They were an East Slavic tribal union. East Slavic tribes

When starting a conversation about the Eastern Slavs, it is very difficult to be unambiguous. There are practically no surviving sources telling about the Slavs in ancient times. Many historians come to the conclusion that the process of the origin of the Slavs began in the second millennium BC. It is also believed that the Slavs are an isolated part of the Indo-European community.

But the region where the ancestral home of the ancient Slavs was located has not yet been determined. Historians and archaeologists continue to debate where the Slavs came from. It is most often stated, and this is stated in Byzantine sources, that East Slavs already in the middle of the 5th century BC they lived in the territory of Central and of Eastern Europe. It is also generally accepted that they were divided into three groups:

Weneds (lived in the Vistula River basin) - Western Slavs.

Sklavins (lived between the upper reaches of the Vistula, Danube and Dniester) - southern Slavs.

Ants (lived between the Dnieper and Dniester) - Eastern Slavs.

All historical sources characterize the ancient Slavs as people with the will and love of freedom, differing in temperament strong character, endurance, courage, unity. They were hospitable to strangers, had pagan polytheism and elaborate rituals. Initially there was no particular fragmentation among the Slavs, since the tribal unions had similar languages, customs and laws.

Territories and tribes of the Eastern Slavs

An important question is how the Slavs developed new territories and their settlement in general. There are two main theories about the appearance of the Eastern Slavs in Eastern Europe.

One of them was put forward by the famous Soviet historian, academician B. A. Rybakov. He believed that the Slavs originally lived on the East European Plain. But the famous historians of the 19th century S. M. Solovyov and V. O. Klyuchevsky believed that the Slavs moved from the territories near the Danube.

The final settlement of the Slavic tribes looked like this:

Activities of the Eastern Slavs

The main occupation of the Eastern Slavs must include agriculture, which was associated with the characteristics of local soils. Arable farming was common in the steppe regions, and slash-and-burn farming was practiced in forests. The arable land was quickly depleted, and the Slavs moved to new territories. Such farming required a lot of labor; it was difficult to cope with the cultivation of even small plots, and the sharply continental climate did not allow one to count on high yields.

Nevertheless, even in such conditions, the Slavs sowed several varieties of wheat and barley, millet, rye, oats, buckwheat, lentils, peas, hemp, and flax. Turnips, beets, radishes, onions, garlic, and cabbage were grown in the gardens.

The main food product was bread. The ancient Slavs called it “zhito”, which was associated with the Slavic word “to live”.

Slavic farms raised livestock: cows, horses, sheep. The following trades were of great help: hunting, fishing and beekeeping (collecting wild honey). Fur trading became widespread. The fact that the Eastern Slavs settled along the banks of rivers and lakes contributed to the emergence of shipping, trade and various crafts that provided products for exchange. Trade routes also contributed to the emergence of large cities and tribal centers.

Social order and tribal alliances

Initially, the Eastern Slavs lived in tribal communities, later they united into tribes. The development of production and the use of draft power (horses and oxen) contributed to the fact that even a small family could cultivate its own plot. Family ties began to weaken, families began to settle separately and plow new plots of land on their own.

The community remained, but now it included not only relatives, but also neighbors. Each family had its own plot of land for cultivation, its own production tools and harvested crops. Private property appeared, but it did not extend to forests, meadows, rivers and lakes. The Slavs enjoyed these benefits together.

In the neighboring community, the property status of different families was no longer the same. The best lands began to concentrate in the hands of elders and military leaders, and they also received most of spoils from military campaigns.

Rich leaders-princes began to appear at the head of the Slavic tribes. They had their own armed units - squads, and they also collected tribute from the subject population. The collection of tribute was called polyudye.

The 6th century is characterized by the unification of Slavic tribes into unions. The most militarily powerful princes led them. The local nobility gradually strengthened around such princes.

One of these tribal unions, as historians believe, was the unification of the Slavs around the Ros (or Rus) tribe, who lived on the Ros River (a tributary of the Dnieper). Subsequently, according to one of the theories of the origin of the Slavs, this name passed to all Eastern Slavs, who received common name“Rus”, and the entire territory became Russian land, or Russia.

