Historical
Geography #7
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 value2) 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
Russia4)
the Metropolitan of the Orthodox church moved from Vladimir to Moscow in 1310, this signaled the decline of
one of MoscowÕs
strongest rivals