What is a lesson in ancient Russia? This concept is closely connected with the name of Olga (c. 920 - 969) - the widow of the Kiev prince Igor, who was killed in Iskorosten by the Drevlyans.
Kiev prince Igor Rurikovich
To fully disclose the concept of "lessons" in Ancient Russia, you need to begin to consider history from the beginnings, from the very beginning, that is, from the death of Prince Igor. He was on the throne after the death of the Varangian Oleg the Prophet. It is amazing that this prince did not show himself. Several trips to Byzantium ended unsuccessfully. In addition to the extension of the trade agreement with the Greeks, already signed by Oleg in 911, the ruler’s career was unremarkable. All that remains is an episode of inglorious demise.
Igor’s act may seem strange. It consists in the fact that, having completed the annual collection of tribute in the lands of the subjects of the Drevlyans, his warriors remain dissatisfied with its size. And then the prince returns to the Drevlyansky capital of the city of Iskorosten (Korosten) with the aim of re-collecting. A rebellious population kills him.
Princess Olga - the first woman on the throne
Power passes to the widow of the prince. In a country ruled by warriors, a weak woman had to prove to her people and opponents that she could be equal to her husband. She begins with revenge. The chronicles mention 4 acts that went down in the history of her reign.
These are peculiar riddles to drevlyans connected with a funeral ritual. The last reprisal against the Drevlyans was the destruction of their capital. Having made a military campaign to Iskorosten with her son Svyatoslav at the head of a large detachment, the princess burned a wooden city.
What were called "lessons" in Ancient Russia? After the suppression of the Drevlyans, Olga began work on eliminating the causes of rebellion and the shortcomings of the political system, and this meaning got a concept that has survived to our times.
Economic and political situation at the beginning of the 10th century in Ancient Russia
Before the reign of the Princess of Kiev, Russia remained in the Varangian jurisdiction. Its rulers Rurikovich made distant campaigns, built fortresses. From ancient sources it is clear that the Varangians did not have their own statehood and could not bring this experience to Russia. They actively explored rivers and trade routes, and were also related to the local nobility.
With the advent of water trading hubs, urban growth begins, infrastructure emerges. This was a powerful impetus to the development of socio-economic relations and a certain order. Power in ancient times became the legislator and organizer of the economy. The princes take control of the waterway. A state is formed under the name Kievan Rus.
Attempts to control and centralize: what does "lessons" mean in Ancient Russia
The nascent elite received funds to realize their ambitions to capture Byzantium, legitimizing tribute from the conquered tribes and Novgorod: 300 hryvnias annually for peace. The polyudy described in the textbooks, that is, the collection of tribute by the Kiev princes with money and natural products, did not end with the wasting of the collected good. In the spring of the court with tribute from Novgorod, Smolensk, Chernigov and others. Gathered in Kiev. And in June, a fleet of goods went to Constantinople. This is evidenced by medieval treaties with Byzantium, where most of the articles are devoted to the legal regulation of trade.
The prince and his squad were the only authority that held together the Slavic tribal lands. They were tribute collectors and bailiffs. The squad received part of the funds through the suburbs, part from duties and military campaigns. The population was supposed to provide them during the performance of their official duties. In ancient Russia, a special management mechanism has developed: a feudal vassal type of relationship. The main part of the population is community members (free peasants), the other part is a squad. Due to the lack of land ownership, the prince received income from the population, that is, tribute.
Taxation in the IX-X centuries
Every year from November to April, the prince's squad received income in 2 ways:
- wagon - compulsory delivery to the princely court of agricultural products and crafts;
- Polyudye - detour of lands by squad and collection of money, food, goods.
The executors of the tax program were junior warriors.
The tax system was direct and did not provide for norms and a clear procedure. Taxes were irregular, and sometimes above the norm, which caused discontent and rebellion. Only in the middle of the tenth century did an orderly procedure first appear explaining what a lesson was in ancient Russia.
There were a number of indirect taxes in the form of trade duties and court fines:
- a toll was charged for the transport of goods across mountain borders and waterways;
- weight and measure - respectively for weighing and measuring goods;
- trading was taken from traders in the markets;
- the living room was charged for the arrangement of warehouses
- vira - penalty for killing a slave.
Reforms of Princess Olga
The death of Igor pushes Olga to the first state act. Graveyards and lessons are being introduced . This in Ancient Russia marked the start of economic activity. Before her, the main direction of the developed state was aggressive policy, and not internal governance. "Lessons" meaning in Ancient Russia, their definition and importance for the country are described in detail in the annals of Nestor. Olga did not plunder the land, but flexibly ruled: "Volga goes with his squad, establishing statutes and lessons." Its reforms were peaceful.
The princesses carried out transformations by:
- establishing the size of tribute;
- the appointment of dancers - persons responsible for collecting tribute;
- definition of strong points - special places for training camps.
Lessons and graveyards in Ancient Russia
In order to fully understand what a lesson is in Ancient Russia, you need to study article 8 of the modern Tax Code of the Russian Federation. In fact, this reform was the first attempt on the path to monocracy and the rule of law. The innovation required new conditions and relationships. Charters and lessons consisted in rationing duties and issuing legal acts to guide authorities. The villages and pogosts testify to the bordering and the appointment of responsible persons, and since the collection of tribute was carried out in the winter, warm rooms and a supply of provisions were needed. The remoteness of the pogosts required local management. Thus, a set of measures was taken to peacefully equip the domestic economy.
First of all, the princess divided the land into volosts, the centers of which were made graveyards - large trading villages that stood along river banks.
So what are the lessons in ancient Russia? The definition is given in the "Russian Truth", which refers to important officials-tyunami. They collected tribute from the tribes and adjudicated. The truth was usually established through witnesses. If they did not appear, tyuns resorted to the help of pagan clairvoyants. The culprit paid a fine, and in case of disobedience of the local authorities, a militia was called for help. The supreme authority of the princess was controlled when she could suddenly appear with an inspection, and grief was a guilty or lazy tyun.
The origin of the word "lesson"
The meaning of the word "lessons" in Ancient Russia has the meaning of a contract, transaction, mutually beneficial relationship. The etymology of the term will help to understand in more detail what it is. The word leads into the Proto-Slavic language and comes from the same root "speech / speech", when the language was formed in pagan conditions and in the process of ritual actions. The word "river" expresses a certain worldview and is associated with witchcraft, and subsequently with the adoption of Christianity, with God and his rules established on Earth.
Russian verb "urochit" close in sound to "prophesy" makes sense "to bewitch, to appoint a" lesson - "magic with words." Under the influence of impurity sounds, several derivatives of the “river” appeared: rock, mouth, prophet, censure, pronounce, vow, lesson. Then the word “lesson” takes on more distinct forms and is defined as “rule, tax or payment”. Subsequently, the meaning narrows and has a figurative meaning: “something instructive,” whence we have the combination of “school lesson,” “school hour.”
What is a lesson in Ancient Russia: conclusion
The development of new commodity-money relations was based on a lesson - a fixed amount of tax. Repeated collection from the payer with this system was not possible. Reforms strengthened central authority, created a firm organization of taxation, defined administrative boundaries, and expanded the administrative apparatus. Own and state possessions and incomes were differentiated.
Olga actively led not only domestic politics, but also grew spiritually, pursuing foreign policy. Having adopted Christianity, being the ruler of a pagan state, she performs the second act - spiritual. She gave the country state-cultural outlines, which was greatly facilitated by the development of the lesson. Orthodoxy in Ancient Russia gained strength and self-awareness.