Life and main occupation of the Eastern Slavs

According to sociologists, the number of those who want to learn more about their roots and the origin of the Russian ethnos has recently increased. In particular, the great interest among people of different generations raises questions related to who the inhabitants of Ancient Rus were - the Eastern Slavs, what they did and what they believed. After all, as the Romans said, who knows his past, he can understand the present, and therefore, to foresee the future.

Who are the Eastern Slavs and how did their resettlement occur?

As you know, the Glagolitic was created only in the 9th century. Therefore, there are practically no written sources in which the activities and everyday life of the Eastern Slavs were consecrated. It is even more difficult to find data on their origin. However, the generalization of all the information available at the moment suggests that the division of the Slavs into the western, southern and eastern Slavs occurred between the 5th and 8th centuries of our era. And over time, the tribes of the latter, in turn, also divided into two groups. The first of them founded Veliky Novgorod and also inhabited the territory of Beloozero and the present-day Tver region, while the other first settled in the Dnipro river basin, and then spread across the territories of modern Moldova and southern Ukraine to the west and northwards to the upper Volga.

Life at an early stage of development

The economic studies of the Eastern Slavs in the early Middle Ages, judging by archaeological findings, were limited to primitive farming (growing wheat and poultry millet), as well as bee-keeping (gathering honey of wild bees), farming livestock, hunting and fishing. They lived in log semi-dugouts with kilns, and their utensils and tools were so small and simple that they did not erect any fortifications to protect their villages, consisting of 1-2 dozen houses. The fact is that when an enemy attacked the inhabitants it was easier to run away, to found the same settlement in a new place and to acquire a simple belongings than to sacrifice one's life to save a pair of hoes and rough pots.

The main occupation of the Eastern Slavs after the appearance of the fortifications

The first fortified settlements of our ancestors appeared already in the 5th century. However, mass migration from unprotected small villages located in lowlands to fortified settlements on hills or high river banks began in the 8th century. And in different regions this process proceeded with unequal intensity. For example, the most fortified fortifications originated in the Dnieper basin.

Even after the resettlement from the settlements, the main occupation of the Eastern Slavs did not change. And they not only cultivated fields located around their settlement, but also planted gardens and gardens directly inside the city fortifications. At the same time, along with agriculture, crafts began to develop there, such as the manufacture of metal agricultural implements, knives and other weapons, as well as pottery. Evidence of this is the fragments of ancient smithies, for example, in the town of Ekimouc. By the way, it was during this period that such concepts as sloboda and posad, meaning a place near the fortress or defensive wall, where the workshops and the shop were located, were born.

Customs of the Eastern Slavs

In order to avoid incestuous marriages and degeneration, our ancestors decided to organize a game, in which all residents of two or three neighboring villages participated. During such festivities, ritual "abduction" of brides occurred. And for allegedly forcibly kidnapped a girl her family was ransomed, since he lost an employee.

Marriage meant that the man became his (brother-in-law) in the family of his wife and he could have up to several dozen children with time. Thus, some of the fathers of families acquired a greater family, which could help with the attack of enemies, and at a certain age, polygamy of workers appeared in their farms. The latter circumstance was extremely important, since the main occupation of the Eastern Slavs - agriculture - required the application of collective efforts.

Beliefs

Eastern Slavs were pagans and worshiped the pantheon of their gods, many of whom were for them the personification of the forces of nature. And this is not surprising, since the main occupation of the Eastern Slavs is agriculture, and its result is completely dependent on whether it rains, whether the hail will not beat the crop and whether the river that has washed away in spring will wash away its dwelling.

The main god of the Eastern Slavs was Perun, who controlled thunder and lightning, causing terror and reverential fear. The god of the Sun, Yarilo, the god of heaven Svarog and the patron of livestock Veles, was also especially revered. In addition, our ancestors believed in the existence of good and evil spirits, as well as in the woods, the water and the house, capable of interfering in the affairs of mortals, both to help them and to harm them.

Holidays

The main occupation and belief of the Eastern Slavs left their imprint on their holidays. In particular, from ancient times they had pagan holidays associated with seasonal agricultural work. So, in late December, children and adults dressed up in such a way that they were difficult to recognize, and went to their neighbors' houses, demanding for their songs and jokes gifts in the form of edible. And this tradition of caroling was inherent not only to the eastern, but also to the southern and western Slavs. In addition, Maslenitsa, connected with the wires of winter, the summer holiday, which received the name of Ivan Kupala after the adoption of Christianity , and the festivities on the occasion of the end of harvest, were also a great holiday, when a large loaf of honey was baked from fresh flour.

Cult of ancestors

A special place in the life of the Eastern Slavs was given to the worship of Rod and Rozhanice, personifying great-grandfathers and great-grandmothers and defending the family and the house. Sometimes they were also called "chur" or "schur", from which the word "fool" and the expression "chur me", meaning "protect me, grandfather", occurred. Our ancestors also believed that from the "other world" that was ruled by Veles, the dead could return to the "this world" for a short while and harm the living, so it was not customary to speak ill of the dead.

Protection from enemies

Despite the fact that the main occupations of the Eastern Slavs in antiquity were quite peaceful, they often had to take up arms to protect their fortifications. Our ancestors fought on foot and did not wear any armor, except the shield. They were armed with a sword, a bow with a quiver full of small arrows, and a long rope, casting which they choked the enemy. Judging by historical documents, the warriors of the Eastern Slavs were amazed by the fact that they sailed magnificently, dived and could be under water for a long time, breathing through cane straws. The latter circumstance helped them to arrange ambushes in lakes and rivers, disconcerting opponents. Later, when generals appeared leaders, transferring power by inheritance - the princes, they began to recruit the most powerful and dexterous members of their large family in the squads. Such soldiers were, as they say today, professional soldiers, and the fighting capacity of the army, consisting of the squads of several allied princes, was incomparably higher than in the case when all men of the tribe took up arms.

Now you know some information concerning the topic "Settlement and Occupation of the Eastern Slavs", and you can judge for yourself what a giant leap our ancestors made, starting from primitive agriculture, in order to become the first conquerors of the cosmos.