The largest Russian principalities of the 12th-13th centuries. Russian lands in the XII-XIII centuries

Already in the middle of the XII century. the power of the Kiev princes began to have real significance only within the Kiev principality itself, which included lands along the banks of the tributaries of the Dnieper - the Teterev, the Irpin and the semi-autonomous Porose, inhabited by the "Black Hoods" vassals from Kyiv. The attempt of Yaropolk, who became the prince of Kiev after the death of Mstislav I, to autocratically dispose of the "fatherlands" of other princes was decisively suppressed.
Despite the loss of all-Russian significance by Kiev, the struggle for possession of it continued until the invasion of the Mongols. There was no sequence in the succession of the Kiev table, and it passed from hand to hand depending on the balance of power of the fighting princely groups and, to a large extent, on the attitude towards them from the powerful Kiev boyars and the Black Hoods. In the context of the all-Russian struggle for Kyiv, the local boyars sought to end the strife and to political stabilization in their principality. In 1113, the boyars’ invitation of Vladimir Monomakh to Kyiv (bypassing the then accepted order of succession) was a precedent used later by the boyars to justify their “right” to choose a strong and pleasing prince and conclude a “row” with him that protected them territorially. corporate interests. The boyars who violated this series of princes were eliminated by going over to the side of his rivals or by conspiracy (as, perhaps, Yuri Dolgoruky was poisoned, overthrown, and then killed in 1147 during a popular uprising, Igor Olgovich Chernigov, unpopular among the people of Kiev). As more and more princes were drawn into the struggle for Kyiv, the Kievan boyars resorted to a peculiar system of princely duumvirate, inviting representatives from two of several rival princely groups as co-rulers to Kyiv, which for some time achieved relative political balance, which was so necessary for Kiev land.
As Kiev loses the all-Russian significance of individual rulers of the strongest principalities, who have become “great” in their lands, the appointment of their henchmen in Kyiv, “handmaids”, begins to satisfy.
Princely strife over Kyiv turned Kiev land into an arena of frequent hostilities, during which cities and villages were ruined, and the population was driven into captivity. Kyiv itself was subjected to cruel pogroms both by the princes who entered it as victors and by those who left it as a vanquished and returned to their "homeland". All this predetermined the emerging from the beginning of the XIII century. the gradual decline of the Kiev land, the outflow of its population to the northern and northwestern regions of the country, which suffered less from princely strife and were virtually inaccessible to the Polovtsians. Periods of temporary strengthening of Kyiv during the reign of such prominent political figures and organizers of the struggle against the Polovtsy as Svyatoslav Vsevolodich of Chernigov (1180-1194) and Roman Mstislavich Volynsky (1202-1205) alternated with the rule of colorless, kaleidoscopically successive princes. Daniil Romanovich Galitsky, in whose hands Kyiv passed shortly before Batu took it, had already limited himself to appointing his posadnik from the boyars.

Vladimir-Suzdal Principality

Until the middle of the XI century. The Rostov-Suzdal land was ruled by posadniks sent from Kyiv. Her real “reigning” began after she went to the younger “Yaroslavich” - Vsevolod Pereyaslavlsky - and was assigned to his descendants as their tribal “volost” In the XII-XIII centuries. The Rostov-Suzdal land experienced an economic and political upsurge, which made it one of the strongest principalities in Russia. The fertile lands of the Suzdal "Opole", boundless forests, cut through by a dense network of rivers and lakes, along which ancient and important trade routes ran to the south and east, the availability of iron ore available for mining - all this favored the development of agriculture, cattle breeding, rural and forestry industries In the acceleration of economic development and the political rise of this forest region, the rapid growth of its population at the expense of the inhabitants of the southern Russian lands, subjected to Polovtsian raids, was of great importance. landownership, absorbing communal lands and involving peasants In personal feudal dependence In the XII - XIII centuries almost all the main cities of this land arose (Vladimir, Pereyaslavl-Zalessky, Dmitrov, Starodub, Gorodets, Galich, Kostroma, Tver, Nizhny Novgorod, etc.) , built by the Suzdal princes on the borders and inside the principality as a supporting fortress and administrative center comrades and built up trade and craft settlements, the population of which was actively involved in political life. Under 1147, the annals first mentioned Moscow, a small border town built by Yuri Dolgoruky on the site of the estate of the boyar Kuchka, confiscated by him.
In the early 30s of the XII century, during the reign of Monomakh's son Yuri Vladimirovich Dolgoruky (1125-1157), the Rostov-Suzdal land gained independence. The military-political activity of Yuri, intervening in all princely strife, stretching out his “long arms” to cities and lands far from his principality, made him one of the central figures in the political life of Russia in the second third of the 11th century. Started by Yuriy and continued by his successors, the struggle with Novgorod and the wars with Volga Bulgaria marked the beginning of the expansion of the principality's borders towards the Dvina and the Volga-Kama lands. Under the influence of the Suzdal princes fell Ryazan and Murom, "pulled" earlier to Chernigov.
The last ten years of Dolgoruky's life were spent in a grueling and alien to the interests of his principality struggle with the southern Russian princes for Kyiv, the reign in which, in the eyes of Yuri and the princes of his generation, was combined with the "elder" in Russia. But already the son of Dolgoruky, Andrey Bogolyubsky, having captured Kyiv in 1169 and brutally robbed it, transferred it to the control of one of his vassal princes, “handmaids”, which testified to a turning point on the part of the most far-sighted princes in their attitude towards Kiev, which had lost its significance all-Russian political center.
The reign of Andrei Yuryevich Bogolyubsky (1157 - 1174) was marked by the beginning of the struggle of the Suzdal princes for the political hegemony of their principality over the rest of the Russian lands. The ambitious attempts of Bogolyubsky, who claimed the title of Grand Duke of All Russia, to completely subjugate Novgorod and force other princes to recognize his supremacy in Russia failed. However, it was precisely in these attempts that the tendency to restore the state-political unity of the country on the basis of the subordination of specific princes to the autocratic ruler of one of the strongest principalities in Russia was reflected.
With the reign of Andrei Bogolyubsky, the revival of the traditions of the power policy of Vladimir Monomakh is associated. Relying on the support of the townspeople and the nobility-druzhinniks, Andrei severely cracked down on the recalcitrant boyars, expelled them from the principality, confiscated their estates. To be even more independent from the boyars, he moved the capital of the principality from a relatively new city - Vladimir-on-Klyazma, which had a significant trade and craft settlement. It was not possible to finally suppress the boyar opposition to the “autocratic” prince, as Andrei was called by his contemporaries. In June 1174, he was killed by boyar conspirators.
The two-year strife unleashed after the murder of Bogolyubsky by the boyars ended with the reign of his brother Vsevolod Yurievich the Big Nest (1176-1212), who, relying on the townspeople and the retinue layers of the feudal lords, severely cracked down on the rebellious nobility and became the sovereign ruler in his land. During his reign, the Vladimir-Suzdal land reached its highest prosperity and power, playing a decisive role in the political life of Russia at the end of the 12th - beginning of the 13th centuries. Spreading his influence on other Russian lands, Vsevolod skillfully combined the power of arms (as, for example, in relation to the Ryazan princes) with skillful politics (in relations with the South Russian princes and Novgorod). The name and power of Vsevolod were well known far beyond the borders of Russia. The author of The Tale of Igor's Campaign proudly wrote about him as the most powerful prince in Russia, whose numerous regiments could scatter the Volga with oars, and scoop water from the Don with helmets, on whose name alone "all countries trembled" and the rumor about which "replete the whole earth."
After the death of Vsevolod, an intensive process of feudal fragmentation began in the Vladimir-Suzdal land. The strife of the numerous sons of Vsevolod over the grand ducal table and the distribution of principalities led to a gradual weakening of the grand ducal power and its political influence on other Russian lands. Nevertheless, until the invasion of the Mongols, the Vladimir-Suzdal land remained the strongest and most influential principality in Russia, which retained political unity under the leadership of the Grand Duke of Vladimir. When planning an aggressive campaign against Russia, the Mongol-Tatars associated the result of the surprise and power of their first strike with the success of the entire campaign as a whole. And it is no coincidence that North-Eastern Russia was chosen as the object of the first strike.

