History: Kievan Rus State

The Kievan Rus state became formally Christian in 987 and prospered afterward. The Kievan society was dominated by a noble class of landowners. The noble population was made up of the Scandinavians, also known as the Rus, and the chiefs of the old Slavic Tribes. The Kievan Rus were free, however as in other regions, the peasant class had to endure hard labor and long hours.