Survival

Survival is a dominant theme of the book, from the beginning to the end. All of the characters of the book have to struggle to survive in one way or another, just as the Russians as a people had to struggle to survive. As development occurred, the strongest tribes become the leaders of the cities and the towns. These princes have their own domains with no strong central authority. Because of this, it is easy for the Tatars to take control of the country. Since the Tatars have a profitable relationship with the landowner and merchants, it is difficult to get rid of them. There were three centuries of Tatar control in which Tatar control was not overcome until Moscow becomes a strong city that dominated other cities. In the south, the Ukraine becomes controlled by Poland. The people in both situations want autonomy, leading to the wars...