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and plains of the region between the Dniester and Dnieper
rivers。 The Greeks had sometimes met these Slavs and a few
travellers of the third and fourth centuries mention them。
Otherwise they were as little known as were the Nevada Indians
in the year 1800。
Unfortunately for the peace of these primitive peoples； a
very convenient trade…route ran through their country。 This
was the main road from northern Europe to Constantinople。
It followed the coast of the Baltic until the Neva was reached。
Then it crossed Lake Ladoga and went southward along the
Volkhov river。 Then through Lake Ilmen and up the small
Lovat river。 Then there was a short portage until the Dnieper
was reached。 Then down the Dnieper into the Black Sea。
The Norsemen knew of this road at a very early date。 In
the ninth century they began to settle in northern Russia； just
as other Norsemen were laying the foundation for independent
states in Germany and France。 But in the year 862； three
Norsemen； brothers； crossed the Baltic and founded three small
dynasties。 Of the three brothers； only one； Rurik； lived for a
number of years。 He took possession of the territory of his
brothers； and twenty years after the arrival of this first
Norseman； a Slavic state had been established with Kiev as its
capital。
From Kiev to the Black Sea is a short distance。 Soon the
existence of an organised Slavic State became known in
Constantinople。 This meant a new field for the zealous
missionaries of the Christian faith。 Byzantine monks followed the
Dnieper on their way northward and soon reached the heart of
Russia。 They found the people worshipping strange gods
who were supposed to dwell in woods and rivers and in mountain
caves。 They taught them the story of Jesus。 There was
no competition from the side of Roman missionaries。 These
good men were too busy educating the heathen Teutons to
bother about the distant Slavs。 Hence Russia received its religion
and its alphabet and its first ideas of art and architecture
from the Byzantine monks and as the Byzantine empire （a
relic of the eastern Roman empire） had become very oriental
and had lost many of its European traits； the Russians suffered
in consequence。
Politically speaking these new states of the great Russian
plains did not fare well。 It was the Norse habit to divide
every inheritance equally among all the sons。 No sooner had
a small state been founded but it was broken up among eight
or nine heirs who in turn left their territory to an ever increasing
number of descendants。 It was inevitable that these small
competing states should quarrel among themselves。 Anarchy
was the order of the day。 And when the red glow of the eastern
horizon told the people of the threatened invasion of a savage
Asiatic tribe； the little states were too weak and too divided
to render any sort of defence against this terrible enemy。
It was in the year 1224 that the first great Tartar invasion
took place and that the hordes of Jenghiz Khan； the conqueror
of China； Bokhara； Tashkent and Turkestan made their first
appearance in the west。 The Slavic armies were beaten near
the Kalka river and Russia was at the mercy of the Mongolians。
Just as suddenly as they had come they disappeared。
Thirteen years later； in 1237； however； they returned。 In less
than five years they conquered every part of the vast Russian
plains。 Until the year 1380 when Dmitry Donskoi； Grand
Duke of Moscow； beat them on the plains of Kulikovo； the
Tartars were the masters of the Russian people。
All in all； it took the Russians two centuries to deliver
themselves from this yoke。 For a yoke it was and a most
offensive and objectionable one。 It turned the Slavic peasants
into miserable slaves。 No Russian could hope to survive un…
less he was willing to creep before a dirty little yellow man who
sat in a tent somewhere in the heart of the steppes of southern
Russia and spat at him。 It deprived the mass of the people of
all feeling of honour and independence。 It made hunger and
misery and maltreatment and personal abuse the normal state
of human existence。 Until at last the average Russian； were he
peasant or nobleman； went about his business like a neglected
dog who has been beaten so often that his spirit has been broken
and he dare not wag his tail without permission。
There was no escape。 The horsemen of the Tartar Khan
were fast and merciless。 The endless prairie did not give a
man a chance to cross into the safe territory of his neighbour。
He must keep quiet and bear what his yellow master decided
to inflict upon him or run the risk of death。 Of course； Europe
might have interfered。 But Europe was engaged upon business
of its own； fighting the quarrels between the Pope and
the emperor or suppressing this or that or the other heresy。
And so Europe left the Slav to his fate； and forced him to
work out his own salvation。
The final saviour of Russia was one of the many small states；
founded by the early Norse rulers。 It was situated in the heart
of the Russian plain。 Its capital； Moscow； was upon a steep
hill on the banks of the Moskwa river。 This little principality；
by dint of pleasing the Tartar （when it was necessary to
please）； and opposing him （when it was safe to do so）； had；
during the middle of the fourteenth century made itself the
leader of a new national life。 It must be remembered that the
Tartars were wholly deficient in constructive political ability。
They could only destroy。 Their chief aim in conquering new
territories was to obtain revenue。 To get this revenue in the
form of taxes； it was necessary to allow certain remnants of
the old political organization to continue。 Hence there were
many little towns； surviving by the grace of the Great Khan；
that they might act as tax…gatherers and rob their neighbours
for the benefit of the Tartar treasury。
The state of Moscow； growing fat at the expense of the
surrounding territory； finally became strong enough to risk
open rebellion against its masters； the Tartars。 It was successful
and its fame as the leader in the cause of Russian independence
made Moscow the natural centre for all those who
still believed in a better future for the Slavic race。 In the year
1458； Constantinople was taken by the Turks。 Ten years
later； under the rule of Ivan III； Moscow informed the
western world that the Slavic state laid claim to the worldly
and spiritual inheritance of the lost Byzantine Empire； and
such traditions of the Roman empire as had survived in
Constantinople。 A generation afterwards； under Ivan the Terrible；
the grand dukes of Moscow were strong enough to adopt the
title of Caesar； or Tsar； and to demand recognition by the western
powers of Europe。
In the year 1598； with Feodor the First； the old Muscovite
dynasty； descendants of the original Norseman Rurik； came to
an end。 For the next seven years； a Tartar half…breed； by the
name of Boris Godunow；