Neighbors of the Eastern Slavs

In the 1st millennium BC, in the Northern Black Sea region, the neighbors of the Slavs were the Cimmerians, but after a few centuries they were supplanted by the Scythians, who founded their own state on these lands - the Scythian kingdom. Subsequently, the Sarmatians came from the east to the Don and the Northern Black Sea region.

During the Great Migration of Peoples, the East German tribes of the Goths passed through these lands, then the Huns. All this movement was accompanied by robbery and destruction, which contributed to the resettlement of the Slavs to the north.

Another factor in the resettlement and formation of Slavic tribes were the Turks. It was they who formed the Turkic Kaganate on a vast territory from Mongolia to the Volga.

The movement of various neighbors in the southern lands contributed to the fact that the Eastern Slavs occupied territories dominated by forest-steppes and swamps. Communities were created here that were more reliably protected from alien attacks.

In the VI-IX centuries, the lands of the Eastern Slavs were located from the Oka to the Carpathians and from the Middle Dnieper to the Neva.

Nomad raids

The movement of nomads created a constant danger for the Eastern Slavs. The nomads seized grain and livestock and burned houses. Men, women, and children were taken into slavery. All this required the Slavs to be in constant readiness to repel raids. Every Slavic man He was also a part-time warrior. Sometimes they plowed the land armed. History shows that the Slavs successfully coped with the constant onslaught of nomadic tribes and defended their independence.

Customs and beliefs of the Eastern Slavs

The Eastern Slavs were pagans who deified the forces of nature. They worshiped the elements, believed in kinship with various animals, and made sacrifices. The Slavs had a clear annual cycle of agricultural holidays in honor of the sun and the change of seasons. All rituals were aimed at ensuring high yields, as well as the health of people and livestock. The Eastern Slavs did not have uniform ideas about God.

The ancient Slavs did not have temples. All rituals were carried out at stone idols, in groves, meadows and other places revered by them as sacred. We must not forget that all the heroes of fabulous Russian folklore come from that time. The goblin, the brownie, mermaids, mermen and other characters were well known to the Eastern Slavs.

In the divine pantheon of the Eastern Slavs, the leading places were occupied by the following gods. Dazhbog - the god of the Sun, sunlight and fertility, Svarog - the blacksmith god (according to some sources, the supreme god of the Slavs), Stribog - the god of wind and air, Mokosh - the female goddess, Perun - the god of lightning and war. Special place was assigned to the god of earth and fertility Veles.

The main pagan priests of the Eastern Slavs were the Magi. They performed all the rituals in the sanctuaries and turned to the gods with various requests. The Magi made various male and female amulets with different spell symbols.

Paganism was a clear reflection of the activities of the Slavs. It was the admiration for the elements and everything connected with it that determined the attitude of the Slavs to agriculture as the main way of life.

Over time, the myths and meanings of pagan culture began to be forgotten, but much has survived to this day in folk art, customs, traditions.

Societies at the stage of decomposition of primitive communal relations. The formation of unions is a stage on the path to statehood. They were complex structures of a territorial and political nature. Let us consider further how the unification took place Eastern Slavs in ancient times. Names of tribal unions and them a brief description of will also be presented in the article.

Principles of association

Formation of tribal unions of the Eastern Slavs began in the 6th century. The unification took place through the consolidation of several small tribes, one of which became dominant. Its name became the name of the tribal union.

East Slavs united according to tribal and territorial-political principles. Each education had its own geographical area, its name, customs, traditions. In some tribal unions of the Eastern Slavs approved certain internal laws and rules for conducting rituals. Everyone had the same language, but each union had its own dialects.

Political system

Tribal unions of the Eastern Slavs were well organized.

Each territory had its own cities. One of them was a kind of capital. Religious events and tribal meetings were held here. It is important to note that in each tribal union of the Eastern Slavs there was princely power. It was passed down from father to son.

In addition to the prince, management and control were in the hands of the veche. Each tribe that was part of the union had an elder.

Distinctive features

Of particular interest are the features of the development of territories tribal unions of the Eastern Slavs and their settlement by area. As archaeological finds show, people occupied territories close to water bodies.

