ABSTRACT
Russia's history can only be understood in the context of her geopolitical environment. Generations of Russian and Soviet historians have been at pains to demonstrate the organic evolution of East Slav society towards statehood. It was during the Kiev era that Russia was converted to Christianity. All levels of society, gradually learned to articulate their values and aspirations through the medium of Byzantine Christianity. Where Western theology was stimulated by classical philosophy and remained open to development, Russia inherited a body of doctrine settled for all time by the great Ecumenical Councils. The 'Eurasian' school of historians has depicted the Mongol invasion as the decisive event in Russian history. In 1380 Moscow's ascendancy was demonstrated to all when Dmitrii led a Russian army drawn from several principalities against the Mongols, achieving the famous victory of Kulikovo. The end of Russian expansion north and south until the reign of Peter the Great, marked a critical turning-point in Muscovy's domestic development.
