The history of the Russian state is unique. It is filled with a huge number of different events. Of course, the entire history of the Russian state cannot be described in one article. Let's take a look at some major events.
East Slavic tribes
The beginning of the formation of statehood, researchers refer to the VIII-IX centuries. During this period, the population moves from the appropriating economy to the producing one. This has led to we alth inequality.
In the VIII-IX centuries. city-states began to emerge. To ensure the livelihoods of the population, they were formed:
- Governing body. It could be a council of elders or a people's assembly.
- Urban community. It was a territorial organization, consisting not of blood relatives, as before, but of neighbors.
- Squad. It was led by a prince. The tasks of the squad included protecting the territory from attacks, as well as collecting taxes.
After the Neolithic revolution from the 11th century. the population began to use metal, the division of labor began. As a result, society began to take shapedifferent social groups: artisans, vigilantes, merchants, city administration.
Subsequently, individual cities began to stand out from others. For example, Novgorod reached the heights of economic and social development. Slavic statehood began to take shape around such large cities. Christianity, adopted in 988, played a special role in this process
At the initial stages of the development of the state, the economy developed along an extensive path: not by improving production, improving the quality of labor, but by attracting additional power and developing new lands.
Many researchers associate the beginning of the Russian state with the liberation from the Tatar-Mongol yoke. It was after this, historians believe, that the country moved to a new stage of development.
The territory of the Russian state has always attracted conquerors. The country was constantly under the threat of invasion. In the 16th century The Russian state participated in the battles for a total of 43 years, at 17 - 48, at 18 - 56 years.
Socio-economic situation
By the end of the 15th century, the conditions for the formation of the Russian state were formed.
During the XIV-XV centuries. socio-economic preconditions for strengthening the feudal economy arose. A huge number of people were in varying dependence on representatives of the upper strata of the population - secular and spiritual nobility, as well as princely power. After the liberation from the Tatar-Mongol yoke, cities began to recover. However, most of the territories, except for the Novgorod-Pskov land, were located onsecondary positions in the socio-economic system.
Many possessions in the cities belonged to the feudal lords. In general, urban areas were subject to the increased power of the prince. Under her influence, the last signs of urban self-government were eliminated.
Feudal lords also played a major role in trade. Due to the profits received, the nobility strengthened their farms. The funds accumulated by ordinary citizens were confiscated by the princes. Part was transferred to the Horde, part went to the personal needs of the ruler.
All these factors led to the formation of unfavorable conditions for the emergence of early bourgeois elements. Feudalism was strengthened in the Russian state, serf relations were established between the nobility and the common population.
The economic interaction of the territories was weak. Trade relations covered an insignificant part of the citizens. Large cities, being part of the Russian state, began to develop mainly as local centers of political and economic life.
After the liberation of the country from the Horde, Moscow princes became the main political force.
The beginning of the reign of Ivan III
While the Russian lands were dependent on the Horde, the European countries followed the path of intensive development. Some of them did not even know about any Russian state. After the liberation from the Horde, the countries of Europe were literally taken aback by the sudden emergence of a colossal empire.
Selected foreign politicianstried to take advantage of the creation of the Russian state to fight Turkey. First, Nikolai Poppel, a subject of the German Empire, arrived in Moscow. He offered Ivan III the crown and the marriage of the emperor's nephew to the daughter of the Russian ruler. However, the proposal was not accepted.
Establish ties with the Russian state and sought other foreign powers. For example, Hungary needed an alliance to facilitate the fight against Poland and Turkey, Denmark needed to weaken Sweden. Sigismund Herberstein visited the Russian state in the first third of the 16th century. twice. It was he who first compiled the detailed Notes on Affairs in Muscovy.
The Russian government also needed to establish ties with foreign countries. However, the foreign policy of the Russian state in the first third of the XVI century. was aimed at the implementation of special complex tasks and the diversion of forces and resources to fight the Ottoman Empire could only hinder their implementation.
First of all, it was necessary to complete the unification of Russian lands. For this, Fedor Kuritsyn was sent to Moldova and Hungary. He had to agree on joint actions against Poland and Lithuania.
