Word: dnieper
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Dates: during 1990-1999
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Somewhat to the north, a people known as the East Slavs began settling in the dense forests in about A.D. 500, finally occupying an area from what is now Leningrad to Kiev. From their forests, they shipped furs and honey down the Dnieper to the imperial capital of Constantinople. In 862, according to a 12th century document known as the Primary Chronicle, there occurred a semi- legendary encounter when the quarreling Slavs sent a delegation to Scandinavia to negotiate with the Vikings, whom they called Varangians, specifically with a tribe known as the Rus. "Our whole land is great...
Rurik's sons and grandsons not only united the Slavs of the Dnieper Valley but also were soon trying to expand. In 907 Prince Oleg invaded the Eastern Roman Empire with 2,000 ships, "accomplished much slaughter among the Greeks" and supposedly nailed his shield to the imperial gates of Constantinople. From this foray, the Russians brought home to their capital in Kiev an advantageous trade treaty and an even more advantageous contact with the Christian religion and sophisticated culture of Constantinople. Thus emerged the first Russian state, known as Kievan Russia...