TIL that, in the late 980's, Vladimir the Great chose to Christianize Russia rather than Islamisize it partly due to Islam's ban on alcohol, saying, "Drinking is the joy of the Rus', we can't go without it."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianization_of_Kievan_Rus%27#Vladimir.27s_baptism_of_Kiev



Submitted March 29, 2015 at 12:25AM by smarvin6689 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/30mgq0/til_that_in_the_late_980s_vladimir_the_great/