UDC

Authors

Abstract

The political unity of Early Russia was relative and depended on the military power of the grand princes of Kiev. The growth of population and military potential in various regions of Rus formed the basis for sovereign principalities. Northern Rus became part of the Vladimir-Suzdal (Rostov-Suzdal) principality and Novgorod Republic, which started to compete for extended influence in that region. Northern population of these state entities played an important role in their economy. On most of the northern territories, agriculture and cattle-breeding was combined with hunting, fishing and wild-honey farming. The north-west coast of the White Sea and the most distant lands of Finno-Ugric peoples and Samoyeds were areas of hunting, fur-bearing animals being most valued. Novgorod was the largest exporter of furs to Europe. The paper aimed to show how Russian political life was moving from south to north. Vladimir-Suzdal princes were the first to fight for the consolidation of Russia. The article points out the role of Slavic and Finno-Ugric peoples of the European North in the political life of the country. The population had a chance to make a historic choice: a republic (Novgorod) or a monarchy (Northeast Russia). During the formation of a unified Russian state, Novgorod political system was bound to perish; the fact that it had existed for centuries proves the vitality of non-autocratic traditions in medieval Russian society. Russian Orthodox Church had contributed to the formation of an authoritarian ideal in the public consciousness. In some areas, the population sought to obtain their own prince and, attributing supernatural powers to him, saw him as a guarantor of security and prosperity.

Keywords

References

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