Monks Cyril and Methodius develop written Slavic alphabet, called Cyrillic; birth of spoken dialect, Church Slavonic.

Vladimir I adopts Orthodox Christianity; commissions Byzantine craftsmen to build churches, adorn them with mosaics and religious art; origins of Russian icon painting.

Church of the Tithe, first stone church in Russia

Russkaya Pravda, first written compilation of Russian law, completed under Yaroslav the Wise, Grand Prince of Kiev

Sylvester, a monk, writes Primary Chronicle, outlining 400 years of Russian history

Cathedral of Sancta Sophia rebuilt in Novgorod featuring early example of onion-shaped dome

The Song of Igor's Campaign, anonymous epic poem on Prince Igor; masterpiece of early Russian literature

Carved log churches, chalet-style wooden houses exemplify distinctive Russian style

Church of the Transfiguration in Novgorod, decorated with finest examples of icon painting

Crimean immigrants fleeing Mongol hordes introduce vodka to Russia

Andrei Rublev, greatest icon painter, completes Old Testament Trinity (now in Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow), official church model for icon painting

Ivan III (the Great) builds Palace of Facets, first great Kremlin palace; religious leaders proclaim Moscow "the third Rome"; heir to Rome, Constantinople

Cathedral of St. Michael, Moscow, outstanding example of Italian High Renaissance

Ivan IV (the Terrible) builds St. Basil's Cathedral, Red Square, Moscow; painted onion domes become symbol of Russia, epitome of Russo-Byzantine architecture

Ivan IV orders first printing press brought to Russia

Patriarch Nikon sponsors sweeping reforms, increases power of patriarch, reduces Slavic practices, favors Greek classicism

Archpriest Avvakum writes autobiography, opposes Nikon