Who were the neighbors of the tribal unions of the Eastern Slavs? Southern and Western Slavs lived next door to them. In the VI-VIII centuries. the process of statehood formation also took place in these tribes.

If you look at map of tribal unions of the Eastern Slavs, you can see that they occupied quite vast territories.

It is worth saying that the goal of all East Slavic tribal unions was protection from external enemies. The individual tribe was unable to resist the attackers. To increase the effectiveness of defense, the prince formed a squad.

Tribal unions of the Eastern Slavs: table

Tribal formations are described by Nestor in his "Tale". In total, the author talks about 15 tribal unions of the Eastern Slavs. For convenience, the names of the main ones and a brief description are given in the table.

Hierarchy

A characteristic feature of the tribal structure of society during the period of “military democracy” is the desire of one association to rise above another.

In legends, the Volynians, Zaryans, and Polyans called themselves true Slavs. Other tribes were given various offensive names. For example, the Tiverts were called Tolkinians, the residents of Novgorod were called carpenters, the Radimichi were called Pishchans, etc.

The place in the hierarchy was indicated using associations with shoes. For example, the dominant tribe is “in boots”, the tributaries are “lapotniki”. When the city was subjugated to the conqueror, the elder went barefoot. To indicate a place in the tribal hierarchy, indications of occupation, color, material and size of clothes, tents, etc. were used.

Confederation

According to historians, the East Slavic tribes consisted of several tribal groups, the name of which was not known to Nestor. The number of cities is correlated with the number of communities (100-150 people in each) or groups that united around the city.

Most likely, the Krivichi tribe actually had several groups. The chronicle of Nestor speaks of the Smolensk Krivichi and the Krivichi-Polotsk people. They conducted independent foreign policy activities. Also, based on the finds, archaeologists distinguish the Pskov Krivichi and the Smolensk-Polotsk people.

The Krivichi are considered a united group formed through the interaction of Slavic settlers and the Baltic-speaking local population.

Historians believe that the northerners united three tribal groups. The Ulichi and Tivertsy acted as part of one union. The Vyatichi and Radimichi were supposedly originally one tribe, and later separated. This is evidenced by the legend about the brothers Vyatko and Radim.

Ilmenskie Slovenes

They also had confederal relations with their neighbors. It is believed that on the site of Novgorod there were previously settlements of different tribes. They surrounded an empty space that acted as the venue for the union meeting.

From such villages the “ends” of the city were formed - self-government districts.

By the middle of the 9th century, a confederation of tribes had formed, settling over a vast territory. It included Slovenes, Chud, Ves, Krivichi, Muroma, Merya.

Formation of statehood

Currently, there is no single approach to the issue of the formation of the Old Russian state.

In the XI-XVI centuries. dynastic and theological concepts dominated. The latter came from the Cyril and Methodius tradition. According to it, the state was formed in the process of confrontation between the old (paganism) and new (Christianity) faiths.

Christians were contrasted with tribes who did not know God's laws. Vladimir was recognized as the founder of the state. At the same time, all previous historical events were considered a “shadow” of baptism.

According to the dynastic concept, the foundation of the state is associated with the emergence of the Rurik dynasty. In 862, Rurik stood at the head of the East Slavic tribes. This concept places particular emphasis on the origins of the first princes and their dynastic connections.

Social contract theory

In accordance with it, the state was formed as a result of the calling of the Varangians to reign, the establishment contractual relations between tribes.

Corresponding agreements took place not only in Novgorod land, but also in Kyiv, as well as in Smolensk, in the Seversky territories, and in the Caucasus.

Patriarchal concept

According to it, the state was formed as a result of the unification of tribes into unions, and unions into “super-unions.” At the same time, the hierarchy of power became more complicated. Before the emergence of Rus', there were three parts of the Rus in the Eastern European territories: Kuyavia (center - Kyiv), Artania (located east of the Slovenian regions), Slavia (land of the Slovenes). In 882, Oleg united them, and a state arose.

