Moscow, first mentioned in
1147 at a time that it was within the principality of Vladimir-Suzdal,
Less
congenial environment than Kiev – poorer
soils, heavy forest requiring clearing for agriculture, swampy land, much more
severe climate, BUT inhospitable environment ironically increased
security of the areas.
Possible, plausible reasons for Moscow rise to dominance
1) MoscowÕs location near the hub of the radial
drainage network meant that it had a ÒHigh connectivityÓ value
2) it seems the early Moscow
princes were strong and clever politicians – a) they
collected Tatar tribute from the other Russian cities and
principalities, thus Tatar Yoke rested lightly on Moscow.
3) having gained MongolÕs favor, Moscow princes were made the sovereign princes of all Russia
4) the Metropolitan of the
Orthodox church moved from Vladimir to Moscow in 1310, this signaled the decline of
one of MoscowÕs
strongest rivals