Chernigov and Smolensk principalities

These two large principalities under the Dnieper had much in common in their economy and political system with other southern Russian principalities, which were the ancient centers of culture of the Eastern Slavs. Here already in the IX-XI centuries. a large princely and boyar land ownership was formed, cities grew rapidly, becoming centers of handicraft production, serving not only the surrounding rural districts, but having developed external relations. Extensive trade relations, especially with the West, had the Smolensk principality, in which the upper reaches of the Volga, Dnieper and Western Dvina converged - the most important trade routes of Eastern Europe.
Allocation of the Chernihiv land in an independent principality occurred in the second half of the XI century. in connection with its transfer (together with the Muromo-Ryazan land) to the son of Yaroslav the Wise, Svyatoslav, for whose descendants it was assigned. Even at the end of the XI century. the ancient ties between Chernigov and Tmutarakan, cut off by the Polovtsians from the rest of the Russian lands and falling under the sovereignty of Byzantium, were interrupted. At the end of the 40s of the 11th century. The Chernihiv principality was divided into two principalities: Chernigov and Novgorod-Seversk. At the same time, the Muromo-Ryazan land became isolated, falling under the influence of the Vladimir-Suzdal princes. Smolensk land separated from Kyiv at the end of the 20s of the XII century, when it went to the son of Mstislav I, Rostislav. Under him and his descendants (“Rostislavichs”), the Smolensk principality expanded territorially and strengthened.
The median, connecting position of the Chernigov and Smolensk principalities among other Russian lands involved their princes in all the political events that took place in Russia in the 12th-13th centuries, and above all in the struggle for their neighboring Kyiv. The princes of Chernigov and Seversk, indispensable participants (and often initiators) of all princely strife, were especially active in politics, unscrupulous in the means of combating their opponents and more often than other princes resorted to an alliance with the Polovtsy, with whom they devastated the lands of their rivals. It is no coincidence that the author of The Tale of Igor's Campaign called the founder of the dynasty of Chernigov princes Oleg Svyatoslavich "Gorislavich", the first to start "forging sedition with a sword" and "sowing" the Russian land with strife.
The grand princely power in the Chernihiv and Smolensk lands could not overcome the forces of feudal decentralization (zemstvo nobility and rulers of small principalities), and as a result, these lands at the end of the 12th - first half of the 13th centuries. fragmented into many small principalities, only nominally recognizing the sovereignty of the great princes.

Polotsk-Minsk land

The Polotsk-Minsk land showed early tendencies towards separation from Kyiv. Despite the unfavorable soil conditions for agriculture, the socio-economic development of the Polotsk land proceeded at a high pace due to its favorable location at the crossroads of the most important trade routes along the Western Dvina, Neman and Berezina. Lively trade relations with the West and neighboring Baltic tribes (Livs, Lats, Curonians, etc.), who were under the sovereignty of the Polotsk princes, contributed to the growth of cities with a significant and influential trade and craft stratum in them. A large-scale feudal economy with developed agricultural crafts, the products of which were also exported abroad, also developed here early.
At the beginning of the XI century. Polotsk land went to the brother of Yaroslav the Wise, Izyaslav, whose descendants, relying on the support of the local nobility and townspeople, fought for the independence of their “fatherland” from Kyiv for more than a hundred years with varying success. Polotsk land reached its greatest power in the second half of the 11th century. in the reign of Vseslav Bryachislavich (1044-1103), but in the XII century. it began an intensive process of feudal fragmentation. In the first half of the XIII century. it was already a conglomeration of petty principalities, only nominally recognizing the power of the Grand Duke of Polotsk. These principalities, weakened by internal strife, faced a difficult struggle (in alliance with the neighboring and dependent Baltic tribes) with the German crusaders who invaded the Eastern Baltic. From the middle of the XII century. The Polotsk land became the object of an offensive by the Lithuanian feudal lords.

Galicia-Volyn land

Galicia-Volyn land stretched from the Carpathians and the Dniester-Danube Black Sea region in the south and southwest to the lands of the Lithuanian Yotvingian tribe and Polotsk land in the north. In the west, it bordered on Hungary and Poland, and in the east, on Kiev land and the Polovtsian steppe. The Galicia-Volyn land was one of the oldest centers of plowed agricultural culture of the Eastern Slavs. Fertile soils, mild climate, numerous rivers and forests, interspersed with steppe spaces, created favorable conditions for the development of agriculture, cattle breeding and various crafts, and at the same time the early development of feudal relations, large feudal princely and boyar land ownership. Handicraft production reached a high level, the separation of which from agriculture contributed to the growth of cities, of which there were more than in other Russian lands. The largest of them were Vladimir-Volynsky, Przemysl, Terebovl, Galich, Berestye, Holm, Drogichin and others. A significant part of the inhabitants of these cities were artisans and merchants. The second trade route from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea (Vistula-Western Bug-Dniester) and overland trade routes from Russia to the countries of South-Eastern and Central Europe passed through the Galicia-Volyn land. The dependence of the Dniester-Danube lower land on Galich made it possible to control the European navigable trade route along the Danube with the East.
Galician land until the middle of the XII century. was divided into several small principalities, which in 1141 were united by Przemysl prince Vladimir, Volodarevich, who moved his capital to Galich. The principality of Galicia reached its highest prosperity and power under his son Yaroslav Osmomysl (1153-1187), a major statesman of that time, who highly raised the international prestige of his principality and successfully defended in his policy all-Russian interests in relations with Byzantium and neighboring European states with Russia . The author of The Tale of Igor's Campaign dedicated the most pathetic lines to the military power and international authority of Yaroslav Osmomysl. After the death of Osmomysl, the Principality of Galicia became the scene of a long struggle between the princes and the oligarchic aspirations of the local boyars. Boyar landownership in the Galician land was ahead of the princely in its development and significantly exceeded the latter in its size. The Galician “great boyars”, who owned huge estates with their own fortified castle cities and had numerous military retainers-vassals, resorted to conspiracies and rebellions in the fight against princes they did not like, entered into an alliance with the Hungarian and Polish feudal lords.
The Volhynian land became isolated from Kyiv in the middle of the 12th century, having secured itself as a tribal “fatherland” for the descendants of the Kiev Grand Duke Izyaslav Mstislavich. Unlike the neighboring Galician land, a large princely domain formed early in Volhynia. Boyar landownership grew mainly due to princely grants to serving boyars, whose support allowed the Volyn princes to begin an active struggle to expand their "fatherland". In 1199, the Volyn prince Roman Mstislavich managed to unite the Galician and Volyn lands for the first time, and with his occupation in 1203, Kyiv, under his rule, was the whole of South and South-Western Russia - a territory equal to the large European states of that time. The reign of Roman Mstislavich was marked by the strengthening of the all-Russian and international position of the Galicia-Volyn region
land, successes in the fight against the Polovtsy, the fight against the recalcitrant boyars, the rise of Western Russian cities, crafts and trade. Thus, the conditions were prepared for the flourishing of South-Western Russia during the reign of his son Daniil Romanovich.
The death in 1205 in Poland of Roman Mstislavich led to a temporary loss of the achieved political unity of Southwestern Russia, to a weakening of princely power in it. In the struggle against princely power, all groups of the Galician boyars united, unleashing a devastating feudal war that lasted over 30 years.
The boyars colluded with the Hungarian and
Polish feudal lords, who managed to seize the Galician land and part of Volhynia. In the same years, there was an unprecedented case in Russia when the boyar Vodrdislav Kormilich reigned in Galich. The national liberation struggle against the Hungarian and Polish invaders, which ended in their defeat and expulsion, served as the basis for restoring and strengthening the position of princely power. Relying on the support of the cities, the serving boyars and the nobility, Daniil Romanovich established himself in Volhynia, and then, having occupied Galich in 1238, and Kyiv in 1240, he again united the entire South-Western Russia and Kiev land.

