Fairly simple premise. The conversion of Vladimir the Great, ruler of the Kievan Rus, to Christianity in 988 was a pivotal event in the Christianization of Eastern Europe. However, prior to the conversion, Vladimir, who had hitherto been a pagan, had apparently considered a number of different religions and denominations, including Christianity. So what if, for whatever reason, Vladimir had become so strongly convinced that Judaism was the true faith that he decides to convert to that religion instead, at roughly the same time that he had converted to Christianity IOTL?
What would have been the effects of this change? Would Judaism have been adopted by the general populace in his realms, or would it have been largely confined to the nobility? Would the common people have remained pagan, or would they have adopted some form of Christianity anyway, if at a latter date and in a slower, more incomplete process? Would the Kievan Rus and its successor states have stayed Jewish long term, or would some ruler have likely still adopted Christianity (or maybe, if the butterflies are sufficient, Islam or some other faith with a stronger record of proselytizing) at some point in history?
What would the effects on the wider world have been? IOTL, Vladimir probably converted to Christianity, at least in part, to curry favor with the Byzantine Empire (again, we're assuming that he has a strong, personal religious experience that causes him to convert to Judaism instead). Now, would relations have been anymore strained between the Byzantines and a Jewish Rus than they were with a pagan Rus? Would Vladimir's decision have potentially prompted others in Eastern Europe to adopt Judaism as well - or at the very least, would it have slowed or stopped the process of Christianization for the peoples there who were still pagan?
In general, how would history have unfolded differently in such a world?
What would have been the effects of this change? Would Judaism have been adopted by the general populace in his realms, or would it have been largely confined to the nobility? Would the common people have remained pagan, or would they have adopted some form of Christianity anyway, if at a latter date and in a slower, more incomplete process? Would the Kievan Rus and its successor states have stayed Jewish long term, or would some ruler have likely still adopted Christianity (or maybe, if the butterflies are sufficient, Islam or some other faith with a stronger record of proselytizing) at some point in history?
What would the effects on the wider world have been? IOTL, Vladimir probably converted to Christianity, at least in part, to curry favor with the Byzantine Empire (again, we're assuming that he has a strong, personal religious experience that causes him to convert to Judaism instead). Now, would relations have been anymore strained between the Byzantines and a Jewish Rus than they were with a pagan Rus? Would Vladimir's decision have potentially prompted others in Eastern Europe to adopt Judaism as well - or at the very least, would it have slowed or stopped the process of Christianization for the peoples there who were still pagan?
In general, how would history have unfolded differently in such a world?