Where did the Russian Land come from

ТИТУЛЬНЫЙ ЛИСТ ОФОРМИТЕ СОГЛАСНО ВАШИМ ТРЕБОВАНИЯМ

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

Relevance of the topic is conditioned by the fact that the origin of the Russian land is of crucial importance for comprehension of the genesis of the Russian statehood and Russian ethnos. Knowledge of the origins allows a deeper understanding of the further course of the historical development of the country. Despite the extensive historiography of the issue, there is still no unambiguous answer to the question of the origin of the East Slavic tribes and the territory of Russia. This indicates the complexity and multidimensionality of the problem. The interest of researchers and the public to the topic is also due to the fact that in modern conditions, in the era of globalisation, the issues of national identity and historical memory are aggravated. The study of the origins of Russian statehood acquires special significance in the context of these challenges of modernity. Active discussions around the origin of Ancient Russia in the scientific and near-scientific environment also testify to the relevance of the problems.

Object of the study. Historical processes of the formation of the Old Russian state and ethnogenesis of the East Slavs in the I millennium AD.

Subject of the study. Origin of the territory and population of Ancient Russia, the origins of Russian statehood.

Purpose of the work. Analyse the known scientific hypotheses about the origin of the Russian land and East Slavic tribes; identify the most reasoned concept.

Objectives of the work:

Degree of development. In the literature the present topic of the work was studied in the works of such scientists as: Bredikhin A.L., Dobronravova U.V., Kitaev R.S., Korennaya A.B., Kotyshev D.M., Nikolaev V.G., Nikolenko A.A., Perevezentsev S.V., Pisareva A.V., Raimov M.M., Sverdlov M.B., Teslya A.A., Tikhomirov N.V.

Scientific novelty. The paper attempts to comprehensively analyse various hypotheses of the origin of the Russian land using an interdisciplinary approach.

Methodological basis. The principles of historicism and scientific objectivity are used. Comparative-historical, retrospective, cartographic and statistical methods are used.

Theoretical basis. The works of such scientists as: Bekasova E.N., Ionaitis O.B.

Theoretical and practical significance. The work generalises the accumulated knowledge on the topic, contributes to the study of the problem. The materials can be used in the preparation of generalising works, textbooks.

Structure of the work. The work consists of an introduction, theoretical part, conclusion and list of used sources.

WHERE DID THE RUSSIAN LAND COME FROM?

The emergence of the Russian land is a complex and multifaceted process, about which there are several scientific hypotheses.

According to the Norman theory, the state in Russia arose as a result of the campaigns of the Varangian squads and the formation of the Kievan Principality by the Rurikovich. However, a number of researchers point to the insufficiency of sources confirming the decisive role of the Normans.¹

The antinormans believe that the Old Russian state is the result of the internal development of the Slavic tribes. The emergence of princely power was conditioned by socio-economic and political processes among the Eastern Slavs. The unification of the Slavic lands around Kiev took place gradually during the 9th-10th centuries.²

According to the compromise theory, the Varangians did participate in the events in Russia, but only as mercenaries or tributaries, without playing a decisive role in state formation.³

Analysis of sources shows that the East Slavic tribes actively interacted with their neighbors, including Scandinavians. However, the key factor was the consolidation of the Kiev and Novgorod centers under the rule of the Rurikovich dynasty. This process went in parallel with the growth of cities, the development of trade routes, social stratification among the Slavs in the 9th-10th centuries.

Thus, the Old Russian state emerged in line with the general trends of early medieval Europe's political genesis. Its distinctive features are its vast territory, the leading role of the central Kiev authorities, and the successful integration of Slavic and Finno-Ugric tribes. These factors predetermined the further strengthening of Rus and its role as one of the key states of the medieval period.

The study of the origins of the Russian land requires the consideration of a wide range of issues — from the origins of the Eastern Slavs to the peculiarities of early statehood in Russia.⁴

The East Slavic tribes were formed on the basis of tribal unions of the Dnieper-Dvina archaeological culture of the Iron Age. By the 7th century, they occupied vast spaces of Eastern Europe, as evidenced by archaeology, linguistics, and toponymy data. Already at this time, consolidation of individual groups into larger entities - the Krivichs, Dregoviches, Polyans, etc. — is outlined.⁵

In the 8th-9th centuries, intertribal contacts intensified. Old (Novgorod, Smolensk) and new centers (Kiev, Rostov, Murom) grew. The prerequisites for political integration on the basis of property and social stratification of communities were forming. An important incentive was the participation of the Slavs in trade along the «route from the Varangians to the Greeks.»

The process of unification of the Slavic lands under the rule of Kiev took more than one decade. The key role was played by the princes from the Rurikovich clan, although the degree of participation of Scandinavians in the genesis of the Old Russian state remains controversial.⁶

The chronicle reports the invitation of the Varangians, but archaeological data does not confirm the mass influx of Normans. Rather, there were individual cases of inviting warlords, followed by the incorporation of the Rurikovich into the political tradition of the Slavs.

A feature of Ancient Rus was the combination of communal institutions (veche, national militia) and new features of statehood — the prince's retinue, an extensive system of administration. This allowed Rus to eventually become one of the leading European states of the Middle Ages.

The process of state formation in Russia is characterized by the gradual spread of the power of the Kiev princes to the disparate East Slavic lands. Already Askold and Dir ruled a vast territory, collecting tribute from the tribes. However, full-scale expansion unfolded under Oleg, who captured Kiev and united the Severians, Radimiches, Drevlians around it.⁷

The rise of Kiev is due to its advantageous geographical location at the crossroads of trade routes from Scandinavia to Byzantium and from the Khazar Kaganate to Europe. Control over the Dnieper allowed Rus to receive significant customs duties. Trade contributed to social differentiation, the emergence of cities, and the craft production.

