I guess that slave-like dynamic is okay as a model for social organization, but if you step on the proletariat for too long, you might end up with a communist revolution. But I'm getting way ahead of myself. Couple more things about Kiev. First, the ruler of Kiev was called the Grand Prince, and he became the model for future Russian kings. Also, the early Grand Princes made a fateful decision. They became Byzantine Christians. According to legend, Prince Vladimir chose to convert the Rus to Byzantine Christianity in the 11th century.