How was the ancient Russian people formed? The development of feudal relations takes place in the process of transforming tribal unions into principalities, that is, separate state associations. The history of Kievan Rus begins with this process. The formation of the Old Russian state and the formation of the Old Russian nationality are interrelated processes.
What preceded the founding of Kievan Rus? What factors contributed to the formation of the Old Russian people?
Foundation of the state
In the ninth century, Slavic society reached a level where it was necessary to create a legal framework regulating conflicts. Civil strife arose as a result of inequality. The state is the legal field capable of resolving many conflict situations. Without it, such a historical phenomenon as the ancient Russian nationality could not exist. In addition, the unification of the tribes was necessary, because the state has alwaysstronger than unrelated principalities.
Historians argue to this day about when a state arose that united the Eastern Slavs. At the beginning of the 9th century, the Ilmen Slovenes and Finno-Ugric tribes started such a feud that the local leaders decided to take a desperate step: to invite experienced rulers, preferably from Scandinavia.
Varangian rulers
According to the chronicle, the wise leaders sent a message to Rurik and his brothers, which said that their land is rich, fruitful, but there is no peace on it, only strife and civil strife. The authors of the letter invited the Scandinavians to reign and restore order. There was nothing shameful in this proposal for local rulers. Noble foreigners were often invited for this purpose.
The foundation of Kievan Rus contributed to the unification of almost all the East Slavic tribes mentioned in the annals. Belarusians, Russians and Ukrainians are the descendants of the inhabitants of feudal principalities united in a state that became one of the most powerful in the Middle Ages.
Legend
This city was the capital of the Slavic tribe of the Polyans. They were once led, according to legend, by Kiy. Helped him manage Shchek and Khoriv. Kyiv stood at the crossroads, in a very convenient location. Here they exchanged and bought grain, weapons, livestock, jewelry, fabrics. Over time, Kiy, Khoriv and Shchek disappeared somewhere. The Slavs paid tribute to the Khazars. The Varangians passing by occupied the "homeless" city. The origin of Kyiv is shrouded in secrets. But the creation of the city is one of the prerequisites for the formation of the Old Russiannationalities.
However, the version that Shchek was the founder of Kyiv is highly doubtful. Rather, it is a myth, part of the folk epic.
Why Kyiv?
This city arose in the center of the territory inhabited by the Eastern Slavs. The location of Kyiv, as already mentioned, is very convenient. Wide steppes, fertile lands and dense forests. The cities had all the conditions for cattle breeding, agriculture, hunting, and most importantly - for the defense of an enemy invasion.
What historical sources speak of the birth of Kievan Rus? About the emergence of the East Slavic state, and therefore - the ancient Russian people, reports "The Tale of Bygone Years". After Rurik, who came to power at the invitation of local leaders, Oleg began to rule Novgorod. Igor could not manage due to his young age.
Oleg managed to concentrate power over Kyiv and Novgorod.
Historical concepts
Old Russian people - an ethnic community, which united the East Slavic tribes with the formation of an early feudal state. A few words should be said about what is hidden under this historical term.
Nationality is a historical phenomenon characteristic of the early feudal period. This is a community of people who are not members of the tribe. But they are not yet residents of a state with strong economic ties. How is a people different from a nation? Modern historians today have not come to a consensus. There are still discussions regarding this issue. But we can say with confidence that nationality is what unites people who have a common territory, culture, customs and traditions.
Periodization
The topic of the article is Old Russian people. Therefore, it is worth bringing the periodization of the development of Kievan Rus:
- Rise.
- Blossom.
- Feudal fragmentation.
The first period refers to the ninth to tenth centuries. And it was then that the East Slavic tribes began to transform into a single community. Of course, the differences between them disappeared gradually. As a result of active communication and rapprochement, the Old Russian language was formed from many dialects. An original material and spiritual culture was created.
Rapprochement of tribes
East Slavic tribes lived in a territory that was subject to a single authority. Except for the constant civil strife that took place at the last stage of the development of Kievan Rus. But mutually beneficial relations led to the emergence of common traditions and customs.
Old Russian nationality is a definition that implies not only a common economic life, language, culture and territory. This concept means a community consisting of the main, but irreconcilable classes - feudal lords and peasants.
The formation of the ancient Russian people was a long process. Features in the culture and language of the people inhabiting different areas of the state have been preserved. Differences are not erased, despiterapprochement. Later, this served as the basis for the formation of the Russian, Ukrainian and Belarusian nationalities.
The concept of "Old Russian nationality" does not lose its relevance, because this community is the single root of the fraternal peoples. The inhabitants of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus carried through the centuries an understanding of the proximity of culture and language. The historical significance of the ancient Russian nationality is great, regardless of the current political and economic situation. In order to verify this, it is worth considering the components of this community, namely: language, customs, culture.
History of the Old Russian language
Representatives of the East Slavic tribes understood each other even before the founding of Kievan Rus.
