What is a lesson in Ancient Russia? This concept is closely connected with the name of Olga (c. 920 - 969) - the widow of the Kyiv prince Igor, who was killed in the city of Iskorosten by the Drevlyans.
Kyiv Prince Igor Rurikovich
To fully reveal the concept of "lessons" in Ancient Russia, you need to start looking at history from the beginning, from the very beginning, that is, from the death of Prince Igor. He ended up on the throne after the death of the Varangian Oleg the Prophet. It is surprising that this prince did not show himself in any way. Several trips to Byzantium ended unsuccessfully. Apart from the prolongation of the trade agreement with the Greeks, already signed by Oleg in 911, the ruler's career is unremarkable. Only the episode of the inglorious death remains.
Igor's act may seem strange. It consists in the fact that, having completed the annual collection of tribute in the lands of the Drevlyans, his subjects, his warriors remain dissatisfied with its size. And then the prince returns to the Drevlyansk capital, the city of Iskorosten (Korosten), with the aim of re-extortion. And the rebellious population kills him.
Princess Olga is the first woman on the throne
Power passes to the widow of the prince. In the country,where warriors ruled, a weak woman had to prove to her people and opponents that she could be equal to her husband. She starts with revenge. The chronicles mention 4 deeds that entered the history of her reign.
These are peculiar riddles for the Drevlyans related to the funeral ritual. The last massacre of the Drevlyans was the destruction of their capital. Having made a military campaign against Iskorosten together with her son Svyatoslav at the head of a large detachment, the princess burned down the wooden city.
What was called "lessons" in Ancient Russia? After the suppression of the Drevlyans, Olga began to work to eliminate the causes of the rebellion and the shortcomings of the state system, and this concept received a meaning that has come down to our times.
Economic and political situation at the beginning of the 10th century in Ancient Russia
Until the reign of the Kievan princess, Russia remained under the control of the Varangians. Its rulers, the Rurikovichs, made long marches and built fortresses. From ancient sources it is clear that the Varangians did not have their own statehood and could not bring this experience to Russia. They actively developed rivers and trade routes, and also became related to the local nobility.
With the advent of water trading hubs, cities begin to grow, infrastructure emerges. This was a powerful impetus to the development of socio-economic relations and a certain order. Power already in antiquity became the legislator and organizer of the economy. Princes take control of the waterway. A state called Kyiv is formedRussia.
Attempts to control and centralize: what does "lessons" mean in Ancient Russia
The nascent elite received funds to realize their ambitions to capture Byzantium, legalizing tribute from the conquered tribes and Novgorod: 300 hryvnias annually for the sake of peace. The polyudie described in the textbooks, that is, the collection of tribute by the Kyiv princes in money and natural products, did not end with the squandering of the collected good. In the spring, courts with tribute from Novgorod, Smolensk, Chernigov, and others gathered in Kyiv. And in June, the fleet with goods went to Constantinople. This is evidenced by medieval treaties with Byzantium, where most of the articles are devoted to the legal regulation of trade.
The prince and his squad were the only authority that held the Slavic tribal lands together. They were also tribute collectors and bailiffs. The squad received part of the funds through polyudye, part from duties and from military campaigns. The population had to provide for them during the performance of their official duty. In ancient Russia, a special management mechanism developed: a non-feudal-vassal type of relationship. The main part of the population is community members (free peasants), the other part is a squad. Due to the lack of land ownership, the prince received income from the population, that is, tribute.
Taxation in the 9th-10th centuries
Every year from November to April, the princely squad received income in 2 ways:
- cart - obligatory delivery to the prince's court of agricultural and craft products;
- polyudye - a detour of the lands by a retinue and the collection of money, food,goods.
The executors of the tax program were junior combatants.
The taxation system was direct and did not provide for norms and clear procedures. Taxes were irregular and sometimes in excess, which caused discontent and revolt. Only in the middle of the 10th century did an orderly procedure appear for the first time, explaining what a lesson was in Ancient Russia.
There were a number of indirect taxes in the form of trade duties and court fines:
- myt was charged for the transport of goods across mountain and water borders;
- weight and measure - respectively for weighing and measuring goods;
- trade was taken from traders in the markets;
- the living room was charged for the arrangement of warehouses;
- vira - a fine for killing a serf.
Reforms of Princess Olga
Igor's death pushes Olga to the first act of state. Graveyards and lessons are introduced. This in Ancient Russia marked the start of economic activity. Before it, the main direction of the established state was an aggressive policy, and not internal management. "Lessons" meaning in Ancient Russia, their definition and importance for the country are described in detail in the annals of Nestor. Olga did not plunder the land, but flexibly ruled: "Volga is coming with a retinue, fixing charters and lessons." Her reforms were peaceful.
The princess carried out transformations by:
- fixing the amount of tribute;
- appointment of tributaries - responsible persons for the collectiontribute;
- determining strong points - special places for gatherings.
Lessons and graveyards in Ancient Russia
To fully understand what a lesson is in Ancient Russia, you need to study Article 8 of the modern Tax Code of the Russian Federation. In fact, this reform was the first attempt on the path to autocracy and the rule of law. Innovation required new conditions and relationships. The statutes and lessons consisted in the regulation of duties and the publication of legal acts for the leadership of power. Stanovishcha and graveyards testify to the demarcation of borders and the appointment of responsible persons, and since the collection of tribute was carried out in winter, warm premises and a supply of provisions were needed. The remoteness of the churchyards required local management. Thus, a set of measures was taken for the peaceful arrangement of the internal economy.
First of all, the princess divided the lands into volosts, the centers of which she made graveyards - large trading villages that stood along the banks of the rivers.
So what are the lessons in Ancient Russia? The definition is given in Russkaya Pravda, which speaks of important tiun officials. They collected tribute from the tribes and held court. Usually the truth was established through witnesses. If they were not available, the tiuns resorted to the help of pagan clairvoyants. The culprit paid a fine, and in case of disobedience to the local authorities, the militia was called to help. The supreme power of the princess exercised control when she could suddenly appear with an inspection, and woe was to the guilty or lazy tyun.
Origin of the word "lesson"
The meaning of the word "lessons" inAncient Russia has the meaning of an agreement, a deal, a mutually beneficial relationship. The etymology of the term will help to understand in more detail what it is. The word leads to the Proto-Slavic language and comes from the same root "speech / speech", when the language was formed in pagan conditions and in the process of ritual actions. The word "river" expresses a certain worldview and is associated with witchcraft, and later with the adoption of Christianity, with God and his rules established on Earth.
The Russian verb “to tame” is similar in sound to “prophesy” and has the meaning of “bewitch, appoint”, the lesson is “witchcraft with the help of words”. Under the influence of impurity sounds, several derivatives of the “river” appeared: rock, speak, prophet, blame, blame, vow, lesson. Then the word "lesson" takes on clearer forms and is defined as "a rule, a tax or a payment." Subsequently, the meaning narrows and has a figurative meaning: “something instructive”, from where we have the combination “school lesson”, “school hour”.
What is a lesson in Ancient Russia: conclusion
The development of new commodity-money relations was based on a lesson - a fixed tax rate. Re-collection from the payer under this system was not possible. The reforms strengthened the central government, created a firm organization of taxation, defined administrative boundaries, and expanded the administrative apparatus. Own and state possessions and incomes were demarcated. Olga actively pursued not only domestic policy, but also grew spiritually by implementing foreign policy. Having acceptedChristianity, being the ruler of a pagan state, she performs the 2nd act - spiritual. She gave the country a state-cultural outline, which was greatly facilitated by the development of the lesson. Orthodoxy in Ancient Russia was gaining strength and self-consciousness.