Conquest theory

She connects the formation of the state with the subjugation of the Slavs to the Scandinavians. The process of state formation lasted for for a long time, until the middle of the 10th century. a unified entity headed by Prince Igor was not created.

Socio-economic concept

It prevailed among Soviet scientists. Researchers paid attention to the presence of social prerequisites for the formation of a state. Among them: the improvement of tools, the emergence of inequality, classes, and private property.

The role of each tribe was determined depending on its development and readiness to join the state. The center of occurrence of predisposing factors is called the Middle Dnieper region. The Glades, the Dews, and the Northerners lived here. Within the framework of the theory, the identity of the tribes of Rus' and the Glades is affirmed.

Influence of foreign policy factor

Some researchers consider it decisive in the process of state formation. The tribes settled throughout the Middle Dnieper region united in an alliance to jointly fight the Khazars. So in 830-840. an independent state was created. Power in it was in the hands of the kagan. At the same time, a squad was formed. It consisted mainly of hired Varangians, who were excellent warriors.

The sociological approach used to the problem of the emergence of the state is based on the recognition of the creation of a supra-tribal squad stratum. It began to be called Rus' and subsequently extended its power to the tribes of farmers, taking on the functions of the state.

To the question who belongs to the Eastern Slavs? given by the author headman the best answer is Eastern Slavs are a cultural and linguistic community of Slavs who speak East Slavic languages. East Slavic tribes, which, according to most scientists, managed to merge into a single ancient Russian nation, made up the main population of the medieval state of Kievan Rus. As a result of the subsequent political stratification of the Eastern Slavs, to XVII century formed (in descending order of numbers): Russian, Ukrainian and Belarusian peoples. Also, some sources consider the Carpathian Ruthenians to be a separate East Slavic people.
East Slavic tribes
Proto-Russian





Proto-Ukrainians







Proto-Belarusians

Answer from 22 answers[guru]

Hello! Here is a selection of topics with answers to your question: who are the Eastern Slavs?

Answer from Neuropathologist[guru]
What are Eastern Slavs like?
according to Levashov (deceased), all peoples descended from the Slavs, excluding the Jews, since they descended from evil aliens. Therefore, the Chinese are Slovenians.
The Chinese believe that the first man was not a black man in Africa, but a slanted Asian from the Middle Kingdom, therefore the Slavs are Chinese!
Americans (those who are not the first generation of visitors) firmly believe that the Slavs are stupidly evil Russians, the Poles are non-Slovenians, the Bulgarians and Turks are united and Persia is a fruit!

Answer from Dry out[newbie]

East Slavic tribes
Proto-Russian
Vyatichi - upper and middle Oka and Moscow River
Radimichi (partially Proto-Belarusians) - the interfluve of the upper Dnieper and Desna along the Sozh and its tributaries
Northerners (partially Proto-Ukrainians) - the territory of modern Chernigov, Sumy, Kursk and Belgorod regions
Ilmen Slovenes - the basin of Lake Ilmen and the upper reaches of Mologa
Krivichi (partially Proto-Belarusians) - the territory of the current Vitebsk, Mogilev, Pskov, Bryansk and Smolensk regions, as well as eastern Latvia
Proto-Ukrainians
White Croats - surroundings of the city of Przemysl on the San River
Buzhans, or Dulebs (from the 10th century - Volynians) - the basin of the upper reaches of the Western Bug
Drevlyans - Ukrainian Polesie (mainly in the Zhitomir and western Kyiv region)
Polyane - the middle reaches of the Dnieper, on its right bank
Northerners (partially Proto-Russian) - the territory of modern Chernigov, Sumy, Kursk and Belgorod regions
Tivertsi - between the Dniester and Prut rivers, as well as the Danube, including the Budzhak coast of the Black Sea in the territory of modern Moldova and Ukraine
Ulichi - lands along the lower reaches of the Dnieper, Southern Bug and the Black Sea coast
Proto-Belarusians
Dregovichi - region of Gomel, Brest and Minsk regions of Belarus
Krivichi (partially pre-Novogorodians) - the territory of the current Vitebsk, Mogilev, Pskov, Bryansk and Smolensk regions, as well as eastern Latvia
Radimichi (partially Proto-Russian) - interfluve of the upper Dnieper and Desna along the Sozh and its tributaries

Answer from Vika Vasilyeva[newbie]
b

Answer from Lisa Kuzina[newbie]
I do not remember.

