Which element heavily influenced the culture of Kievan Rus?

The culture of Kievan Rus was significantly shaped by its interactions with the Vikings, particularly the Norse traders and warriors known as the Varangians. The Vikings played a crucial role in the establishment of trade routes across Eastern Europe and facilitated the exchange of goods, ideas, and cultural practices between various regions. They helped to integrate Kievan Rus into broader trade networks connecting Scandinavia, Byzantium, and the Islamic world.

The influence of the Vikings is evident in the political and social structures of Kievan Rus, as they established early governance systems and settlements that laid the foundation for the future development of the region. Their maritime expertise also enabled Kievan Rus to enhance trade and communication along the rivers that were vital for commerce.

While the Byzantine Empire influenced Kievan Rus through the adoption of Orthodox Christianity, its artistic, architectural, and administrative practices, the initial shaping of Kievan Rus’s identity largely stemmed from the Vikings’ interactions. The Vikings’ establishment of the early Rus state pushed forward the cultural and political evolution that would define Kievan Rus in the centuries that followed.