Relations with the Crimean and Kazan Khanates
Foreign policy of the Russian state at the end of the 15th century. was aimed primarily at neutralizing Turkey, which was becoming a powerful power. In addition, it was necessary to destroy the remnants of the Horde, to annex the Kazan Khanate. All these tasks were carried out by Ivan III.
Kazanthe khanate was annexed by force in 1487. However, the positions of the Russian state were very fragile. After the accession of Vasily III to the throne, the Kazan Khan severed all relations with Moscow.
The Russian government made an attempt to restore relations. However, the campaign of Vasily III in 1506 ended unsuccessfully. Only after the death of the Kazan Khan in 1518 did a Moscow protege take his place. However, three years later he was overthrown, and power passed to Sahib Giray, the brother of the Crimean ruler.
In the summer of 1521, the Crimean Khan attacked the Russian lands. He reached Moscow itself, devastated the territories and captured many people. Vasily III had to give a letter of "eternal citizenship" to the Crimean Khan. But soon this document was returned.
The Russian land was also attacked from the east. Kazan Tatars were the main enemies.
In 1523 on the river. Sura was created fortress Vasilgrad. It became a stronghold for the fight against the Kazan Khanate. In 1524, Vasily III managed to regulate relations with the Crimea. After that, the march to Kazan began. The city was not taken, but peaceful relations were established. At the same time, the Kazan rulers agreed to the demand of Vasily III to transfer trade to Nizhny Novgorod.
Until the end of the first third of the 16th century Kazan had difficult but peaceful relations. Only in 1533 did the Crimean and former Kazan khans unite for a campaign against the Russian state. However, having reached Ryazan, they met the Moscow army, which managed to repulse the attack.
B altic direction
Itwas determined by the end of the 15th century.
In 1492, the Ivan-gorod fortress was created. It was located opposite Narva.
The Livonian Order tried to take advantage of the confrontation between Lithuania and Russia to attack the latter. However, in 1501 the troops were defeated near the fortress of Helmed. After 2 years, the Russian state and the Livonian Order signed a truce. In accordance with it, the bishop of Dorpat (modern Tartu) was obliged to pay tribute for the possession of this city.
Subsequently, due to the hostile policy of Livonia and Lithuania, Russia could not establish ties with Western states. Of no small importance was the influence of militant churchmen within the country. They opposed all "Latin".
After the capture of Smolensk, Russian troops were defeated by Lithuania. The conflict began to drag on and escalated into the war of 1518. In 1519, the Crimean Khan came to the aid of Vasily III. His army made devastating raids on the Ukrainian lands of Lithuania. After that, the soldiers of the Livonian Order, with which Moscow established allied relations, opposed Poland. However, the confrontation ended with a truce with the Polish ruler. After that, negotiations between Russia and Lithuania began. In 1522, a five-year truce was concluded, and Smolensk went to Russian possessions.
As you can see, in the history of the Russian state, wars were far from the last place. Often, only armed conflicts could ensure respect for the country from neighbors.
The meaning of land consolidation
Eliminationpolitical barriers within the territory of the Russian state, the cessation of feudal conflicts created favorable conditions for the development of the national economic complex. In addition, the united state had more opportunities to repulse enemies, the confrontation with which did not end with the overthrow of the yoke and victories over the Livonian and Lithuanian troops.
The remnants of the Horde still existed in the east and south: the Astrakhan, Crimean, Kazan Khanates, the Nogai Horde. Relations with Western states remained rather complicated. Belarus and Ukraine were under the rule of the Lithuanian ruler. Russia needed access to the sea coast. The unification of the lands made it possible to solve all these problems.
Process specifics
The domestic policy of the Russian state was based on feudal relations. The development of the country relied mainly on the strengthening of serfdom both in the city and in the countryside. The main driving force behind this process was the church, which promoted a conservative ideology.
Spiritual and secular feudal lords were completely independent. They were large landowners, which ensured their constant income. Citizens and representatives of the nobility as an estate were poorly developed.
The unity of government in the state was achieved exclusively by feudal means. The Grand Duke had a superiority in material forces, which ensured his success in the fight against separatist sentiments. The church helped him in this.