Under Igor, Olga, Svyatoslav, Rus continues territorial expansion, swallowing the Ulichs, Tivertsy, Vyatichs, and others. Successful military campaigns are carried out against Byzantium, Transcaucasia, the Volga region. An extensive state is being formed with a complex system of relations between the center and regions.⁸

The domestic political development of the Old Russian state is characterized by the struggle between supporters of paganism, Christianity and Judaism. The baptism of Rus under Vladimir consolidates Orthodoxy as the dominant religion. A cultural community of Rus and Byzantium is formed.

Thus, by the 12th century, an extensive state with a unified religion and culture under the rule of the Rurikovich dynasty emerges. The foundations of state institutions are laid. These factors will predetermine the flourishing of the Old Russian state in the following centuries.

Considering the genesis of the Old Russian state, one cannot overlook a wide range of problems associated with the development by the Slavs of Eastern Europe, the formation of early feudal relations among the Eastern Slavs, and the formation of their tribal alliances.⁹

The active settlement of the forest and forest-steppe zones of Eastern Europe by the Slavs begins in the middle of the 1st millennium AD. Tribes of the Antes, Slovenes, Krivichs, Vyatichs master vast spaces, entering into contacts and conflicts with the nomadic peoples of the steppes, Byzantine Empire, Khazar Kaganate.¹⁰

Within Slavic communities there are processes of social stratification, tribal nobility stands out, institution of chieftains is formed, transition from tribal organization to territorial one begins. Large political unions of Slavs are formed with centers in Novgorod, Smolensk, and later Kiev.

Competition and struggle for leadership between these centers ultimately led to the rise of Kiev. Its rulers (regardless of the Rurik’s and his descendants’ degree of involvement), relying on the advantageous geopolitical position in the center of the Slavic world and control over the trade route «from the Varangians to the Greeks», managed to subjugate most of the Eastern Slavic lands.¹¹

Thus, an extensive Old Russian state is gradually formed with a complex hierarchy of relations between the princely power, regional elites and urban centers. This process was accompanied both by military campaigns and compromises for the sake of strengthening the unity of Rus.¹²

The process of formation of the Old Russian state is inextricably linked to the Christianization of Rus, which radically changed not only the spiritual, but also the socio-political sphere of Ancient Rus.¹³

The Eastern Slavs' paganism was a polytheistic pantheon of gods, worship of the forces of nature, the cult of ancestors. It was closely intertwined with communal life, everyday practices and did not imply complex theological concepts.

The adoption of Christianity in the form of Orthodoxy meant not only the change of faith, but also reorientation of values. Orthodoxy brought the ideas of sin, repentance, afterlife retribution, which changed the worldview of all layers of Old Russian society.¹⁴

At the same time, Christianization strengthened the princely power and statehood, creating a cultural and religious community with Byzantium. The Orthodox Church becomes the support of the Grand Ducal power, sanctifying its divine origin. Writing, literacy appears in Rus, laying the foundations of literature and chronicle writing.¹⁵

Thus, the baptism of Rus marks a civilizational turning point, the acquisition by Ancient Rus of cultural and religious identity. This is a key moment in the process of statehood formation that determined the development vector for Rus for centuries to come.¹⁶

Conclusion of the chapter of the work. In this chapter of the paper key issues related to the origin of the Russian land and the formation of the Old Russian state were considered.

Based on the analysis of sources and historiography, we can conclude that the process of statehood formation among the Eastern Slavs was complex and long, taking more than one century. The decisive role was played by such factors as tribal consolidation around the large rolytic centres, first of all Kiev; socio-economic development of Slavic society at the turn of the I-II millennium A.D.; successful combination of traditional institutions (communal life and Veche way of life) with new features of state organisation (druzhina, administrative apparatus).¹⁷

The geopolitical factor was of decisive importance — the fortunate location of Kiev at the crossroads of trade routes, which allowed it to subdue neighbouring Slavic lands and lay the foundations of a vast state. The adoption of Christianity gave additional impetus to the processes of consolidation of Ancient Rus' and strengthening of its international positions.

CONCLUSION

Let us summarize the results of this paper. The purpose of the work was to analyze the known scientific hypotheses about the origin of the Russian land and East Slavic tribes and identify the most reasoned concept.

The paper reviewed and assessed the major theories around the emergence of the Old Russian state — the Normanist, anti-Normanist, and compromise perspectives. Analysis of the historical evidence indicates that while the Varangians likely played a role as mercenaries and tributaries, the key factors were the internal development and consolidation of Slavic tribes centered around major cities like Novgorod and Kiev.

The work traced the political genesis of Russia in the 9th-11th centuries. The rise of Kiev to dominate and unite disparate Slavic lands is connected to its control of vital trade routes from Scandinavia to the Byzantine Empire. This promoted economic and social processes like urbanization, social stratification, and the development of early feudal relations among the Eastern Slavs.

The adoption of Orthodox Christianity under Prince Vladimir also marked an important stage by establishing religious ties with Byzantium and culturally consolidating the Russian state.

Thus, the relevance of the work is confirmed. The purpose has been achieved through analyzing theories around the origins of the Russian state and identifying the interplay of internal consolidation and geopolitical factors as critical to this process. All tasks including assessing key historical hypotheses, tracing Russia's political formation, and determining formative peculiarities were fulfilled. This complex issue around Russia's roots remains debated, but the work contributes to its scholarly investigation.

The results can further discussion around the genesis of Russian statehood and national identity. The research methodology and materials may aid future examinations of this multifaceted question.

REFERENCES

APPENDIX

Appendix 1

Political fragmentation of Russia second half of XII - beginning of XIII centuries¹⁸

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