What is the name of the East Slavic state centered around Kiev?

• A. Kievan Rus'
• B. Muscovy
• C. Novgorod Republic
• D. Ruthenia

Answer: (A)

The question tests your understanding of the medieval East Slavic polity whose heart was Kyiv. That state is Kievan Rus’. It existed roughly from the late 9th to the 13th centuries as a loose federation of East Slavic principalities, with Kyiv as the leading city and seat of the grand princes. The name emphasizes Kyiv’s central role in the union, while “Rus’” refers to the people and lands involved. A turning point was the Christianization under Vladimir the Great in 988, which helped unify the realm culturally and religiously. The model began to fragment and decline after the Mongol invasions in the 13th century, paving the way for new centers of power.

The other options reflect different polities or later usages. Muscovy refers to the Moscow-centered state that rose after Kiev’s power declined; the Novgorod Republic was a separate, powerful city-state not centered in Kyiv; Ruthenia is a broader regional term used in various contexts and does not name the Kiev-centered state itself.