Mongols had negative impacts on Russia as well. Russia was isolated for almost 200 years from the rest of Europe, and during this time, Western European countries began to transition into the "modern era", while Russia lagged behind.
CAN ANYONE BEAT MY BEST TIME BELOW???