Questions about the Ivan IV readings:
What was the significance of the oprichniki’s “brushes or brooms tied on the ends of sticks”? When does this look like?
Why did Ivan kill everyone and plunder instead of taking over the lands to become more of a monarch of sorts?
On page 153 (second paragraph), it states Ivan accepts all the petitions that were being maintained for the oprichniki. What was his motivation to do this? Did he suspect foul play was involved?… Read the rest here
I think that this reading really helps to give a sense of how ingrained the Russian Orthodox Church was in early Rus society. The most obvious example of this is clearly the Chronicles themselves and how they are written. For instance, when Novgorod did not want to submit to the rule of the Grand Prince, the Chronicles portrayed it as not a political schism, but one of deep religious controversy. Instead of saying that the people of Novgorod had betrayed the Grand Prince, the Chronicles claim that Novgorod betrayed the commandments of God himself.… Read the rest here