Novgorod feudal republic

A special political system, different from the principalities-monarchies, developed in the XII century. in Novgorod land, one of the most developed Russian lands. The ancient core of the Novgorod-Pskov land was the lands between Ilmen and Lake Peipus and along the banks of the Volkhov, Lovat, Velikaya, Mologa and Msta rivers, which were divided geographically into “pyatinas”, and
in the administrative - into "hundreds" and "graveyards". Novgorod "suburbs" (Pskov, Ladoga, Staraya Russa, Velikie Luki, Bezhichi, Yuriev, Torzhok) served as important trading posts on trade routes and military strongholds on the borders of the land. The largest suburb, which occupied a special, autonomous position in the system of the Novgorod Republic (the “younger brother” of Novgorod), was Pskov, which was distinguished by a developed handicraft and its own trade with the Baltic states, German cities, and even with Novgorod itself. In the second half of the XIII century. Pskov actually became an independent feudal republic.
From the 11th century active Novgorodian colonization of Karelia, Podvinya, Prionezhye and the vast northern Pomorye, which became Novgorod colonies, began. Following the peasant colonization (from the Novgorod and Rostov-Suzdal lands) and the Novgorod trade and fishing people, the Novgorod feudal lords also moved there. In the XII - XIII centuries. there were already the largest patrimonial possessions of the Novgorod nobility, who jealously did not allow the penetration of feudal lords from other principalities into these areas and the creation of princely landed property there.
In the XII century. Novgorod was one of the largest and most developed cities in Russia. The rise of Novgorod was facilitated by its exceptionally advantageous location at the beginning of trade routes important for Eastern Europe, linking the Baltic Sea with the Black and Caspian Seas. This predetermined a significant share of intermediary trade in Novgorod's trade relations with other Russian lands, with Volga Bulgaria, the Caspian and Black Sea regions, the Baltic states, Scandinavia and North German cities. The trade of Novgorod relied on the handicraft and various trades developed in the Novgorod land. Novgorod artisans, distinguished by their wide specialization and professional skills, worked mainly to order, but some of their products went to the city market, and through merchants-buyers to foreign markets. Craftsmen and merchants had their own territorial (“Ulichansky”) and professional associations (“hundreds”, “brothers”), which played a significant role in the political life of Novgorod. The most influential, uniting the top of the Novgorod merchants, was the association of wax merchants (“Ivanskoye Sto”), who were mainly engaged in foreign trade. The Novgorod boyars also actively participated in foreign trade, virtually monopolizing the most profitable trade in furs, which they received from their possessions "in the Dvina and Pomorie and from specially equipped trading and fishing expeditions to the Pechersk and Yugorsk lands.
Despite the predominance of the trade and craft population in Novgorod, the basis of the economy of the Novgorod land was agriculture and related crafts. Due to unfavorable natural conditions, grain farming was unproductive and bread was a significant part of Novgorod's imports. Grain stocks in the estates were created at the expense of food rent collected from smerds and used by the feudal lords for speculation in frequent lean years of famine, to entangle the working people in usurious bondage. In a number of areas, the peasants, in addition to the usual rural trades, were engaged in the extraction of iron ore and salt.
In the Novgorod land, a large boyar, and then a church landownership early developed and became dominant. The specifics of the position of the princes in Novgorod, sent from Kyiv as princes-governors, which excluded the possibility of turning Novgorod into a principality, did not contribute to the formation of a large princely domain, thereby weakening the position of princely power in the fight against the oligarchic aspirations of the local boyars. Already the end! in. the Novgorod nobility largely predetermined the candidacies of the princes sent from Kyiv. So, in 1102, the boyars refused to accept the son of the Kiev Grand Duke Svyatopolk to Novgorod, threatening the latter: “if your son has two heads, then eat him.”
In 1136, the rebellious Novgorodians, supported by the Pskovians and Ladoga residents, expelled Prince Vsevolod Mstislavich, accusing him of "neglecting" the interests of Novgorod. In the Novgorod land liberated from the power of Kyiv, a peculiar political system was established, in which the republican governing bodies stood side by side with and above the princely power. However, the Novgorod feudal lords needed the prince and his retinue to fight against the anti-feudal uprisings of the masses and to protect Novgorod from external danger. In the first period after the uprising of 1136, the scope of the rights and activities of the princely power did not change, but they acquired a service-executive character, were regulated and were placed under the control of the posadnik (primarily in the field of court, which the prince began to administer together with the posadnik). As the political system in Novgorod acquired an increasingly pronounced boyar-oligarchic character, the rights and sphere of activity of princely power were steadily reduced.
The lowest level of organization and management in Novgorod was the association of neighbors - "convicted" with elected elders at the head. Five urban districts - "ends" formed self-governing territorial-administrative and political units, which also had special Konchan lands in collective feudal ownership. At the ends, their veche gathered, electing the Konchan elders.
The city veche meeting of free citizens, owners of city yards and estates was considered the highest body of power, representing all ends. The bulk of the urban plebs, who lived on the lands and estates of the feudal lords in the position of tenants or bonded and feudal-dependent people, were not entitled to participate in the issuance of veche sentences, but thanks to the publicity of the veche, which met on Sofia Square or Yaroslav's Court, could follow the course of the veche debate and with her stormy reaction she often exerted a certain amount of pressure on the Vechnikovs. The veche considered the most important issues of domestic and foreign policy, invited the prince and entered into a series with him, elected the posadnik, who was in charge of administration and court and controlled the activities of the prince, and the tysyatsky, who led the militia and had a special significance in Novgorod, the commercial court.
In the entire history of the Novgorod Republic, the positions of posadnik, Konchansky elders and thousandths were occupied only by representatives of 30-40 boyar families - the elite of the Novgorod nobility (“300 golden belts”).
In order to further strengthen the independence of Novgorod from Kyiv and turn the Novgorod bishopric from an ally of princely power into one of the instruments of their political domination, the Novgorod nobility managed to elect (from 1156) the Novgorod bishop, who, as the head of a powerful feudal church hierarchy, turned soon one of the first dignitaries of the republic.
The veche system in Novgorod and Pskov was a kind of feudal "democracy", one of the forms of the feudal state, in which the democratic principles of representation and election of officials at the veche created the illusion of "people's power", the participation of "all Novgorodgorod in governance, but where in reality all the fullness of power was concentrated in the hands of the boyars and the privileged elite of the merchant class. Considering the political activity of the city plebs, the boyars skillfully used the democratic traditions of Konchan self-government as a symbol of Novgorodian freedom, covering their political dominance and providing them with the support of the city plebs in the struggle against princely power.
Political history of Novgorod in the XII - XIII centuries. was distinguished by the complex interweaving of the struggle for independence with the anti-feudal actions of the masses and the struggle for power between the boyar groups (representing the boyar families of the Sofia and Trade sides of the city, its ends and streets). The boyars often used the anti-feudal actions of the urban poor to remove their rivals from power, dulling the anti-feudal character of these actions to the point of reprisals against individual boyars or officials. The largest anti-feudal movement was the uprising in 1207 against the posadnik Dmitry Miroshkinich and his relatives, who burdened the city people and peasants with arbitrary exactions and usurious bondage. The rebels destroyed the city estates and villages of Miroshkinichi, confiscated their debt bondages. The boyars, hostile to the Miroshkinichs, took advantage of the uprising to remove them from power.
Novgorod had to wage a stubborn struggle for its independence with the neighboring princes, who sought to subjugate the rich "free" city. The Novgorod boyars skillfully used the rivalry between the princes to choose among them strong allies. At the same time, rival boyar groups drew the rulers of neighboring principalities into their struggle. The most difficult for Novgorod was the struggle with the Suzdal princes, who enjoyed the support of an influential group of Novgorod boyars and merchants, connected by trade interests with North-Eastern Russia. An important instrument of political pressure on Novgorod in the hands of the Suzdal princes was the cessation of the supply of grain from North-Eastern Russia. The positions of the Suzdal princes in Novgorod were significantly strengthened when their military assistance to the Novgorodians and Pskovians became decisive in repelling the aggression of the German Crusaders and Swedish feudal lords, who were striving to capture the western and northern Novgorod territories.

Work plan.

I.Introduction.

II.Russian lands and principalities inXII-XIIIcenturies.

1. Causes and essence of state fragmentation. Socio-political and cultural characteristics of Russian lands in the period of fragmentation.

§ 1. The feudal fragmentation of Russia is a natural stage in the development of Russian society and the state.

§ 2. Economic and socio-political reasons for the fragmentation of Russian lands.

§ 3. Vladimir-Suzdal principality as one of the types of feudal state formations in Russia in the XII-XIII centuries.

§ 4 Features of the geographical location, natural and climatic conditions of the Vladimir-Suzdal land.

§ 5. Features of the socio-political and cultural development of the Vladimir-Suzdal principality.

2. Mongol-Tatar invasion of Russia and its consequences. Russia and the Golden Horde.

§ 1. The originality of the historical development and way of life of the nomadic peoples of Central Asia.

§ 2. Baty's invasion and the formation of the Golden Horde.

§ 3. The Mongol-Tatar yoke and its influence on ancient Russian history.

3. The struggle of Russia against the aggression of the German and Swedish conquerors. Alexander Nevskiy.

§ 1. Expansion to the East of Western European countries and religious and political organizations at the beginning of the XIII century.

§ 2. The historical significance of the military victories of Prince Alexander Nevsky (Battle of the Neva, Battle of the Ice).

III. Conclusion

I. INTRODUCTION

XII-XIII centuries, which will be discussed in this control work, are barely distinguishable in the fog of the past. In order to understand and understand the events of this most difficult era in the history of medieval Russia, it is necessary to get acquainted with the monuments of ancient Russian literature, study fragments of medieval chronicles and annals, read the works of historians related to this period. It is historical documents that help to see in history not a simple collection of dry facts, but the most complex science, the achievements of which play an important role in the further development of society, and allow a deeper understanding of the most important events in national history.

Consider the reasons that led to feudal fragmentation - the political and economic decentralization of the state, the creation on the territory of Ancient Russia of practically independent from each other, independent state formations; to understand why the Tatar-Mongol yoke on Russian soil became possible, and what was the domination of the conquerors for more than two centuries in the field of economic, political and cultural life, and what consequences it had for the future historical development of Russia - this is the main task of this work.

XIII century, rich in tragic events, to this day excites and attracts the eyes of historians and writers. After all, this century is called the "dark period" of Russian history.

