Surely you would be curious to find out what Athanasius Nikitin discovered. After reading this article, you will find out where this great traveler has been. The years of life of Athanasius Nikitin - 1442-1474 (75). He was born in Tver, in the family of Nikita, a peasant, so Nikitin is a middle name, not the last name of the traveler. Most peasants did not have surnames at that time.
Only partially known to historians is his biography. There is no reliable information about the youth and childhood of this traveler. It is only known that he became a merchant at a fairly young age and visited the Crimea, Byzantium, Lithuania and other states on trade matters. The commercial enterprises of Athanasius were quite successful: he returned safely with overseas goods to his homeland.
Below is a monument to Athanasius Nikitin, located in Tver.
In 1468, Athanasius embarked on an expedition, during which he visited the countries of the East, Africa, India and Persia. This journey is described in a book entitled "Walking Over Three Seas" by Athanasius Nikitin.
Hormuz
Nikitin went to Persia through Baku, after which, after crossing the mountains, he drove further south. He made his journey without haste, stopping for a long time in villages and studying local languages, as well as engaged in trade. Athanasius arrived in the spring of 1449 in Hormuz - a large city located at the intersection of various trade routes: from India, China, Asia Minor and Egypt.
In Russia, goods from Hormuz were already known. In particular, the Hormuz pearl was famous. Afanasy Nikitin, having learned that horses were exported to the cities of India from this city, decided to take a risky venture. He bought an Arabian stallion and boarded a ship in the hope of reselling it profitably in India. Athanasius went to the city of Chaul. This continued the Russian discovery of India. Athanasius Nikitin got here by sea.
First impressions of India
Six weeks took a swim. The merchant was very impressed by India. The traveler, not forgetting about trade, was also carried away by ethnographic research. He wrote down in detail in his diaries what he saw. In his notes, India appears to be a wonderful country, in which everything is completely different than in Russia. Athanasius wrote that all the people here walk naked and black. He was amazed that even poor residents wear gold jewelry. Nikitin himself, by the way, also struck the Indians. It was rare for locals to see white people before. Nikitin failed to profitably sell his stallion in Chaul. He headed inland, having visited a small town located in the upper Sina, and then in Dzhunnar.
What did Athanasius Nikitin write about?
Afanasy Nikitin in his travel notes noted everyday details, described sights and local customs. This was almost the first description of the life of India, not only for Russia, but also for Europe. Athanasius wrote about what kind of food the locals eat, how they feed livestock, what goods they trade, how they dress. He even described the process of making intoxicated drinks, as well as the custom of housewives in India to sleep in the same bed as guests.
The story that happened in the fortress of Dzhunnar
In the fortress of Dzhunnar, the traveler lingered not of his own free will. The local khan took the stallion from Athanasius when he learned that the newcomer from Russia was not a Basurman, and set a condition for a Gentile: either he accepts Islam, or not only will not return his horse, but will also be sold as a slave by the khan. Four days were given for reflection. Only a case saved the Russian traveler. He met Muhammad, an old acquaintance who vouched for a stranger in front of the khan.
During the two months he spent in Dzhunnar, Nikitin studied the agricultural activities of the population. He noted that in India wheat, peas and rice are sown and plowed during the rainy season. He also describes local winemaking. Coconuts are used in it as a raw material.
How Athanasius sold his horse
After Athanasius visited the city of Allland after Djunnar. There was a big fair. The merchant wanted to sell an Arabian horse, but this again failed. And without him there were a lot of good horses at the fair.
Afanasy Nikitin only in 1471 managed to sell it, and even then without profit, or even at a loss. This happened in the city of Bidar, where the traveler arrived, waiting for the rainy season in other settlements. He stayed here for a long time, made friends with the local population. Athanasius told the inhabitants about his faith and land. Hindus also told a lot about their family life, prayers, and customs. Many recordings of Nikitin are devoted to religious issues of local residents.
Parvat in Nikitin's Records
The next that Athanasius Nikitin discovered was the holy city of Parvat. He arrived here on the shore of Krishna in 1472. Believers from all over India came from this city to annual festivities dedicated to the god Shiva. Nikitin notes in his diaries that this place is as important for Indian Brahmins as Jerusalem for Christians.
Further journey of Athanasius Nikitin
A merchant traveled around India for another year and a half, trying to trade and study local customs. But commercial enterprises (why Athanasius Nikitin went over the three seas) crashed. He never found a product suitable for export to Russia from India.
Athanasius Nikitin visited Africa (east coast) on his return trip. In Ethiopian lands, according to diary entries, he miraculously managed to avoid a robbery. The traveler paid off with bread and rice from the robbers.
Return trip
The journey of Athanasius Nikitin continued with the fact that he returned to Hormuz and went north through Iran, where military operations were being conducted at that time. Athanasius passed Kashan, Shiraz, Erzinzhan and ended up in Trabzon, a Turkish city located on the southern Black Sea coast. The return seemed close, but luck turned away again from Nikitin. Turkish authorities took him into custody because they mistook him for an Iranian spy. So Athanasius Nikitin, a Russian merchant and traveler, was deprived of all his property. All that remains of him is his diary.
Athanasius took the money for the road on parole. He wanted to get to Feodosia, where he planned to meet Russian merchants and repay debts with their help. In Kafu (Theodosius), he was able to get only in 1474, in the fall. Nikitin spent the winter here completing travel notes. In the spring, he decided to go back to Russia along the Dnieper, to Tver. This ended the trip to India Athanasius Nikitin.
The death of Athanasius Nikitin
But the traveler was not destined to return: he died in Smolensk under unclear circumstances. Probably, the years of deprivation and wandering undermined the health of Athanasius. His companions, Moscow merchants, delivered his manuscripts to Moscow and handed them to Mamyrev, clerk, adviser to Ivan III. Entries were later included in the annals of 1480.
They were discovered in the 19th century by Karamzin and published under the author's title in 1817. The three seas mentioned in the title of this work are the Caspian, Black and Indian Ocean.
What did Athanasius Nikitin discover?
Long before the Europeans arrived in India, a Russian merchant appeared in this country. The sea route here was discovered by Vasco da Gama, a Portuguese merchant, several decades later.
Although the commercial goal was not achieved, the result of the trip was the first description of India. In ancient Russia, before that, it was known only by legends and some literary sources. A man of the 15th century was able to see this country with his own eyes and talentedly tell compatriots about it. He wrote about the state system, religions, trade, exotic animals (elephants, snakes, monkeys), local customs, and also recorded some legends.
Nikitin also described areas and cities that he had not visited, but about which the Indians had told him. He mentions, in particular, the island of Ceylon, Calcutta, Indochina, which were unknown to the Russians at that time. Therefore, what Athanasius Nikitin discovered was of great value. Carefully collected information today allows us to judge the geopolitical and military aspirations of the rulers of India at that time, about their army.
"Walking Over Three Seas" by Athanasius Nikitin is the first text of this kind in the history of Russian literature. The unique sound of the composition is given by the fact that the traveler did not describe exclusively holy places, like pilgrims before him. Not various objects of the Christian religion fall into his field of vision, but people with other beliefs and ways of life. Notes are deprived of internal censorship and officiality, which is especially valuable.