The History of the Slavs
From the forests and steppes of Eastern Europe to the rise of powerful medieval kingdoms, discover the remarkable story of the Slavic peoples.
Few peoples have left a mark on European history as profound as the Slavs. From humble beginnings among the forests, rivers, and plains of Eastern Europe, Slavic-speaking communities spread across a vast territory, encountering Romans, Byzantines, Vikings, Germanic peoples, and steppe nomads along the way.
But who were the early Slavs? Where did they come from, and how did scattered tribal communities become some of medieval Europe's most important kingdoms and states?
The History of the Slavs traces this extraordinary transformation from the earliest origins of the Slavic peoples through the rise of their medieval civilizations.
Discover:
- The mysterious origins of the Proto-Slavs and their connection to the ancient peoples of the Eurasian steppe
- How Slavic tribes spread across Eastern and Central Europe and into the Balkans
- The emergence of Great Moravia, Bulgaria, Poland, Bohemia, Croatia, Serbia, and Kyivan Rus'
- The dramatic relationship between the Slavs and the Byzantine Empire
- The arrival of the Vikings and Varangians and their role in the formation of Kyivan Rus'
- The legendary rise of Kyiv and the powerful rulers who shaped Rus'
- The conversion of Slavic peoples to Christianity and the momentous choice between Rome and Constantinople
- Saints Cyril and Methodius, the development of Slavic writing, and the rise of Cyrillic
- The great medieval dynasties, rulers, wars, alliances, and struggles that shaped the Slavic kingdoms
- How religion, trade, warfare, diplomacy, and cultural exchange transformed the Slavic world
From pagan tribes and warrior chiefs to Christian kings, princes, monasteries, and magnificent medieval capitals, this is a story of migration, conquest, survival, adaptation, and transformation.
The Slavs did not create a single empire or follow one common path. Instead, their shared origins gave rise to a remarkable diversity of peoples and kingdoms-Poles, Czechs, Russians, Ukrainians, Serbs, Croats, Bulgarians, and many others-whose histories would shape the future of Europe.
Discover the origins of the Slavic peoples, the rise of their medieval kingdoms, and the remarkable history behind one of Europe's greatest civilizations.