Rurik was a Varangian chieftain who established the first ruling dynasty in Russian history called the Rurik Dynasty in 862 near Novgorod. This dynasty went on to to establish Kievan Rus'.
Vladimir I ruled from 980 to 1015 and was the first Kievan Rus' ruler to officially establish Orthodox Christianity as the new religion of the region.
Yaroslav I, also known as Yaroslav the Wise, developed the first legal codes, beautified Kievan Rus', and formed major political alliances with the West during his nearly 40-year reign.
The Mongol Empire expanded its holdings in the 13th century and established its rule over most of the major Kievan Rus' principalities after brutal military invasions over the course of many years.
The small trading outpost of Moscow in the north of Rus' transformed into a wealthy cultural center in the 14th century under the leadership of Ivan I.