Question

Which statement best describes how Muscovy rose to power during Mongol rule?

a. After the fall of the Byzantine Empire, Eastern Orthodox Christians fled to Muscovy to support their fight against the Mongols.
b. Princes from Muscovy allied with Mongol leaders in exchange for land and power.
c. The Ilkhanate and Yuan Dynasty leaders allied with Muscovy against the Golden Horde.
d. Princes from Muscovy led a centuries-long war against the Mongols from their base in Novgorod.

Answer 1

Muscovy rose to power by allying with Mongol leaders, gaining land and status. This led to increased independence and the eventual decline of Mongol influence, culminating in Ivan the Great's refusal to pay tribute.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement that best describes how Muscovy rose to power during Mongol rule is: Princes from Muscovy allied with Mongol leaders in exchange for land and power. This process began as Russian princes, including those from Muscovy, showed up in Sarai, the capital of the Mongol Empire's Golden Horde, to pledge allegiance and receive a jarlig, a tablet signifying the Great Khan's recognition of their rule.

Over time, the Muscovite princes gradually increased their power and eventually asserted independence, leading to a break from Mongol rule. After the fall of the Golden Horde, Ivan III of Moscow, also known as Ivan the Great, capitalized on the weakened Mongol presence and stopped paying tribute, contributing to the decline of Mongol power and the rise of Muscovy.