However, its beginning was bright and calm. The vast country, larger than any European state, was full of young creative power. The proud and strong people who inhabited it did not yet know the oppressive gravity of the foreign yoke, did not know the humiliating inhumanity of serfdom.

The world in their eyes was simple and whole. They did not yet know the destructive power of gunpowder. Distance was measured by the span of arms or the flight of an arrow, and time was measured by the change of winter and summer. The rhythm of their life was unhurried and measured.

At the beginning of the XII century, axes were knocked all over Russia, new cities and villages grew. Russia was a country of masters. Here they knew how to weave the finest lace and build soaring cathedrals, forge reliable, sharp swords and draw the heavenly beauty of angels.

Russia was a crossroads of peoples. On the squares of Russian cities one could meet Germans and Hungarians, Poles and Czechs, Italians and Greeks, Polovtsians and Swedes... Many were surprised how quickly the “Rusichs” assimilated the achievements of neighboring peoples, applied them to their needs, enriched their own ancient and unique culture.

At the beginning of the XIII century, Russia was one of the most prominent states in Europe. The power and wealth of the Russian princes were known throughout Europe.

But suddenly a thunderstorm approached the Russian land - a hitherto unknown terrible enemy. A heavy burden fell on the shoulders of the Russian people, the Mongol-Tatar yoke. The exploitation of the conquered peoples by the Mongol khans was ruthless and comprehensive. Simultaneously with the invasion from the East, Russia also faced another terrible misfortune - the expansion of the Livonian Order, its attempt to impose Catholicism on the Russian people. In this difficult historical era, the heroism and love of freedom of our people manifested itself with particular force, people whose names were forever preserved in the memory of descendants were exalted.

II. RUSSIAN LANDS AND PRINCIPALITIES INXII-XIIIVV.

1. CAUSES AND ESSENCE OF STATE Fragmentation. SOCIO-POLITICAL AND CULTURAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE RUSSIAN LANDS

THE PERIOD OF Fragmentation.

§ 1. FEUDAL Fragmentation of RUSSIA - A NATURAL STAGE

DEVELOPMENT OF RUSSIAN SOCIETY AND THE STATE

From the 30s of the XII century, the process of feudal fragmentation began in Russia. Feudal fragmentation is an inevitable step in the evolution of feudal society, the basis of which is a subsistence economy with its isolation and isolation.

The natural economy system that had developed by that time contributed to the isolation from each other of all individual economic units (family, community, inheritance, land, principality), each of which became self-sufficient, consuming all the product it produced. There was practically no trade in goods in this situation.

Within the framework of the unified Russian state, independent economic regions have developed over three centuries, new cities have grown, large patrimonial farms have arisen and developed, and the possessions of many monasteries and churches. Feudal clans grew up and rallied - the boyars with their vassals, the rich top of the cities, church hierarchs. The nobility was born, the basis of whose life was the service to the overlord in exchange for a land grant for the time of this service. The huge Kievan Rus with its superficial political cohesion, which was necessary, first of all, for defense against an external enemy, for organizing long-range campaigns of conquest, now no longer corresponded to the needs of large cities with their branched feudal hierarchy, developed trade and craft strata, and the needs of votchinniki.

The need to unite all forces against the Polovtsian danger and the mighty will of the Grand Dukes - Vladimir Monomakh and his son Mstislav - temporarily slowed down the inevitable process of fragmentation of Kievan Rus, but then it resumed with renewed vigor. “The whole Russian land was irritated,” as the chronicle says.

From the point of view of general historical development, the political fragmentation of Russia is a natural stage on the way to the future centralization of the country, the future economic and political rise on a new civilizational basis.

Europe also did not escape the collapse of the early medieval states, fragmentation and local wars. Then the process of formation of secular nation-states, which still exist, was developed here. Ancient Russia, having gone through a period of disintegration, could come to a similar result. However, the Mongol-Tatar invasion disrupted this natural development of political life in Russia and threw it back.

§ 2. ECONOMIC AND SOCIO-POLITICAL REASONS

Fragmentation of RUSSIAN LANDS

We can single out the economic and socio-political reasons for feudal fragmentation in Russia:

1.Economic reasons:

The growth and development of feudal boyar land ownership, the expansion of estates by seizing the lands of smerds-communists, buying land, etc. All this led to the strengthening of the economic power and independence of the boyars and, ultimately, to the aggravation of the contradictions between the boyars and the Grand Duke of Kiev. The boyars were interested in such a princely power that could provide them with military and legal protection, in particular in connection with the growing resistance of the townspeople, smerds, contribute to the seizure of their lands and intensify exploitation.

The dominance of subsistence farming and the lack of economic ties contributed to the creation of relatively small boyar worlds and the separatism of local boyar unions.

In the XII century, trade routes began to bypass Kyiv, "the path from the Varangians to the Greeks", which once united the Slavic tribes around itself, gradually lost its former meaning, because. European merchants, as well as Novgorodians, were increasingly attracted to Germany, Italy, and the Middle East.

2. Socio-political reasons:

Strengthening the power of individual princes;

Weakening the influence of the great Kiev prince;

Princely strife; they were based on the Yaroslavl appanage system itself, which could no longer satisfy the overgrown family of Rurikovich. There was no clear, precise order either in the distribution of inheritances or in their inheritance. After the death of the great prince of Kiev, the "table" according to existing law did not go to his son, but to the eldest prince in the family. At the same time, the principle of seniority came into conflict with the principle of “fatherland”: when the princes-brothers moved from one “table” to another, some of them did not want to change their homes, while others rushed to the Kiev “table” over the heads of their older brothers. Thus, the preserved order of inheritance of the "tables" created the prerequisites for internecine conflicts. In the middle of the XII century, civil strife reached an unprecedented severity, and the number of their participants increased many times due to the fragmentation of princely possessions. At that time in Russia there were 15 principalities and separate lands. In the next century, on the eve of the invasion of Batu, - already 50.

The growth and strengthening of cities as new political and cultural centers can also be considered the reason for the further fragmentation of Russia, although some historians, on the contrary, regard the development of cities as a consequence of this process.

The struggle against the nomads also weakened the Kiev principality and slowed down its progress; in Novgorod and Suzdal it was much calmer.

Yaroslav the Wise tried to prevent civil strife after his death and established between his children order of succession to the throne of Kiev by seniority: from brother to brother and from uncle to eldest nephew. But even this did not help to avoid a struggle for power between the brothers. AT 1097 Yaroslavichi gathered in the city of Lyubich ( Lubian Congress of Princes) and forbade princes to move to reign from principality to principality. Thus, the prerequisites for feudal fragmentation were created. But this decision did not stop internecine wars. Now the princes took care of expanding the territories of their principalities.

For a short time, the world was restored to the grandson of Yaroslav Vladimir Monomakh (1113-1125). But after his death, war broke out with renewed vigor. Kyiv, weakened by the constant struggle against the Polovtsy and internal strife, is gradually losing its leading role. The population seeks salvation from the constant plunder and moves to more peaceful principalities: Galicia-Volyn (Upper Dnieper) and Rostov-Suzdal (interfluve of the Volga and Oka). In many ways, the boyars, who were interested in expanding their patrimonial lands, pushed the princes to seize new lands. Due to the fact that the princes established the Kievan order of succession in their principalities, processes of fragmentation began in them: if at the beginning of the 12th century there were 15 principalities, then by the end of the 13th century there were already 250 principalities.

Feudal fragmentation was a natural process in the development of statehood. It was accompanied by the revival of the economy, the rise of culture and the formation of local cultural centers. At the same time, during the period of fragmentation, the awareness of national unity was not lost.

Reasons for fragmentation: 1) the lack of solid economic ties between the individual principalities - each principality produced everything necessary within itself, that is, it lived by subsistence farming; 2) the emergence and strengthening of local princely dynasties; 3) weakening of the central power of the Kiev prince; 4) the decline of the trade route along the Dnieper "from the Varangians to the Greeks" and the strengthening of the importance of the Volga as a trade route.

Galicia-Volyn principality located in the foothills of the Carpathians. Trade routes from Byzantium to Europe passed through the principality. In the principality, a struggle arose between the prince and the big boyars - landowners. Poland and Hungary often intervened in the struggle.

The Galician principality was especially strengthened under Yaroslav Vladimirovich Osmomysl (1157–1182). After his death, the Galician principality was annexed to Volhynia by the prince Roman Mstislavovich (1199–1205). Roman managed to capture Kyiv, declared himself the Grand Duke, and pushed the Polovtsy from the southern borders. Roman's policy was continued by his son Daniel Romanovich (1205–1264). During his time, the Tatar-Mongols invaded and the prince had to recognize the power of the khan over himself. After the death of Daniel, a struggle broke out between the boyar families in the principality, as a result of which Volyn was captured by Lithuania, and Galicia by Poland.