Answer from Mikhail Bobreshov[active]
Many tribes of the Eastern Slavs and their tribal unions. Listing will not give a complete picture. In the west: Poles, Czechs, Serbs, etc. - all Slavs. Slavs - ancient people, who had bright knowledge and culture. The Slavs are at least 10 thousand years old. Rus is the tribal way of life of the Slavs. Rus' is the tribal structure of the country among the Slavs.

Answer from Oriy Ryabov[newbie]
Eastern Slavs are a cultural and linguistic community of Slavs who speak East Slavic languages. The East Slavic tribes, which, according to most scientists, managed to merge into a single ancient Russian nation, made up the main population of the medieval state of Kievan Rus. As a result of the subsequent political stratification of the Eastern Slavs, by the 17th century the following were formed (in descending order of numbers): Russian, Ukrainian and Belarusian peoples. Also, some sources consider the Carpathian Ruthenians to be a separate East Slavic people.
East Slavic tribes
Proto-Russian
Vyatichi - upper and middle Oka and Moscow River
Radimichi (partially Proto-Belarusians) - the interfluve of the upper Dnieper and Desna along the Sozh and its tributaries
Northerners (partially Proto-Ukrainians) - the territory of modern Chernigov, Sumy, Kursk and Belgorod regions
Ilmen Slovenes - the basin of Lake Ilmen and the upper reaches of Mologa
Krivichi (partially Proto-Belarusians) - the territory of the current Vitebsk, Mogilev, Pskov, Bryansk and Smolensk regions, as well as eastern Latvia
Proto-Ukrainians
White Croats - surroundings of the city of Przemysl on the San River
Buzhans, or Dulebs (from the 10th century - Volynians) - the basin of the upper reaches of the Western Bug
Drevlyans - Ukrainian Polesie (mainly in the Zhitomir and western Kyiv region)
Polyane - the middle reaches of the Dnieper, on its right bank
Northerners (partially Proto-Russian) - the territory of modern Chernigov, Sumy, Kursk and Belgorod regions
Tivertsi - between the Dniester and Prut rivers, as well as the Danube, including the Budzhak coast of the Black Sea in the territory of modern Moldova and Ukraine
Ulichi - lands along the lower reaches of the Dnieper, Southern Bug and the Black Sea coast
Proto-Belarusians
Dregovichi - region of Gomel, Brest and Minsk regions of Belarus
Krivichi (partially pre-Novogorodians) - the territory of the current Vitebsk, Mogilev, Pskov, Bryansk and Smolensk regions, as well as eastern Latvia
Radimichi (partially Proto-Russian) - interfluve of the upper Dnieper and Desna along the Sozh and its tributaries

Answer from Maxim Pakolov[newbie]
Eastern Slavs are a cultural and linguistic community of Slavs who speak East Slavic languages. The East Slavic tribes, which, according to most scientists, managed to merge into a single ancient Russian nation, made up the main population of the medieval state of Kievan Rus. As a result of the subsequent political stratification of the Eastern Slavs, by the 17th century the following were formed (in descending order of numbers): Russian, Ukrainian and Belarusian peoples. Also, some sources consider the Carpathian Ruthenians to be a separate East Slavic people.
East Slavic tribes
Proto-Russian
Vyatichi - upper and middle Oka and Moscow River
Radimichi (partially Proto-Belarusians) - the interfluve of the upper Dnieper and Desna along the Sozh and its tributaries
Northerners (partially Proto-Ukrainians) - the territory of modern Chernigov, Sumy, Kursk and Belgorod regions
Ilmen Slovenes - the basin of Lake Ilmen and the upper reaches of Mologa
Krivichi (partially Proto-Belarusians) - the territory of the current Vitebsk, Mogilev, Pskov, Bryansk and Smolensk regions, as well as eastern Latvia
Proto-Ukrainians
White Croats - surroundings of the city of Przemysl on the San River
Buzhans, or Dulebs (from the 10th century - Volynians) - the basin of the upper reaches of the Western Bug
Drevlyans - Ukrainian Polesie (mainly in the Zhitomir and western Kyiv region)
Polyane - the middle reaches of the Dnieper, on its right bank
Northerners (partially Proto-Russian) - the territory of modern Chernigov, Sumy, Kursk and Belgorod regions
Tivertsi - between the Dniester and Prut rivers, as well as the Danube, including the Budzhak coast of the Black Sea in the territory of modern Moldova and Ukraine
Ulichi - lands along the lower reaches of the Dnieper, Southern Bug and the Black Sea coast
Proto-Belarusians
Dregovichi - region of Gomel, Brest and Minsk regions of Belarus
Krivichi (partially pre-Novogorodians) - the territory of the current Vitebsk, Mogilev, Pskov, Bryansk and Smolensk regions, as well as eastern Latvia
Radimichi (partially Proto-Russian) - interfluve of the upper Dnieper and Desna along the Sozh and its tributaries

