Precisely determine the time period with whichthe emergence of the Old Russian state is very difficult. It is known that this event was preceded by a long period of formation and development of tribal relations in the communities inhabiting the East European Plain.
Already in the first millennium of a new era, the territorythe future Slavs are beginning to learn the Slavic agricultural tribes. In the fifth century, in the process of forming social differentiation in the society, dozens of individual princes or unions are formed. These were original political associations that later became a slave or early feudal state. From the "Tale of Bygone Years" it becomes known the location and name of these reigns. So, the meadow lived near Kiev, the radimichs - along the Sozh River, the northerners - in Chernigov, the Vyatichi - near the Oka River, the Dregovichi occupied the Minsk and Brest Regions, the Krivichi - the cities of Smolensk, Pskov and Tver, drevlyane - Polesie. In addition to the Slavic tribes, the Eastern European plain was inhabited by proto-balts (the ancestors of Estonians and Latvians) and Fino-Ugrians.
In the seventh century more stablepolitical education, there are cities - the centers of principalities. So there are Novgorod, Kiev, Polotsk, Chernigov, Smolensk, Izborsk, Turov. Some historians tend to associate the emergence of the Old Russian state with the formation of these cities. This is partly true. However, the early feudal state with a monarchical form of government appears a little later, in the ninth to tenth centuries.
The emergence and development of the Old Russianthe states of the Eastern Slavic peoples are associated with the founding of the ruling dynasty. From the chronicles it is known that in 862 Prince Rurik ascended the throne of Novgorod. In 882, the two main centers of Southern and Northern Russia (Kiev and Novgorod) are merged into one state. The new administrative-territorial formation has received the name of Kievan Rus. Prince Oleg became his first ruler. In this period, the state apparatus appears, the orders are strengthened, and the prince's rule becomes a hereditary prerogative. This is the origin of the Old Russian state.
Later in the subordination of Kievan Rus were other Slavic tribes: northerners, drevlyane, ulichi, radimichi, vyatichi, tivertsy, glade, etc.
Historians tend to believe that the emergence ofAncient Russian state was caused by the active growth of trade and economic relations. The fact is, through the lands of the East Slavic peoples the waterway ran, which in the people was called "from the Varangians to the Greeks". It was he who played a significant role in bringing these two principalities closer together to achieve common economic goals.
The main function of the Old Russian state was the protection of the territory from an attack from outside and the implementation of an active foreign policy of military orientation (trips to Byzantium, the destruction of the Khazars, etc.).
The heyday of Kievan Rus falls on the yearsthe government of Ya. Wise. This period is characterized by the existence of an established system of public administration. Under the rule of the prince was the squad and boyars. He had the right to appoint the posadniks (govern the cities), the governor, the musketeers (to collect trade duties), tributaries (to collect land taxes). The basis of the Old Russian Principality was made up of both urban and rural residents.
The emergence of the state is a long andcomplicated. Kievan Rus was heterogeneous in its ethnic composition, multinational. Along with the Slavic communities, it also included the Baltic and Finnish tribes. And later the Old Russian people gave growth and development to the three Slavic peoples: Ukrainians, Russians and Belarusians.