Novgorod principality stretched throughout the Russian North from the Baltic to the Urals. Through Novgorod there was a lively trade with Europe along the Baltic Sea. The Novgorod boyars were also drawn into this trade. After uprisings of 1136 Prince Vsevolod was expelled and the Novgorodians began to invite princes to their place, that is, a feudal republic was established. Princely power was significantly limited city council(meeting) and Council of gentlemen. The function of the prince was reduced to organizing the defense of the city and external representation. The one elected at the veche actually ruled the city posadnik and the council of gentlemen. Veche had the right to expel the prince from the city. The veche was attended by delegates from the city ends ( Konchan veche). All free citizens of this end could participate in the Konchan veche.

The republican organization of power in Novgorod had a class character. Novgorod became the center of the fight against German and Swedish aggression.

Vladimir-Suzdal Principality It was located between the Volga and Oka rivers and was protected from the steppes by forests. Attracting the population to the desert lands, the princes founded new cities, did not allow the formation of urban self-government (veche) and large boyar land ownership. At the same time, settling on princely lands, free community members became dependent on the landowner, that is the development of serfdom continued and intensified.

The beginning of the local dynasty was laid by the son of Vladimir Monomakh Yuri Dolgoruky (1125–1157). He founded a number of cities: Dmitrov, Zvenigorod, Moscow. But Yuri sought to get to the great reign in Kyiv. The real owner of the principality became Andrei Yurievich Bogolyubsky (1157–1174). He founded the city Vladimir-on-Klyazma and moved the capital of the principality there from Rostov. Wanting to expand the boundaries of his principality, Andrei fought a lot with his neighbors. The boyars, removed from power, organized a conspiracy and killed Andrei Bogolyubsky. Andrey's policy was continued by his brother Vsevolod Yurievich Big Nest (1176–1212) and son of Vsevolod Yuri (1218–1238). In 1221 Yuri Vsevolodovich founded Nizhny Novgorod. The development of Russia was slow Tatar-Mongolian invasion of 1237–1241.

The time from the beginning of the 12th to the end of the 15th is traditionally called the specific period. On the basis of Kievan Rus, there were approximately 15 principalities by the middle of the 12th, about 50 by the beginning of the 13th, and about 250 in the 14th century.

Political fragmentation was inevitable. What were her reasons? During the 11th century Russian lands developed in an ascending line: the population grew, the economy grew stronger, large princely and boyar land ownership increased, cities grew rich. They were less and less dependent on Kyiv and were burdened by his guardianship. To maintain order within his "fatherland", the prince had enough strength and power. Local boyars and cities supported their princes in their quest for independence: they were closer, more closely connected with them, better able to protect their interests. External reasons were added to the internal ones. The Polovtsy raids weakened the southern Russian lands, the population left the restless lands for the northeastern (Vladimir, Suzdal) and southwestern (Galic, Volyn) outskirts. The princes of Kiev were weakening in the military and economic sense, their authority and influence in solving all-Russian affairs were falling.

The negative consequences of the political fragmentation of Russia are concentrated in the military-strategic area: weakened defense in the face of external threats, intensified inter-princely strife. But fragmentation also had positive aspects. The isolation of the lands contributed to their economic and cultural development. The collapse of a single state did not mean a complete loss of principles that united the Russian lands. The seniority of the Grand Prince of Kiev was formally recognized; ecclesiastical and linguistic unity was preserved; the basis of the legislation of the destinies was the norms of Russian Truth. In the popular mind up to the XIII-XIV centuries. lived ideas about the unity of the lands that were part of Kievan Rus

At the end of the XII century. There were 15 independent lands, essentially independent states. The largest were: in the south-west - the Galicia-Volyn principality; in the northeast - the Vladimir-Suzdal principality; in the northwest - the Novgorod Republic.

Galicia-Volyn principality(formed in 1199 as a result of the subordination of Galich to the Volyn princes) inherited the political system of Kievan Rus. The princes (Daniil Romanovich, the middle of the 13th century was the largest) when solving important issues, had to take into account the opinion of the boyar-druzhina nobility and city assemblies (veche). This feature reflected the peculiarity of the socio-economic development of the Galicia-Volyn land: boyar estates and cities were traditionally strong here. From the middle of the XIII century. the principality was weakening: internal unrest and constant wars with Hungary, Poland and Lithuania led to the fact that it was included in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and Poland.

Vladimir-Suzdal Principality separated from Kyiv under Prince Yuri Dolgoruky (1125-1157). Its mass settlement took place in the XI-XII centuries. Settlers from the southern regions of Russia were attracted by the relative safety from raids (the region was covered with impenetrable forests), the fertile lands of the Russian opolye, navigable rivers, along which dozens of cities grew (Pereslavl-Zalessky, Yuryev-Polsky, Dmitrov, Zvenigorod, Kostroma, Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod ). There were no old boyar estates and strong traditions of city self-government here. The Vladimir-Suzdal princes were much freer in their decisions and relied not so much on the boyars and cities, but on the princely servants personally devoted to them (beneficiaries, that is, people who depended on the mercy of the prince).

Decisive in the process of the rise of princely power was the reign of Yuri Dolgoruky's son Andrei Bogolyubsky (1157-1174). Under him, the capital of the principality was moved to Vladimir, and a new title of the ruler was established - "Tsar and Grand Duke." Andrei Bogolyubsky led an active foreign policy, fought for influence in Kyiv and Novgorod, organizing all-Russian campaigns against them. In 1174, he was killed by boyar conspirators. Under his brother Vsevolod the Big Nest (1176-1212), the principality flourished, interrupted by civil strife that began after his death, and the invasion of the Mongol-Tatars in 1237-1238.

A different type of state structure developed in Novgorod. One of the oldest Russian cities was at the same time one of the richest and most influential. The basis of its prosperity was not agriculture (Novgorod depended on the supply of bread from the neighboring Vladimir-Suzdal principality), but trade and craft. The local merchants were a full participant in trade operations in the north-west of Europe, they traded with the German Hansa (the representative office of this powerful trade union of German cities was in Novgorod), Sweden, Denmark, countries

Power and influence were concentrated in the hands of the Novgorod veche. Historians argue about its composition. Some believe that the entire urban population and even residents of nearby villages participated in it. Officials were elected at the veche - the posadnik (governor of Novgorod), the thousand (leaders of the militia), the governor (maintaining law and order), the bishop (later the archbishop, the head of the Novgorod church), the archimandrite (the elder among the abbots of the Novgorod monasteries). The veche resolved the issue of inviting the prince, who, under the supervision of the council of gentlemen and the posadnik, performed the functions of a military leader. This order developed after 1136, when the Novgorodians expelled Prince Vsevolod from the city.

Novgorod, thus, was an aristocratic (boyar) republic, the keeper of the veche traditions of Ancient Russia.

The republican organization of power in Novgorod had a class character. Novgorod became the center of the fight against German and Swedish aggression.

Russia in XII - XIIIcenturies. political fragmentation.

AT 1132 The last powerful prince Mstislav, the son of Vladimir Monomakh, died.

This date is considered the beginning of the period of fragmentation.

Reasons for fragmentation:

1) The struggle of the princes for the best principalities and territories.

2) The independence of the boyars-patrimonials in their lands.

3) Subsistence economy, strengthening the economic and political power of cities.

4) The decline of the Kiev land from the raids of the steppes.

Characteristic features of this period:

The aggravation of relations between the princes and the boyars

Princely strife

The struggle of the princes for the "Kyiv table"

The growth and strengthening of the economic and political power of cities

The heyday of culture

Weakening of the military potential of the country (fragmentation caused the defeat of Russia in the fight against the Mongols)

The main centers of political fragmentation:

Novgorod land

The supreme power belonged to the veche, which called the prince.

Officials were elected at the veche: the posadnik, the thousand, the archbishop. Novgorod feudal republic

Vladimiro - Suzdal Principality

Strong princely power (Yuri Dolgoruky (1147 - the first mention of Moscow in the annals), Andrei Bogolyubsky, Vsevolod the Big Nest)

Galicia-Volyn principality

Powerful boyars that fought for power with the princes. Famous princes - Yaroslav Osmomysl, Roman Mstislavovich, Daniil Galitsky.

Before the Mongol invasion - the heyday of Russian culture

1223 - the first battle with the Mongols on the Kalka River.

The Russians tried to fight back along with the Polovtsy, but were defeated

1237-1238 - the campaign of Batu Khan to North-Eastern Russia (the Ryazan principality was the first to be defeated)

1239-1240- to South Russia

Reasons for the defeat of Russia in the fight against the Mongol-Tatars

Fragmentation and strife between the princes
The superiority of the Mongols in the art of war, the availability of experienced and large army

Effects

1) The establishment of a yoke - the dependence of Russia on the Horde (payment of tribute and the need for princes to receive a label (a khan's letter that gave the prince the right to manage his lands) Baskak - a khan's governor in Russian lands

2) The ruin of lands and cities, the deportation of the population into slavery - undermining the economy and culture

Invasion of German and Swedish knights to the northwestern lands - Novgorod and Pskov

Goals

*seizure of new territories

* Conversion to Catholicism

Novgorod prince Alexander Nevsky at the head of the Russian troops won victories:

Russian principalities and lands in the XII-XIII centuries

on the river Neve over the Swedish knights

1242 on Lake Peipsi over the German knights (Battle on the Ice)

1251 -1263 - the reign of Prince Alexander Nevsky in Vladimir. Establishing friendly relations with the Golden Horde to prevent new invasions from the West

Work plan.

