Ryadovichi - who is it, what is their role in the social system of Kievan Rus? This question is asked not only by secondary school students, but also by historians, since there is not so much information about the social system of Russia.
Kievan Rus in Brief
Based on the materials of the excavations, it can be said that the Slavs from time immemorial lived along the banks of rivers in semi-dugouts with a stove.
Villages formed a community based on socio-economic relations. Communities could be separated from each other by tens or even hundreds of kilometers. The community was engaged in agriculture and cattle breeding. It is erroneous to think that this industry was underdeveloped. For example, for quite a long time, almost until the tenth century, cattle was synonymous with money. For the survival of the community, beekeeping, hunting and fishing were also necessary. As for the social system, it can be described as a military democracy. The basis of any society is hierarchy. But in ancient Russian society, the hierarchy was built not on the principle of coercion, but on psychological aspects - influence, imitation, prohibitions (the taboo system). All this formed a social algorithm of behavior, whichcaused subordination (psychological) in people. As a result, this algorithm evoked a sense of care and responsibility in some, and respect and fear in others. These algorithms are fixed as mental archetypes and serve as a kind of indicators of the ethnic identity of the people. In the 11th-12th centuries, the stratification of society that had begun earlier and a clearer formation of social strata continued. Inequality is growing, even outcasts are beginning to appear - people who are forced to leave their community for one reason or another. Also, by the 12th century, in the eyes of people, the land with the people working on it is becoming more and more valuable. For the first time in Russian truth, the concepts of "ryadovichi", "purchases", "serfs" appear. All these categories of the population were more or less dependent on the landowner.
Ryadovichi in Ancient Russia - who is this?
At present, nothing definite can be said about the social nature and functions of Ryadovich. Some researchers consider Ryadovich an ordinary slave. The fact is that in Pravda Russkaya its price is 5 hryvnias.
Exactly the same price as a simple slave. But Ryadovich was not always a slave. Sometimes a ryadovich is a person who can live and work with someone under a contract of employment. There is also an opinion among historians that Ryadovich is the lowest managerial level, that is, a non-free clerk. Daniil Zatochnik has a link to this. In particular, he mentions that the prince is like a fire that burns the good of people, and his rank and file are sparks. That is, a ryadovich is a person whoperforms administrative work in favor of the prince.
Ryadovichi - are they serfs or not?
Some historians equate Ryadovichi with serfs on the basis of personal dependence. However, if we take into account the fact that the Ryadovichi are people who, according to a number (contract), live with someone and work for this person, then they can no longer be called slaves. At the same time, if he is not a slave, then he is not a hired worker in the conditions of a capitalist society. He is a feudal-dependent person, that is, by contract he becomes dependent and is part of the servants.
In the hierarchy, he becomes next to the slave, but retains a conditional dependence.
The social essence of Ryadovich
In Russkaya Pravda there are clear indications on this score. According to them, a person can become a rank and file if he wants to marry a slave. But before marriage, it was necessary to clearly stipulate the terms of the series. A potential groom can become either a tiun or a key keeper in a row. Also, Russkaya Pravda provides for an option when, in the event of the death of a Ryadovich, his wife must work out his duties. But a "order" was also provided - a way out of a dependent position, the abolition of a series. It is the process of "detachment" that shows that the Ryadovichi are not slaves. They could pay off their master.
