Downfall of Kievan Rus'

Kievan Rus', similar to other medieval states did not last for long. In my opinion, the major factor in the fall of the Kievan Rus' was contributed to its political structures, in particular, the self-serving interests of princes and their internal feud. Kiev did not have a strong ruler and princes of all small states inside Rus' were not able to unite in order to defend themselves from powerful Tatars. On might wonder, why Kievan …

…central government in Kievan Rus'. Under such system, there can be no clear distinction between government and people because so far such distinction suggests the right of princes or boyars other than the supreme monarch to exercise control over things. In addition, there were no limitations on political authority, law, or freedom. While Western Europe underlined a strong sense of people rights and obligations, Rus' boyars insisted on complete obedience and submission from lower class.