I. Introduction.

II. Russian lands and principalities in the XII-XIII centuries.

1. Causes and essence of state fragmentation. Socio-political and cultural characteristics of Russian lands in the period of fragmentation.

§ 1. The feudal fragmentation of Russia is a natural stage in the development of Russian society and the state.

§ 2. Economic and socio-political reasons for the fragmentation of Russian lands.

Vladimir-Suzdal principality as one of the types of feudal state formations in Russia in the XII-XIII centuries.

§ 4 Features of the geographical location, natural and climatic conditions of the Vladimir-Suzdal land.

Russian lands and principalities in the XII - the first half of the XIII century.

Features of the socio-political and cultural development of the Vladimir-Suzdal principality.

2. Mongol-Tatar invasion of Russia and its consequences. Russia and the Golden Horde.

§ 1. The originality of the historical development and way of life of the nomadic peoples of Central Asia.

Batu's invasion and the formation of the Golden Horde.

§ 3. The Mongol-Tatar yoke and its influence on ancient Russian history.

The struggle of Russia against the aggression of the German and Swedish conquerors. Alexander Nevskiy.

§ 1. Expansion to the East of Western European countries and religious and political organizations at the beginning of the XIII century.

§ 2. The historical significance of the military victories of Prince Alexander Nevsky (Battle of the Neva, Battle of the Ice).

III. Conclusion

I. INTRODUCTION

XII-XIII centuries, which will be discussed in this control work, are barely distinguishable in the fog of the past.

In order to understand and understand the events of this most difficult era in the history of medieval Russia, it is necessary to get acquainted with the monuments of ancient Russian literature, study fragments of medieval chronicles and annals, read the works of historians related to this period. It is historical documents that help to see in history not a simple collection of dry facts, but the most complex science, the achievements of which play an important role in the further development of society, and allow a deeper understanding of the most important events in national history.

XIII century, rich in tragic events, to this day excites and attracts the eyes of historians and writers.

After all, this century is called the "dark period" of Russian history.

The world in their eyes was simple and whole.

They did not yet know the destructive power of gunpowder. Distance was measured by the span of arms or the flight of an arrow, and time was measured by the change of winter and summer. The rhythm of their life was unhurried and measured.

At the beginning of the XII century, axes were knocked all over Russia, new cities and villages grew. Russia was a country of masters.

Here they knew how to weave the finest lace and build soaring cathedrals, forge reliable, sharp swords and draw the heavenly beauty of angels.

Russia was a crossroads of peoples.

On the squares of Russian cities one could meet Germans and Hungarians, Poles and Czechs, Italians and Greeks, Polovtsians and Swedes... Many were surprised how quickly the “Rusichs” assimilated the achievements of neighboring peoples, applied them to their needs, enriched their own ancient and unique culture.

At the beginning of the XIII century, Russia was one of the most prominent states in Europe. The power and wealth of the Russian princes were known throughout Europe.

But suddenly a thunderstorm approached the Russian land - a hitherto unknown terrible enemy.

A heavy burden fell on the shoulders of the Russian people, the Mongol-Tatar yoke. The exploitation of the conquered peoples by the Mongol khans was ruthless and comprehensive. Simultaneously with the invasion from the East, Russia also faced another terrible misfortune - the expansion of the Livonian Order, its attempt to impose Catholicism on the Russian people.

In this difficult historical era, the heroism and love of freedom of our people manifested itself with particular force, people whose names were forever preserved in the memory of descendants were exalted.

II. RUSSIAN LANDS AND PRINCIPALITIES IN THE XII-XIII CENTURIES.

1. CAUSES AND ESSENCE OF STATE Fragmentation. SOCIO-POLITICAL AND CULTURAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE RUSSIAN LANDS

THE PERIOD OF Fragmentation.

§ 1. FEUDAL Fragmentation of RUSSIA - A NATURAL STAGE

DEVELOPMENT OF RUSSIAN SOCIETY AND THE STATE

From the 30s of the XII century, the process of feudal fragmentation began in Russia.

Feudal fragmentation is an inevitable step in the evolution of feudal society, the basis of which is a subsistence economy with its isolation and isolation.

Feudal clans grew up and rallied - the boyars with their vassals, the rich top of the cities, church hierarchs. The nobility was born, the basis of whose life was the service to the overlord in exchange for a land grant for the time of this service.

The huge Kievan Rus with its superficial political cohesion, which was necessary, first of all, for defense against an external enemy, for organizing long-range campaigns of conquest, now no longer corresponded to the needs of large cities with their branched feudal hierarchy, developed trade and craft strata, and the needs of votchinniki.

“The whole Russian land was irritated,” as the chronicle says.

Europe also did not escape the collapse of the early medieval states, fragmentation and local wars.

Then the process of formation of secular nation-states, which still exist, was developed here. Ancient Russia, having gone through a period of disintegration, could come to a similar result. However, the Mongol-Tatar invasion disrupted this natural development of political life in Russia and threw it back.

§ 2. ECONOMIC AND SOCIO-POLITICAL REASONS

Fragmentation of RUSSIAN LANDS

We can single out the economic and socio-political reasons for feudal fragmentation in Russia:

1.Economic reasons:

- the growth and development of feudal boyar land tenure, the expansion of estates by seizing the lands of the communal smerds, buying land, etc.

All this led to the strengthening of the economic power and independence of the boyars and, ultimately, to the aggravation of the contradictions between the boyars and the Grand Duke of Kiev. The boyars were interested in such a princely power that could provide them with military and legal protection, in particular in connection with the growing resistance of the townspeople, smerds, contribute to the seizure of their lands and intensify exploitation.

- the dominance of subsistence farming and the lack of economic ties contributed to the creation of relatively small boyar worlds and the separatism of local boyar unions.

- in the XII century, trade routes began to bypass Kyiv, "the path from the Varangians to the Greeks", which once united the Slavic tribes around itself, gradually lost its former meaning, because.

European merchants, as well as Novgorodians, were increasingly attracted to Germany, Italy, and the Middle East.

2. Socio-political reasons :

- strengthening the power of individual princes;

- weakening the influence of the great Kiev prince;

- princely strife; they were based on the Yaroslavl appanage system itself, which could no longer satisfy the overgrown family of Rurikovich.

There was no clear, precise order either in the distribution of inheritances or in their inheritance. After the death of the great prince of Kiev, the "table" according to existing law did not go to his son, but to the eldest prince in the family. At the same time, the principle of seniority came into conflict with the principle of “fatherland”: when the princes-brothers moved from one “table” to another, some of them did not want to change their homes, while others rushed to the Kiev “table” over the heads of their older brothers.

Thus, the preserved order of inheritance of the "tables" created the prerequisites for internecine conflicts. In the middle of the XII century, civil strife reached an unprecedented severity, and the number of their participants increased many times due to the fragmentation of princely possessions.

At that time in Russia there were 15 principalities and separate lands. In the next century, on the eve of Batu's invasion, there were already 50.

- the growth and strengthening of cities as new political and cultural centers can also be considered the reason for the further fragmentation of Russia, although some historians, on the contrary, regard the development of cities as a consequence of this process.

- the fight against nomads also weakened the Kiev principality, slowed down its progress; in Novgorod and Suzdal it was much calmer.

Feudal fragmentation in Russia in the 12th-13th centuries. Specific Russia.

Feudal fragmentation– political and economic decentralization. The creation on the territory of one state of independent independent principalities, formally having a common ruler, a single religion - Orthodoxy, uniform laws of "Russian Truth".
The energetic and ambitious policy of the Vladimir-Suzdal princes led to an increase in the influence of the Vladimir-Suzdal principality on the entire Russian state.
Yuri Dolgoruky, son of Vladimir Monomakh, received the Vladimir principality in his reign.

1147 Moscow first appears in chronicles. The founder is boyar Kuchka.
Andrei Bogolyubsky, son of Yuri Dolgoruky. 1157-1174. The capital was moved from Rostov to Vladimir, the new title of the ruler is Tsar and Grand Duke.
The Vladimir-Suzdal principality flourished under Vsevolod the Big Nest.

1176-1212. The monarchy was finally established.

Consequences of fragmentation.

