Kyivan Rus was a medieval state that existed from the late 9th to the mid-13th century in Eastern Europe. It was centered around the city of Kyiv, which became a major political and cultural hub. The state was established by the Vikings, known as the Varangians, who united various Slavic tribes under a single rule. The influence of Kyivan Rus extended across modern-day Ukraine, Belarus, and parts of Russia. It played a crucial role in the development of Eastern Slavic culture, language, and Orthodox Christianity, particularly after the Christianization of Kievan Rus in 988 under Grand Prince Vladimir the Great.