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Shaping Eastern Shaping Eastern EuropeEurope

9.3 9.3

Eastern Europe lies between Central Eastern Europe lies between Central Europe in the west and Russia to the Europe in the west and Russia to the east.east.

The The Balkan PeninsulaBalkan Peninsula, also known as the , also known as the BalkansBalkans lie in this region. lie in this region.

The The DanubeDanube and and VistulaVistula are the two main are the two main rivers of the region. Goods and people were rivers of the region. Goods and people were spread by these bodies of water. The spread by these bodies of water. The Balkans in the south were influenced by the Balkans in the south were influenced by the Byzantine Empire and the Ottoman Turks. Byzantine Empire and the Ottoman Turks. The northern region was bordered by The northern region was bordered by Western Europe. To the east lies Russia.Western Europe. To the east lies Russia.

Geography Shapes Geography Shapes Eastern EuropeEastern Europe

• Many ethnic groups settled in Eastern Many ethnic groups settled in Eastern Europe. An Europe. An ethnic group ethnic group is a large is a large group of people that share a common group of people that share a common language or culture. language or culture.

• The West Slavs migrated from Russia The West Slavs migrated from Russia into present day Poland ,the Czech into present day Poland ,the Czech Republic and the Slovakian Republic.Republic and the Slovakian Republic.

• The South Slavs occupied the Balkans The South Slavs occupied the Balkans and became the ancestors of the Serbs, and became the ancestors of the Serbs, Slovenes, and Croats.Slovenes, and Croats.

Byzantine missionaries brought Byzantine missionaries brought Orthodox Christianity to the Balkans. Orthodox Christianity to the Balkans. German knights and missionaries German knights and missionaries contributed Roman Catholicism to contributed Roman Catholicism to Poland.Poland.

In the 1300s the Ottoman Turks invaded In the 1300s the Ottoman Turks invaded the area and introduced Islam.the area and introduced Islam.

Jews who fled Western Europe due to Jews who fled Western Europe due to persecution fled to Eastern Europe, persecution fled to Eastern Europe, mainly Poland.mainly Poland.

Christians, Jews, and Christians, Jews, and MuslimsMuslims

In 1386 In 1386 Queen Jadwiga of Poland Queen Jadwiga of Poland and and Duke Wladyslaw Jagiello Duke Wladyslaw Jagiello of Lithuania of Lithuania married and created Poland-Lithuania, married and created Poland-Lithuania, the largest state in Europe.the largest state in Europe.

Nobles met in a Nobles met in a dietdiet, , or assembly, where a or assembly, where a single noble could block a law. The lack of a single noble could block a law. The lack of a strong central government Poland-Lithuania strong central government Poland-Lithuania declined and disappeared.declined and disappeared.

Hungarian nobles forced their king to Hungarian nobles forced their king to sign the sign the Golden Bull of 1222Golden Bull of 1222. . The The Golden Bull of 1222 limited the power of Golden Bull of 1222 limited the power of the king and granted rights to nobles.the king and granted rights to nobles.

Mongols overran Hungary in 1241 and Mongols overran Hungary in 1241 and massacred half the population. massacred half the population.