Answer from Andrey Cherapkin[newbie]
The Eastern Slavs are those who are Orthodox and write in Cyrillic; this is not one ethnic group; this includes the Polyanian tribes and the Balts and the Finns and the Viking Rus.. and why did they all begin to be called Russian because at the end of the 16th century an Orthodox patriarch (pope) appeared in Moscow ) and he was called the Patriarch of All Rus', this was a way to influence Orthodox Rus'. Rus' then entered into an alliance with Protestant Sweden, fleeing the Moscow oprichnina... and the Orthodox who lived in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth but obeyed the patriarch began to be called Russians, in Polish Russian

Answer from Kadiali Magomedgadzhiev[newbie]
.

Eastern Slavs on Wikipedia
Look at the Wikipedia article about East Slavs

DULEBY - tribal union of Eastern Slavs.
They lived in the basin of the Bug and the right tributaries of the Pripyat since the 6th century.
VOLYNYANS, Velynians - an East Slavic union of tribes that inhabited the territory on both banks of the Western Bug and at the source of the river. Pripyat.
VYATICHI is an East Slavic union of tribes that lived in the basin of the upper and middle reaches of the Oka and along the river. Moscow.
DREVLYANES - an East Slavic tribal union that occupied in the 6th-10th centuries. the territory of Polesie, the Right Bank of the Dnieper, west of the glades, along the rivers Teterev, Uzh, Ubort, Stviga.
DREGOVICHI - tribal union of Eastern Slavs.
The exact boundaries of the habitat of Dregovichi have not yet been established. According to a number of researchers (V.V. Sedov and others), in the 6th-9th centuries. Dregovichi occupied territory in the middle part of the river basin. Pripyat, in the 11th - 12th centuries. the southern border of their settlement passed south of Pripyat, the northwestern - in the watershed of the Drut and Berezina rivers, the western - in the upper reaches of the river. Neman.
KRIVICHI - tribal union of Eastern Slavs 6-11 centuries. They lived in the territories of what are now Vitebsk, Mogilev, Pskov, Bryansk and Smolensk regions, as well as eastern Latvia.
POLOCHAN - Slavic tribe, part of the Krivichi tribal union; lived along the banks of the river. Dvina and its tributary Polota, from which they got their name.
POLYANE - a tribal union of Eastern Slavs who lived on the Dnieper, in the area of ​​​​modern Kyiv.
RADIMICHI - an East Slavic union of tribes that lived in the eastern part of the Upper Dnieper region, along the river. Sozh and its tributaries in the 8-9 centuries.
RUSSIANS - in sources of the 8th-10th centuries. the name of the people who participated in the formation of the Old Russian state.
In historical science, discussions about the ethnic origin of the Rus are still ongoing. According to the testimony of Arab geographers in the 9th-10th centuries. and the Byzantine Emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitus (10th century), the Rus were the social elite of Kievan Rus and dominated the Slavs.
NORTHERNS - an East Slavic union of tribes that lived in the 9th-10th centuries. by pp. Desna, Seim, Sula.
The western neighbors of the northerners were the Polyans and Dregovichi, the northern - the Radimichi and Vyatichi.
SLOVEN ILMEN - a tribal union of Eastern Slavs on the territory of the Novgorod land, mainly in the lands near the lake. Ilmen, next to the Krivichi.
TIVERTS - an East Slavic tribe that settled in the 9th century in the area between the Dniester and Prut rivers, as well as the Danube, including along the Budzhak coast of the Black Sea in the territory of modern Moldova and Ukraine.
STREETS - an East Slavic union of tribes that existed in the 9th century. 10th centuries
According to the Tale of Bygone Years, the Ulichi lived in the lower reaches of the Dnieper, Bug and on the shores of the Black Sea. The center of the tribal union was the city of Peresechen.