However, political unityThe country has been under threat for quite a long time. This was due to economic fragmentation, which gave rise to the desire of feudal groups to satisfy their own interests.
History of the Russian state in 1918-1920
In 1918, on September 23, the Act of the Ufa meeting was approved. This act proclaimed the Russian state "in the name of the restoration of independence and state unity." The prerequisites for these events were the Revolution of 1917, the establishment of Soviet power and the signing of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk.
The following were proclaimed as urgent tasks in the Act:
- Fight against Soviet power.
- Reunification of the disparate territories of the country.
- Non-recognition of the Brest Treaty and other international agreements that were concluded both on behalf of Russia and on behalf of its individual regions after the Revolution.
- Continuation of the fight against the German coalition.
Centralization of the control system
In October 1918, the Provisional Government moved to Omsk from Ufa.
In early November, an appeal was issued to the regional governments on the immediate transfer of authority to the All-Russian administrative apparatus. At the same time, the All-Russian Council of Ministers was formed, headed by Vologda.
Thanks to all these actions, the Cossack, national and regional governments in the east of the state were abolished. Formally, this made it possible to consolidate forces to resist the Bolsheviks.
Admiral Kolchak
In 1918, on November 18, they were arrestedmembers of the Directory located in Omsk. The Council of Ministers assumed full power, after which it decided to transfer it to one person - the Supreme Ruler. They became Alexander Kolchak.
After accepting the rank of admiral, he formed a new government. It worked until January 4, 1920
The political structure of the country
Kolchak's state consisted of 3 disparate territories. For some time, however, the Arkhangelsk and Omsk parts of the territory were connected.
The laws adopted by the Supreme Ruler were binding throughout the Russian state. The Omsk government provided financial assistance to the southern territories, while the northern government made purchases in Siberia to resolve issues of grain supply.
The system of state administration included temporary bodies of state power. They were empowered for the period of hostilities and until the restoration of order in the country.
Foreign Policy of the Supreme Ruler
Kolchak sought to establish ties with the country's former allies in the First World War. He acknowledged the state debt of Russia, other contractual obligations to other states.
Abroad, the interests of the country were represented by an experienced diplomat Sazonov. In his submission were all the embassies that remained from the pre-revolutionary period. At the same time, they retained their property, functions and administrative apparatus.
De jure, the Russian state recognized at the international level only the Kingdom of Serbs, Slovenes and Croats. De factoit was recognized by all the member countries of the Entente, as well as by the states that emerged after the collapse of the Empire (the B altic countries, Poland, Finland, Czechoslovakia).
Kolchak counted on participating in the Versailles Conference. The government formed a special commission to prepare for the event. Kolchak believed that the Russian state would be presented at the conference as a powerful country that had suffered huge losses for 3 years, held a second front, without which there would have been no Allied victory.
It was assumed that if, before the start of the event, the Entente countries did not legally recognize the existence of the state, one of the diplomats of pre-revolutionary Russia, in agreement with the Whites, would act as its representative. But soon the allies changed their position.
At the conference, it was decided to postpone consideration of the issue of Russia's international status until the end of the Civil War, that is, until a single state power is established throughout its territory.
The End of the Russian State
Kolchak did not particularly trust the allies, assuming that he would be betrayed by them. So, in fact, it happened.
Historians believe that the main reason for the extradition of Kolchak to the Bolsheviks was the admiral's statements that all the gold reserves, as well as the valuables looted by the Czechoslovaks during their stay in Russia, are state property, and he will not allow them to be taken abroad. Accelerated the denouement Kolchak's order to checkproperty, which was taken out by legionnaires from Vladivostok. This order became known to the Czechoslovak command and caused anger.
The Admiral was forced to move to Irkutsk. It was decided to do this by train. However, upon arrival at his destination, Kolchak was handed over to the local authorities. After that, numerous interrogations began. In 1920, on the night of February 6-7, Kolchak was shot without trial, along with the chairman of the Council of Ministers, Pepelyaev, by order of the Irkutsk Revolutionary Committee. This is the end of the history of the Russian state. The country entered a new era - the Soviet one. From that moment, the change in the state structure under the leadership of the Bolsheviks began.
