What was life like for the people of kievan rus? Describe what life would be like for a day in the life of a normal everyday person:

Question

What was the stories purpose for their people?

How was this country founded? By whom?

What was the most important resource for these people?

What kind of homes did these people build? What were they made of? Why did they choose the building material that they used?

What important contributions did some of the people make?

Describe their religion:

answer each question in short bullet points like a 12 year old would

Answer 1

Life in Kievan Rus

• Everyday Life:
  • People were mostly farmers, growing crops like barley, rye, and wheat.
  • They had animals like cows, pigs, and chickens for food and work.
  • Households were usually big families living together.
  • Men worked outside, while women took care of the home and kids.
  • Kids helped with chores and went to school when they could.

Purpose of Stories

• Stories were important for:
  • Teaching lessons and morals to kids.
  • Passing down history and culture from parents to children.
  • Helping people understand their world and connection to nature.

Founding of Kievan Rus

• Founded by:
  • A group of Scandinavian traders and warriors known as the Varangians, led by a prince named Rurik in the 9th century.
  • The first capital was in Novgorod, and later it moved to Kyiv.

Important Resource

• The most important resources were:
  • Furs: They traded furs for goods like silver.
  • Rivers were essential for trading and transportation.

Homes

• Types of homes:
  • Wooden houses made of logs and thatch for roofs.
  • They were built sturdy to withstand the cold weather of winter.
  • Houses often had a central fireplace for heating and cooking.

Important Contributions

• People made contributions in:
  • Agriculture: Learning better farming techniques.
  • Trade: They became important traders between Europe and Asia.
  • Culture: Developing art, music, and literature.

Religion

• Religion was mainly:
  • Slavic pagan beliefs, worshiping nature gods.
  • In the 10th century, they adopted Orthodox Christianity from Byzantium.
  • Churches became community centers and symbols of faith.