East Slavs - large group related peoples, which today numbers more than 300 million people. The history of the formation of these nationalities, their traditions, faith, relations with other states is important points in history, since they answer the question of how our ancestors appeared in ancient times.

Origin

The question of the origin of the Eastern Slavs is interesting. This is our history and our ancestors, the first mentions of which date back to the beginning of our era. If we talk about archaeological excavations, scientists find artifacts indicating that the nation began to form before our era.

All Slavic languages ​​belong to a single Indo-European group. Its representatives emerged as a nationality around the 8th millennium BC. The ancestors of the Eastern Slavs (and many other peoples) lived along the shores of the Caspian Sea. Around the 2nd millennium BC, the Indo-European group split into three nationalities:

• Pro-Germans (Germans, Celts, Romans). Filled Western and Southern Europe.
• Baltoslavs. They settled between the Vistula and the Dnieper.
• Iranian and Indian peoples. They settled throughout Asia.

Around the 5th century BC, the Balotoslavs are divided into Balts and Slavs; already in the 5th century AD, the Slavs, in short, are divided into eastern (eastern Europe), western ( Central Europe) and southern (Balkan Peninsula).

Today, the Eastern Slavs include: Russians, Belarusians and Ukrainians.

The invasion of the Hun tribes into the Black Sea region in the 4th century destroyed the Greek and Scythian states. Many historians call this fact the root cause of the future creation of the ancient state by the Eastern Slavs.

Historical reference

Settlement

An important question is how the Slavs developed new territories, and how their settlement occurred in general. There are 2 main theories of the appearance of the Eastern Slavs in Eastern Europe:

• Autochthonous. It suggests that the Slavic ethnic group was originally formed on the East European Plain. The theory was put forward by historian B. Rybakov. There are no significant arguments in its favor.
• Migration. Suggests that the Slavs migrated from other regions. Soloviev and Klyuchevsky argued that the migration was from the territory of the Danube. Lomonosov spoke about migration from the Baltic territory. There is also a theory of migration from the regions of Eastern Europe.

Around the 6th-7th centuries, the Eastern Slavs settled in Eastern Europe. They settled in the territory from Ladoga and Lake Ladoga in the North to the Black Sea coast in the south, from the Carpathian Mountains in the West to the Volga territories in the East.

13 tribes lived in this territory. Some sources talk about 15 tribes, but this data does not find historical confirmation. The Eastern Slavs in ancient times consisted of 13 tribes: Vyatichi, Radimichi, Polyan, Polotsk, Volynians, Ilmen, Dregovichi, Drevlyans, Ulichs, Tivertsy, Northerners, Krivichi, Dulebs.

Specifics of the settlement of the Eastern Slavs on the East European Plain:

• Geographical. There are no natural barriers, which makes movement easier.
• Ethnic. Lived and migrated in the territory a large number of people with different ethnic composition.
• Communication skills. The Slavs settled near captivity and alliances that could influence ancient state, but on the other hand they could share their culture.

Map of the settlement of the Eastern Slavs in ancient times

Tribes

The main tribes of the Eastern Slavs in ancient times are presented below.

Glade. The most numerous tribe, strong on the banks of the Dnieper, south of Kyiv. It was the glades that became the drain for the formation of the ancient Russian state. According to the chronicle, in 944 they stopped calling themselves Polyans, and began to use the name Rus.