The Old Russian language is the speech of the inhabitants who inhabited the territory of this feudal state from the sixth to the fourteenth century. A huge role in the development of culture is played by the emergence of writing. If, speaking of the time of the birth of the Old Russian language, historians call the seventh century, then the appearance of the first literary monuments can be attributed to the tenth century. With the creation of the Cyrillic alphabet, the development of writing begins. So-called chronicles appear, which are also important historical documents.
The Old Russian ethnos began its development in the seventh century, but by the fourteenth, due to severe feudal fragmentation, changes in the speech of the inhabitants inhabiting the west, south, east of Kievan Rus began to be observed. It was then that dialects appeared, later formed inseparate languages: Russian, Ukrainian, Belarusian.
Culture
Reflection of the life experience of the people - oral creativity. In the festive rituals of the inhabitants of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus, and today there are many similarities. How did oral poetry appear?
Street musicians, itinerant actors and singers roamed the streets of the ancient Russian state. All of them had a common name - buffoons. The motives of folk art formed the basis of many literary and musical works created much later.
The epic epic received special development in the early feudal state. Folk singers idealized the unity of Kievan Rus. The characters of epics (for example, the hero Mikula Selyanovich) are depicted in epic works as rich, strong and independent. Despite the fact that this hero was a peasant.
Folk art has influenced the legends and tales that have developed in the church and secular environment. And this influence is noticeable in the culture of later periods. Another source for creating literary works for the authors of Kievan Rus was military stories.
Farm Development
With the formation of the ancient Russian people, representatives of the East Slavic tribes began to improve tools. The economy, however, remained natural. In the main industry - agriculture - ralas, spades, hoes, scythes, wheeled plows were widely used.
Significant progress with the formation of the ancient Russian state was achievedartisans. Blacksmiths learned to harden, grind, polish. Representatives of this ancient craft made about one hundred and fifty types of iron products. The swords of ancient Russian blacksmiths were especially famous. Pottery and woodworking were also actively developed. Products of ancient Russian masters were known far beyond the borders of the state.
The formation of the nation contributed to the development of crafts and agriculture, which subsequently led to an increase in the development of trade relations. Kievan Rus developed economic relations with foreign countries. The trade route "from the Varangians to the Greeks" passed through the ancient Russian state.
Feudal relations
The formation of the ancient Russian people took place during the period of the establishment of feudalism. What was this system of social relations? The feudal lords, about whose cruelty Soviet historians spoke so much, indeed, concentrated power and we alth in their hands. They used the labor of urban artisans and dependent peasants. Feudalism contributed to the formation of complex vassal relations, known from the history of the Middle Ages. The great Kyiv prince personified state power.
Class strife
Smerd peasants cultivated the estates of the feudal lords. Artisans paid tribute. The hardest life was for serfs and servants. As in other medieval states, feudal exploitation in Kievan Rus eventually aggravated to such an extent that uprisings began. The first took place in 994. The story of the death of Igor, who, together with his squad, decided one day to collect tribute in the secondonce known to all. Popular anger is a terrible phenomenon in history, leading to incitement of strife, excesses, and sometimes even war.
Fighting Aliens
Norman Scandinavian tribes continued their predatory attacks even when the East Slavic tribes were already an ethnic community. In addition, Kievan Rus waged a continuous struggle against the hordes of the Khazar Khaganate. The inhabitants of the ancient Russian state bravely repelled enemy invasions. And they themselves did not wait for the next attack from the enemy, but, without thinking twice, set off. Old Russian troops often equipped campaigns in enemy states. Their glorious deeds are reflected in chronicles, epics.
Paganism
Territorial unity was significantly strengthened during the reign of Vladimir Svyatoslavovich. Kievan Rus achieved significant development, waged a fairly successful struggle against the aggressive actions of the Lithuanian and Polish princes.
Paganism had a negative impact on the formation of ethnic unity. There was a need for a new religion, which, of course, was to be Christianity. Askold began to distribute it on the territory of Russia. But then Kyiv was captured by the Novgorod prince and destroyed the recently erected Christian churches.
Introduction of a new faith
Vladimir took over the mission of introducing a new religion. However, there were many fans of paganism in Russia. They have been fighting for many years. Even before the adoption of Christianity, attempts were made to renew the pagan religion. Vladimir Svyatoslavovich,for example, in 980 he approved the existence of a group of gods led by Perun. What was needed was an idea common to the entire state. And its center was bound to be in Kyiv.
Paganism, nevertheless, has become obsolete. And therefore, Vladimir, after lengthy deliberation, chose Orthodoxy. In choosing, he was guided, first of all, by practical interests.
Tough choice
According to one version, the prince listened to the opinion of several priests before making a choice. Everyone, as you know, has his own truth. The Muslim world attracted Vladimir, but he was frightened by circumcision. In addition, the Russian table cannot be without pork and wine. The faith of the Jews in the prince did not at all inspire confidence. Greek was colorful, spectacular. And political interests finally predetermined the choice of Vladimir.
Religion, traditions, culture - all this unites the population of countries where once lived tribes united in an ancient Russian ethnic union. And even after centuries, the connection between such peoples as Russian, Ukrainian and Belarusian is inseparable.
