Kievan Rus - an exceptional phenomenonEuropean medieval history. Occupying a geographically intermediate position between the civilizations of the East and the West, it became a zone of the most important historical and cultural contacts and was formed not only on a self-contained internal basis, but also with significant influence of neighboring peoples.
Formation of the state of Kievan Rus and the originsThe formations of modern Slavic nationalities lie in the times when the Great Migration of Slavs began in the vast territories of Eastern and Southeastern Europe, which lasted until the end of the 7th century. The previously united Slavic community gradually disintegrated into eastern, western, southern and northern Slavic tribal unions.
Initially, there were temporary, randomunification of tribes - for military campaigns or defense from unfriendly neighbors and nomads. Gradually, associations of close tribes in culture and life arose. Finally, territorial associations of a proto-state type were formed - the land and the principality, which later became the cause of such a process as the formation of the state of Kievan Rus.
Most modern historical schoolsconnects the beginnings of the self-consciousness of the Russian, Ukrainian and Belarusian peoples with the collapse of the great Slavic ethnically united society and the emergence of a new social entity - the tribal union. The gradual rapprochement of the Slavic tribes gave rise to the state of Kievan Rus. The formation of the state accelerated at the end of the eighth century. On the territory of the future power, seven political unions were formed: Dulibs, Drevlyans, Croats, Glades, streets, Tivertsi, Siveryan. One of the first to emerge was the Dulib union, uniting the tribes inhabiting the territories from the r. Horyn in the east to Zap. Bug. The most favorable geographical position was the tribe of the glades, which occupied the territory of the middle Dnieper region from the r. Teteriv in the north to the river. Irpen and Ros in the south. The formation of the ancient state of Kievan Rus occurred on the lands of these tribes.
Under the conditions of the formation of tribal unions grewtheir military-political significance. Most of the booty captured during the military campaigns was appropriated by tribal leaders and warriors - armed professional warriors who served the leaders for remuneration. An important role was played by the meetings of free male warriors or the people's assemblies (veche), at which the most important administrative and civil issues were decided. There was a separation in the stratum of the tribal elite, in whose hands the power was concentrated. The composition of this stratum included the boyars — advisers and confidants of the prince, the princes themselves, and their warriors.
The process of stateEducation took place on the lands of the Polyansky tribal principality. The importance of Kiev grew - its capital. The supreme power in the principality belonged to the descendants of the Polyanian Prince Kyi.
Between the eighth and ninth centuries. in the principality there were real political preconditions for the emergence on its basis of the first Slavic state, which later received the name of Kievan Rus.
The question "where did the Russian land come from"given by the chronicler Nestor, did not find a definite answer to this day. Today among historians there are several scientific theories of the origin of the name "Rus", "Kievan Rus". The formation of this phrase is rooted in the deep past. In a broad sense, these terms were used when describing all the East Slavic territories, in the narrow - only Kiev, Chernihiv and Pereyaslav lands were taken into account. Among the Slavic tribes, these names were widely distributed and subsequently entrenched in various place names. For example, the names of the rivers - Rosava. Ros, and others. Also, those Slavic tribes that occupied a privileged position on the lands of the Middle Dnieper became known. According to scientists, the name of one of the tribes, which was part of the Poliansk Union, was dew or Rus, and later the social elite of the whole Polyan Union began to call itself Rus. In the 9th century, the formation of ancient Russian statehood was completed. Kievan Rus began its existence.
Geographically, all the tribes lived in the forest orforest-steppe. These natural areas were favorable for the development of the economy and safe for life. The formation of the state of Kievan Rus began in the middle latitudes, in forests and forest-steppe.
General location of the southern group of Slavic tribessignificantly influenced the nature of their relations with neighboring nations and countries. The territory of residence of the ancient Rus was on the border between East and West. These lands are located at the crossroads of ancient roads and trade routes. But unfortunately, these territories were open and unprotected natural barriers, which made them vulnerable to invasions and raids.
During the VII-VIII centuries.The main threat to the local population were alien peoples of the East and South. Of particular importance to the field was the formation of the Khazar Kaganate - a strong state located in the steppes of the Northern Black Sea region and in the Crimea. In relation to the Slavs, the Khazars took an aggressive stance. First, they besieged Vyatichi and Siveryan, and later - the field. The struggle against the Khazars contributed to the unification of the tribes of the Polyansky tribal alliance, which both traded and fought with the Khazars. Perhaps it was from Khazaria that the title of lord, Kagan, passed to the Slavs.
The relations of the Slavic tribes were important.with Byzantium. Repeatedly Slavic princes fought and traded with the powerful empire, and sometimes even entered into military alliances with it. In the west, the relations of the Eastern Slavic peoples were maintained with the Slovaks, Poles and Czechs.
Political development of the Polyansky reignled to the emergence at the turn of the VIII-IX centuries of public education, which later was assigned the name "Rus". Since the capital of the new power became Kiev, historians of the XIX-XX centuries. began to call her "Kievan Rus". The formation of the country began in the Middle Dnieper region, where the Drevlyans, Siverans and the meadows lived.
The ruler of Russia had the title Kagan (Khakan),equivalent to the Grand Duke of Russia. It is clear that only Vladyka, who by his social position stood above the prince of a tribal union, could have such a title. The strengthening of the new state was evidenced by its active military activities. At the end of the VIII c. Russes, headed by Prince Polyansky Bvranin, attacked the Crimean coast and captured Korchev, Surozh and Korsun. In 838, the Ruses arrived in Byzantium. That was how the diplomatic relations with the Eastern Empire were formed. The formation of the Eastern Slavic state of Kievan Rus was a great event. She was recognized as one of the most powerful powers of the time.
Princes in Russia representatives of the Kievichi dynasty, towhich include brothers Askold and Dir. According to some historians, they were co-rulers, although, perhaps, they reigned first at Deer, and then at Askold. In those days, on the Dnieper squad of Normans appeared - Swedes, Danes, Norwegians. They were used to protect trade routes and as mercenaries during raids. In 860, Askold, leading an army of 6-8 thousand people, carried out a march to Costantinople. While in Byzantium, Askold got acquainted with the new religion - Christianity, was baptized and tried to bring a new faith, which Kievan Rus could accept. Education, the history of the new country began to experience the influence of Byzantine philosophers and thinkers. Priests and architects were invited from the empire to the Russian land. But these events of Askold did not bring much success - among the nobility and commoners there was still a strong influence of paganism. Therefore, Christianity came later in Kievan Rus.
The formation of a new state determined the beginning of a new era in the history of the Eastern Slavs - the era of full-fledged state and political life.
