Textbook of Life for Tsar Children Availabe Online

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Researchers in Russia are uploading scans of the so-called Illustrated Chronicle of Ivan the Terrible. The 10,000-page handwritten history book had been commissioned by the legendary Tsar for his children.

The chronicle is unofficially dubbed the “Tsar Book” by enthusiasts in parallel with two other famous pieces of Ivan IV’s legacy – the Tsar Cannon and the Tsar Bell. Its ten thousand pages hold more than 17,000 illustrations and give a historical account from the time of Adam and Eve, though Ancient Rome and the Byzantine Empire, all the way to the then-contemporary history of Russia. Work on the chronicle is thought to have lasted for at least a decade and involved 10 monk scribes and 15 illustrators.

The non-profit Society of Lovers of Ancient Literature is set to change this situation, making the chronicle freely available for everyone interested. They have already uploaded the first two tomes to their website and plan to eventually have the complete archive online. A printed reproduction is also being considered.

Since the chronicle was meant for just two children, it is also the most unbiased Russian historical source of the time, the philanthropist believes. A father had no reason to lie to the future rulers of the land.

Interesting. From Adam and Eve, all through Rome, up until Ivan the Terrible's reign. I have not heard of this book before, but I will definantly read it once it is translated. Im not from Russia, but this is still a pretty interesting thing.

Im curious of whats in the book, since it was written for his 2 sons, so Im thinking there is going to be alot of material in the book that has been re-written over the ages.

edit - fixed link

[edit on 24-6-2010 by buni11687]

Excellent find.

This kind of illuminated history made those in the royal courts seem educated and well-informed. Can't wait to see the details.