Slovenian Ilmenskie. The northernmost tribe that settled around Novgorod, Ladoga and Lake Peipsi. According to Arab sources, it was the Ilmen, together with the Krivichi, who formed the first state - Slavia.

Krivichi. They settled north of the Western Dvina and in the upper reaches of the Volga. The main cities are Polotsk and Smolensk.

Polotsk residents. They settled south of the Western Dvina. Minor tribal alliance that didn't play important role is that the Eastern Slavs form a state.

Dregovichi. They lived between the upper reaches of the Neman and the Dnieper. They mostly settled along the Pripyat River. All that is known about this tribe is that they had their own principality, the main city of which was Turov.

Drevlyans. They settled south of the Pripyat River. The main city of this tribe was Iskorosten.

Volynians. They settled more densely than the Drevlyans at the sources of the Vistula.

White Croats. The westernmost tribe, which was located between the Dniester and Vistula rivers.

Duleby. They were located east of the white Croats. One of the weakest tribes that did not last long. They voluntarily became part of the Russian state, having previously split into Buzhans and Volynians.

Tivertsy. They occupied the territory between the Prut and the Dniester.

Uglichi. They settled between the Dniester and the Southern Bug.

Northerners. They mainly occupied the territory adjacent to the Desna River. The center of the tribe was the city of Chernigov. Subsequently, several cities were formed on this territory that are still known today, for example, Bryansk.

Radimichi. They settled between the Dnieper and Desna. In 885 they were annexed to the Old Russian state.

Vyatichi. They were located along the sources of the Oka and Don. According to the chronicle, the ancestor of this tribe was the legendary Vyatko. Moreover, already in the 14th century there are no mentions of the Vyatichi in the chronicles.

Tribal alliances

The Eastern Slavs had 3 strong tribal unions: Slavia, Kuyavia and Artania.

In relations with other tribes and countries, the Eastern Slavs attempted to capture raids (mutual) and trade. Mainly connections were with:

• Byzantine Empire (Slav raids and mutual trade)
• Varangians (Varangian raids and mutual trade).
• Avars, Bulgars and Khazars (raids on the Slavs and mutual trade). Often these tribes are called Turkic or Türks.
• Fino-Ugrians (the Slavs tried to seize their territory).

What did you do

The Eastern Slavs were mainly engaged in agriculture. The specifics of their settlement determined the methods of cultivating the land. In the southern regions, as well as in the Dnieper region, chernozem soil dominated. Here the land was used for up to 5 years, after which it was depleted. Then people moved to another site, and the depleted one took 25-30 years to recover. This farming method is called folded .

Northern and central District the East European Plain were characterized big amount forests Therefore, the ancient Slavs first cut down the forest, burned it, fertilized the soil with ashes, and only then began field work. Such a plot was fertile for 2-3 years, after which it was abandoned and moved on to the next one. This method of farming is called slash-and-burn .

If we try to briefly characterize the main activities of the Eastern Slavs, the list will be as follows: agriculture, hunting, fishing, beekeeping (honey collection).

The main agricultural crop of the Eastern Slavs in ancient times was millet. Marten skins were primarily used by the Eastern Slavs as money. Much attention was paid to the development of crafts.

Beliefs

The beliefs of the ancient Slavs are called paganism because they worshiped many gods. Mainly deities were associated with natural phenomena. Almost every phenomenon or important component of life that the Eastern Slavs professed had a corresponding god. For example:

• Perun - god of lightning
• Yarilo - sun god
• Stribog - god of the wind
• Volos (Veles) – patron saint of cattle breeders
• Mokosh (Makosh) – goddess of fertility
• And so on

The ancient Slavs did not build temples. They built rituals in groves, meadows, stone idols and other places. Noteworthy is the fact that almost all fairy-tale folklore in terms of mysticism belongs specifically to the era under study. In particular, the Eastern Slavs believed in the goblin, brownie, mermaids, merman and others.

How were the activities of the Slavs reflected in paganism? It was paganism, which was based on worship of the elements and elements influencing fertility, that shaped the Slavs’ attitude to agriculture as the main way of life.

Social order