Positive

- the growth and strengthening of cities

– Active development of crafts

— Settlement of undeveloped lands

- laying roads

— Development of internal trade

— The flourishing of the cultural life of the principalities

Strengthening the local self-government apparatus

Negative

— continuation of the process of fragmentation of lands and principalities

- internecine wars

- weak central government

- Vulnerability to external enemies

Specific Russia (XII-XIII centuries)

With the death of Vladimir Monomakh in 1125.

the decline of Kievan Rus began, which was accompanied by its disintegration into separate states-principalities. Even earlier, the Lyubech Congress of Princes in 1097 established: “... let each one keep his fatherland” - this meant that each prince becomes the full owner of his hereditary principality.

The collapse of the Kievan state into small principalities-patrimonies, according to V.O.

Klyuchevsky, was caused by the existing order of succession to the throne. The princely throne was not passed from father to son, but from the elder brother to the middle and younger. This gave rise to strife in the family and the struggle for the division of estates. External factors played a certain role: nomad raids devastated the southern Russian lands and interrupted the trade route along the Dnieper.

As a result of the decline of Kyiv in southern and southwestern Russia, the Galicia-Volyn principality rose, in the northeastern part of Russia - the Rostov-Suzdal (later Vladimir-Suzdal) principality, and in northwestern Russia - the Novgorod Boyar Republic, from which in the XIII century stood out Pskov land.

All these principalities, with the exception of Novgorod and Pskov, inherited the political system of Kievan Rus.

They were led by princes, relying on their squads. The Orthodox clergy had great political influence in the principalities.

Question

The main occupation of the inhabitants of the Mongolian state was nomadic cattle breeding.

The desire to expand their pastures is one of the reasons for their military campaigns. It must be said that the Mongol-Tatars conquered not only Russia, it was not the first state they took. Prior to that, they subjugated Central Asia, including Korea and China, to their interests. From China, they adopted their flamethrower weapons, and because of this they became even stronger. The Tatars were very good warriors. They were armed "to the teeth", their army was very large.

They also used psychological intimidation of enemies: in front of the troops were soldiers who did not take prisoners, brutally killed opponents. The very sight of them frightened the enemy.

But let's move on to the Mongol-Tatar invasion of Russia. The first time the Russians faced the Mongols was in 1223. The Polovtsy asked the Russian princes to help defeat the Mongols, they agreed and a battle took place, which is called the Battle of the Kalka River. We lost this battle for many reasons, the main of which is the lack of unity between the principalities.

In 1235, in the capital of Mongolia, Karakorum, a decision was made on a military campaign to the West, including Russia.

In 1237, the Mongols attacked the Russian lands, and the first city captured was Ryazan. There is also in Russian literature the work “The Tale of the Devastation of Ryazan by Batu”, one of the heroes of this book is Yevpaty Kolovrat. The "Tale .." says that after the ruin of Ryazan, this hero returned to his native city and wanted to take revenge on the Tatars for their cruelty (the city was plundered and almost all the inhabitants were killed). He gathered a detachment of the survivors and rode after the Mongols.

All wars fought bravely, but Evpaty distinguished himself with special courage and strength. He killed many Mongols, but in the end he himself was killed. The Tatars brought the body of Yevpatiy to Batu, talking about his unprecedented strength. Batu was struck by the unprecedented power of Yevpatiy and gave the body of the hero to the surviving tribesmen, and ordered the Mongols not to touch the Ryazans.

In general, the years 1237-1238 were the years of the conquest of northeastern Russia.

After Ryazan, the Mongols took Moscow, which resisted for a long time, and burned it. Then they took Vladimir.

After the conquest of Vladimir, the Mongols split up and began to ravage the cities of northeastern Russia.

In 1238, a battle took place on the Sit River, the Russians lost this battle.

The Russians fought with dignity, no matter what city the Mongol attacked, the people defended their homeland (their principality). But in most cases, the Mongols still won, only Smolensk was not taken. Kozelsk also defended for a record long time: as many as seven weeks.

After a trip to the north-east of Russia, the Mongols returned to their homeland to rest.

But already in 1239 they returned to Russia again. This time their goal was the southern part of Russia.

1239-1240 - the campaign of the Mongols in the southern part of Russia. First they took Pereyaslavl, then the Principality of Chernigov, and in 1240 Kyiv fell.

This ended the Mongol invasion. The period from 1240 to 1480 is called the Mongol-Tatar yoke in Russia.

What are the consequences of the Mongol-Tatar invasion, the yoke?

First of all, this is the backwardness of Russia from the countries of Europe.

Europe continued to develop, but Russia had to restore everything destroyed by the Mongols.

Second is the decline of the economy. A lot of people were lost. Many crafts disappeared (the Mongols took artisans into slavery).

Russian lands and principalities in the 12th - first half of the 13th centuries

Also, farmers moved to more northern regions of the country, safer from the Mongols. All this hindered economic development.

Third- the slowness of the cultural development of Russian lands. For some time after the invasion, no churches were built in Russia at all.
Fourth- termination of contacts, including trade, with the countries of Western Europe.

Now the foreign policy of Russia was focused on the Golden Horde. The Horde appointed princes, collected tribute from the Russian people, and, in case of disobedience of the principalities, carried out punitive campaigns.

Fifth consequences are highly controversial.

Some scientists say that the invasion and the yoke preserved the political fragmentation in Russia, others argue that the yoke gave impetus to the unification of Russians.

Question

Alexander is invited to reign in Novgorod, he was then 15 years old, and in 1239 he marries the daughter of the Polotsk prince Bryachislav.

With this dynastic marriage, Yaroslav sought to consolidate the union of the northwestern Russian principalities in the face of the threat looming over them from the German and Swedish crusaders. The most dangerous situation developed at that time on the Novgorod borders. The Swedes, who had long competed with the Novgorodians for control over the lands of the Finnish tribes of Em and Sum, were preparing for a new onslaught. The invasion began in July 1240. The Swedish flotilla under the command of Birger, the son-in-law of the Swedish king Eric Kortavy, passed from the mouth of the Neva to the fall of the river.

Izhora. Here the Swedes made a stop before advancing on Ladoga, the main northern fort of the Novgorodtsev post. Meanwhile, Alexander Yaroslavich, warned by the sentinels about the appearance of the Swedish flotilla, hastily left Novgorod with his squad and a small auxiliary detachment. The calculation of the prince was based on the maximum use of the factor of surprise. The blow should have been delivered before the Swedes, who outnumbered the Russian army, had time to completely disembark from the ships. On the evening of July 15, the Russians swiftly attacked the Swedes' camp, trapping them on a cape between the Neva and Izhora.

Thanks to this, they deprived the enemy of freedom of maneuver and at the cost of small losses, all 20 people. This victory secured the northwestern border of the Novgorod land for a long time and earned the 19-year-old prince the glory of a brilliant commander. In memory of the defeat of the Swedes, Alexander was nicknamed Nevsky. In 1241, he expelled the Germans from the fortress of Koporye, and soon freed Pskov. The further advance of the Russian troops to the northwest, bypassing Lake Pskov, ran into fierce resistance from the Germans.

Alexander retreated to Lake Peipsi, pulling up all available forces here. The decisive battle took place on April 5, 1242. The battle formation of the Germans had the traditional wedge shape for the crusaders, at the head of which were several rows of the most experienced heavily armed knights. Knowing about this feature of knightly tactics, Alexander deliberately concentrated all his forces on the flanks, in the regiments of the right and left hands. He left his own squad - the most combat-ready part of the army - in ambush in order to bring it into battle at its most critical moment.

In the center, along the very edge of the Uzmeni bank (channels between Lake Peipus and Pskov), he placed the Novgorod infantry, which could not withstand the frontal attack of the knightly cavalry. In fact, this regiment was initially doomed to defeat. But having crushed and thrown it to the opposite shore (to the island of Voronii Kamen), the knights inevitably had to substitute the weakly protected flanks of their wedge under the blow of the Russian cavalry.

In addition, now the Russians would have a shore behind their backs, and the Germans would have thin spring ice. The calculation of Alexander Nevsky was fully justified: when the knightly cavalry broke through a pig regiment, it was taken in pincers by the regiments of the Right and Left hands, and a powerful attack by the prince's squad completed the rout.

The knights turned into a stampede, while, as Alexander Nevsky expected, the ice could not stand it, and the waters of Lake Peipus swallowed up the remnants of the crusading host.

World around 4th grade

Hard times on Russian soil

1. Circle the border of Russia at the beginning of the 13th century with a red pencil.

Mark on the map with arrows the path of Batu Khan in Russia.

Write down the dates when Batu Khan attacked the cities.

Ryazan- end of 1237

Vladimir- in February 1238

Kyiv- in 1240

3. Read the poem by N. Konchalovskaya.

Previously, Russia was specific:
Each city separate
Avoiding all neighbors
Ruled by a specific prince,
And the princes did not live together.
They would need to live in friendship
And one big family
Protect your native land.
I would be afraid then
Horde attack them!

