act on culture also was bad. The decades following the invasion, "acquired the character of a grim struggle for survival, with the advanced and elaborate Kievan style of life and ethical and cultural standards in rapid decline." (N.Riasanovsky, A History of Russia, 73)
             However, the limited number of the positive contributions of Mongols to Russian history does exist. One of the most important of them is the development of the Orthodox Church in Russia. Khan Mengu-Temir issued a yarlik exempting all church lands from taxation, and all people working on them from military service. The church thus became a specially privileged institution. The reason for it is a Mongol tradition- &quo
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