--Russia's Geography/Language

Links:

CIA Factbook on Russia (US Factbook for comparison)

Lecture Notes

The Varangians and the founding of Rus

Riurik (Wikipedia)

Optional:

Pictures from Russian nature preserves

Russian pagan gods and another theory on the origin of the term Rus

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--Kievan Russia/The Orthodox Church

Yaroslav the Wise

Model of Original St. Sophia

Links:

A brief overview of early Russian history

The Igor Tale  Password protected. Translation by Jack Haney and Eric Dahl.  This and all other password protected material from the course site of Dan Waugh of the University of Washington.  (Also found in the course materials, although this translation is better.)

Lecture Notes

Map of Kiev, 10th-13th Centuries

Christian imagery and symbolism of Cathedral of St. Sophia.  Text optional. Images recommended.

Cathedral of St. Sophia  Fairly detailed. Text optional. Password protected.

  Materials also found in the course packet:

The Pouchenie of Vladimir Monomakh (c.1100)

Optional:

The Story of Kiev's Founding

Kievan art   Password protected.

Russkaia Pravda (short)

Russkaia Pravda (expanded)

Translators' Introduction to "The Igor Tale"  Password protected.

Jack Haney's Commentary to "The Igor Tale"  Password protected. 

Vladimir Nabokov's Translation of the Igor Tale

The Igor Tale in Old Russian

A Lot of Igor Tale Materials in Russian

Excerpts from Nestor's Chronicle

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