Answer the questions:

What does specific prince mean?
Russia by the middle of the XII century broke up into separate principalities, which were ruled by specific princes.
How did the princes live? The princes did not live together, there were civil strife.
Why were the Mongol-Tatars not afraid to attack Russian lands? The Russian princes failed to unite to repulse the enemy due to the fragmentation of the Russian principalities.

Match the battle with its date.

5. Read the description of the battle on Lake Peipsi.

The Russians fought furiously. Yes, and how not to fight without rage, when children and wives were left behind, villages and cities were left, native land with a short and sonorous name Rus was left.
And the crusaders came like robbers.

But where there is theft, there is cowardice side by side.
Fear took the dogs-knights, they see - the Russians are pushing them from all sides. Heavy horsemen cannot turn around in a crush, do not escape.

And then the Russians used hooks on long poles. They will hook the knight - and off the horse. He crashes on the ice, but he cannot get up: it hurts awkwardly in thick armor. Here he is off his head.
When the battle was in full swing, the ice suddenly crackled under the knights and cracked. The crusaders went to the bottom, pulled their heavy armor.
The crusaders did not know such a defeat until that time.
Since then, the knights have looked eastward with fear.

They remembered the words spoken by Alexander Nevsky. And this is what he said:
(O. Tikhomirov)

Answer the questions:

Why did the Russians fight furiously? They defended their native land
Why was it hard for the crusader cavalry in battle?
Russian lands and principalities 12-13 century (p. 1 of 6)

The Crusader cavalry were heavy, clumsy.
What did the Russians use hooks for? They hooked the knights with hooks and dragged them off the horse.
What words of Alexander Nevsky did the knights remember? Underline these words of the Russian prince in the text. Remember them.

The social, political and cultural development of the Old Russian state took place in close interaction with the peoples of the surrounding countries. One of the first places among them was occupied by the mighty Byzantine Empire, the closest southern neighbor of the Eastern Slavs. peaceful economic, political and cultural ties, and sharp military clashes On the one hand, Byzantium was a convenient source of military booty for the Slavic princes and their warriors On the other hand, Byzantine diplomacy sought to prevent the spread of Russian influence in the Black Sea region, and then try to turn Russia into a vassal of Byzantium , especially with the help of Christianization. At the same time, there were constant economic and political contacts. Evidence of such contacts is the existence of permanent colonies of Russian merchants in Constantinople, known to us from Oleg’s agreement with Byzantium (911). reflection in a large number of Byzantine things found on the territory of our country After Christianization, cultural ties with Byzantium intensified

Russian squads, crossing the Black Sea on ships, raided coastal Byzantine cities, and Oleg even managed to take the capital of Byzantium - Constantinople (in Russian - Tsargrad) Igor's campaign was less successful

In the second half of the 10th century, some Russian-Byzantine rapprochement was observed. Olga's trip to Constantinople, where she was friendly received by the emperor, strengthened relations between the two countries. Byzantine emperors sometimes used Russian squads for wars with their neighbors.

A new stage in Russia's relations with both Byzantium and other neighboring nations falls on the reign of Svyatoslav, the ideal hero of Russian chivalry Svyatoslav pursued an active foreign policy. He clashed with the powerful Khazar Khaganate, which once levied tribute from the territory of Southern Russia. , 941 and 944, the Russian warriors made campaigns against the Khazars, having achieved the gradual release of the Vyatichi from paying tribute to the Khazars. Taman Peninsula Tmutarakan Principality and to the liberation from the power of the Khaganate of the Volga-Kama Bulgarians, who after that formed their own state - the first state formation of the peoples of the Middle Volga and Kama region

The fall of the Khazar Khaganate and the advance of Russia in Pricher- 54

In an effort to mutually weaken Russia and Danubian Bulgaria, against which Byzantium pursued an aggressive policy, the Byzantine emperor Nikephoros II Phocas offered Svyatoslav a campaign in the Balkans Svyatoslav won a victory in Bulgaria and captured the city of Pereyaslavets on the Danube This result was unexpected for Byzantium There was a threat of uniting the Eastern and Southern Slavs into one state, with which Byzantium would not have been able to cope. Svyatoslav himself said that he would like to transfer the capital of his land to Pereyaslavets

To weaken Russian influence in Bulgaria, Byzantium used Pechenegs This Turkic nomadic people was first mentioned in the Russian chronicle under 915. Initially, the Pechenegs roamed between the Volga and the Aral Sea, and then, under pressure from the Khazars, they crossed the Volga and occupied the Northern Black Sea region. then Byzantium from time to time managed to “hire” the Pechenegs for attacks on the other side. So, during Svyatoslav’s stay in Bulgaria, they, apparently at the instigation of Byzantium, raided Kiev. Svyatoslav had to urgently return to defeat the Pechenegs, but soon he again went to Bulgaria , a war with Byzantium began there. Russian squads fought fiercely and bravely, but the Byzantine forces were too outnumbered.

a peace treaty was concluded, Svyatoslav's squad got the opportunity to return to Russia with all their weapons, and Byzantium was satisfied only with the promise of Russia not to attack

However, on the way, on the Dnieper rapids, apparently having received a warning from Byzantium about the return of Svyatoslav, the Pechenegs attacked him. Svyatoslav died in battle, and the Pecheneg prince Kurya, according to chronicle legend, made a bowl from the skull of Svyatoslav and drank from it at feasts. According to the ideas of that era , this manifested, paradoxically as it may seem, respect for the memory of the fallen enemy, it was believed that the military prowess of the owner of the skull would go to the one who drinks from such a bowl

A new stage of Russian-Byzantine relations falls on the reign of Vladimir and is associated with the adoption of Christianity by Russia. Shortly before this event, the Byzantine emperor Vasily II turned to Vladimir with a request to help with the armed forces in suppressing the uprising of the commander Varda Foka, who captured Asia Minor, threatened the field of Constantine and claimed to the imperial throne In exchange for help, the emperor promised to marry his sister Anna to Vladimir

was in no hurry with the promised marriage.

This marriage was of great political importance. Just a few years earlier, the German emperor Otto II had failed to marry the Byzantine princess Theophano. Byzantine emperors occupied the highest place in the feudal hierarchy of the then Europe, and marriage to a Byzantine princess sharply raised the international prestige of the Russian state.

In order to achieve the fulfillment of the terms of the agreement, Vladimir besieged the center of the Byzantine possessions in the Crimea - Chersonese (Korsun) and took it. The emperor had to fulfill his promise. Only after that, Vladimir made the final decision to be baptized, because, having defeated Byzantium, he ensured that Russia did not have to follow in the wake of Byzantine policy. Russia became on a par with the largest Christian powers of medieval Europe.

This position of Russia was also reflected in the dynastic ties of the Russian princes.

So, Yaroslav the Wise was married to the daughter of the Swedish king Olaf - Indigerda. Yaroslav's daughter - Anna was married to the French king Henry I, another daughter - Elizabeth became the wife of the Norwegian king Harald. The Hungarian queen was the third daughter - Anastasia.

The granddaughter of Yaroslav the Wise - Eupraxia (Adelheida) was the wife of the German Emperor Henry IV.

Russian lands and principalities 12-13 century

One of the sons of Yaroslav - Vsevolod was married to a Byzantine princess, the other son Izyaslav - to a Polish one. Among the daughters-in-law of Yaroslav were also the daughters of the Saxon margrave and Count Stadensky.

Russia also had lively trade relations with the German Empire.

Even on the remote periphery of the Old Russian state, on the territory of present-day Moscow, was found dating back to the 11th century. a lead trade seal originating from some Rhenish city.

The constant struggle of Ancient Russia had to be waged with the nomads. Vladimir managed to establish a defense against the Pechenegs. Nevertheless, their raids continued. In 1036, taking advantage of the absence of Yaroslav, who had left for Novgorod, in Kiev, the Pechenegs laid siege to Kiev.

But Yaroslav quickly returned and inflicted a severe defeat on the Pechenegs, from which they were never able to recover. They were forced out of the Black Sea steppes by other nomads - the Polovtsy.

Polovtsy(otherwise - Kipchaks or Cumans) - also a Turkic people - back in the 10th century.

lived in the territory of North-Western Kazakhstan, but in the middle of the X century. moved to the steppes of the Northern Black Sea region and the Caucasus. After they ousted the Pechenegs, a huge territory came under their rule, which was called the Polovtsian steppe or (in Arabic sources) Desht-i-Kipchak.

It stretched from the Syr Darya and the Tien Shan to the Danube. For the first time, the Polovtsians are mentioned in Russian chronicles under 1054, and in 1061.

first encounter with them. 56

“The Polovtsy came first to the Russian land to fight” The second half of the XI-XII centuries - the time of the struggle of Russia with the Polovtsian danger

So, the Old Russian state was one of the largest European powers and was in close political, economic and cultural relations with many countries and peoples of Europe and Asia.

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