The correct statement regarding the Russian empire is:
A. Russian society was highly influenced by the Byzantine empire and orthodox Christianity.
To clarify the inaccuracies of the other options:
B. The Russian empire was not decimated by the Mongols in the 1500s. Instead, the Mongol invasion occurred in the 13th century (specifically, it began in 1237) and led to a period of Mongol rule known as the "Mongol Yoke," which lasted until the late 15th century.
C. Ivan IV, also known as Ivan the Terrible, was not known for being a kind and benevolent leader; he is often characterized as ruthless and tyrannical. His expansion of the empire involved military conquests rather than just trade negotiations.
D. The boyars were a class of nobility in Russia, but they did not democratically elect leaders to advise Tsar Ivan IV. Instead, Ivan IV often sought to consolidate his power and reduce the influence of the boyars, leading to significant conflict between him and the nobility.