Education, Secondary education and schools
The main occupations of the ancient Slavs
The lessons of the ancient Slavs were determined by the peculiarities of the climatic and natural conditions of the terrain in which they lived. The East European Plain, which became the refuge of our ancestors, dictated certain conditions for farming, survival in general. Subordinating to them, the ancient Slavs gradually mastered all the resources at their disposal and, through this, formed a large and powerful state.
Main occupation
All information about the life of our ancestors, scientists receive from archaeological data, as well as from written sources. The most ancient of the traces of Slavs found belong to the V-IV centuries BC. Written documents characterize a later era - from the middle of the 1st century AD. All sources unequivocally testify that the main occupation of the ancient Slavs was agriculture. During the archaeological excavations, seeds of various cultures were found in large numbers: rye, buckwheat, millet, barley, flax and hemp.
Due to the extent of the territory occupied by our ancestors, agriculture in its different parts had some peculiarities. Distinguish slash-fire type and prologue.
Favorable zone
In the southern regions the soils were fertile, so the main activities of the ancient Slavs related to the cultivation of crops here arose somewhat earlier. The main way of agriculture was overturning. A large number of open, forest-free sites with fertile soil were sown for several consecutive years. They regularly served people until a certain point, and then exhausted. In this case, the farmers were looking for a new site (shifted) and everything was repeated.
The first weapon, which our ancestors began to use in the southern fields, was a wooden rally. Then he was replaced by a plow with an iron ploughshare. The appearance of such tools greatly increased the amount of plowed land and the quality of their processing.
Slash and burn agriculture
Somewhat differently the soils were cultivated in the north. Here a large area of land was covered with forests, and the Slavs had to clear future fields from trees. The preparation took place in two stages. All the trees in the selected plot were cut down and left in the first year. Over the winter they dried up, and in the spring they were burned with stumps: the soil was well fertilized with ashes. Then they sowed the grain. Thus, the prepared land yielded crops for two to three years, and then it was depleted. The farmers went in search of a new suitable site.
The tools of the main occupation of the ancient Slavs in the north were a hoe, an ax, a plow, a spade and a harrow-sukovatka. For the harvest our ancestors used sickles. The grain was grinded with stone grits and millstones.
Tilled form of farming
The appearance of iron tools of labor greatly influenced all occupations of the ancient Slavs. Agriculture has become more extensive: the area of cultivated fields has increased. There are so-called two-field and three-field crop rotations. In the first case, the land was divided into two parts. On one of them, bread was directly grown. The second half was under steam, that is, resting. The first field was also called winter crop, as it was sown in the winter.
In three-field agriculture, in addition to these two sections, another one was allocated. On it grain was sown in the spring, and therefore it was called spring wheat. Such a system has long been used mainly in the south. In the north, during a significant period of history, there was not enough land.
The scale of the main occupation of the ancient Slavs, with all the primitiveness of the instruments, is striking. Archaeologists have discovered several capacious granaries. In some of them it is easy to fit up to 5 tons of harvest.
Cattle breeding
Classes of ancient Slavs (drawings and paintings depicting the life of our ancestors, vividly demonstrate this) are not exhausted by agriculture. So, cattle breeding was closely connected with him. The assistants in the agriculture of the northern regions were horses, while the southern ones were oxen. Ancient Slavs bred sheep, cows, goats and pigs. While the temperature of the air allowed, cattle grazed on pastures. In winter, it was placed in a stable, where a lot of forage was prepared over the summer. Sheep, goats and cows gave milk. The cattle was a source of hides and meat.
The ancient Slavs were engaged in hunting. Skins of a fur-bearing animal from time immemorial were sold to neighboring tribes or exchanged for other valuable goods. However, cattle breeding as a source of food and other resources was more reliable. Forest animals did not admit to themselves just so they could migrate. Domestic animals were always there. Cattle breeding, therefore, was one of the prerequisites for successful survival in the often harsh conditions of the past.
Small and large fish
The stocks of food were replenished not only by fields and forests. The reservoirs also generously supplied the ancient Slavs with provisions. Fishing was developed in Russia no less than breeding cattle. It is easier to hunt and gives the opportunity to find food near the house, and not moving away from it to an impressive distance, as it was during tracking down a wild beast. Fish ate during prince feasts, and put it on the table of the commoner. Everywhere she was to the place. That's why fishing entered into the main occupations of the ancient Slavs. Its development was promoted by a large number of rivers and lakes in the territory of the young state. Fishermen caught pike, tench, sturgeon, perch and eel. The ancient Slavs were great experts in the creation of gear. In chronicles, mention is made of boa, nets, seine, landmarks.
Fish place
The reservoirs where the fishery was originally actively developed were Chudskoe, Ladoga and Ilmen Lake. With the passage of time, the centers of fishing were Pskov and Novgorod. As a rule, at that time there was one owner of the coastal territory and reservoir. However, often fisheries were transferred to other people without land. This happened as a result of a sale, testament or gift entry.
For the prince, in his lands, fishers were caught by slaves who knew the wisdom of the matter and were obliged to supply a certain amount of mined meat to the table. It should be noted that along with the hunters they enjoyed certain privileges - the occupation was considered honorable.
Adaptations
As in ancient times, and in the Middle Ages, fish were caught in very large quantities. That is why such adaptation, as a fishing rod, was considered suitable only for entertainment and rest. At that time, most of the population had no opportunity for such relaxation, and in this connection, completely different methods were used. Often the river was blocked with ezom - a palisade or a fence. Fish accumulated in one place and it was caught. They installed it in the spring, and cleaned only in the winter. The accumulated fish was caught with the help of a seine. The amount of food produced in this way was quite impressive.
According to some researchers, the net was first used by the ancient Slavs, and only then it appeared in Europe. They used the inhabitants of the villages to fish in large rivers and lakes. In addition to it, various traps were used in small reservoirs, woven from rods.
The net, however, was used more often than other devices. Its length could reach several meters. Fishing with the help of seine actively developed during the formation of Kievan Rus. Due to the convenience and relative ease of such a method, it soon became popular in neighboring states.
Beekeeping
When the lessons of the ancient Slavs are covered, the drawings accompanying the text often illustrate trade. On all the images there is certainly a pitcher or a barrel of honey. Beekeeping in our ancestors was developed as well as growing grain and fishing. In the days of feudal Russia, its board appearance was most widespread. The fence is a natural hollow (later also called artificial), in which there was a hive. The scale of beekeeping in Russia surprised travelers, and that is why in many records one can find a mention of it.
The land
The parts of the forest where the black and yellow toilers worked were called board beams. The importance of this in the life of individual families and the whole state is evidenced by the so-called honey tax that existed in the twelfth century. It was not allowed to pay him anything else.
The Slavs used hollows, formed not only by natural means. In the forest, they noticed trees suitable for hollowing out "mink", prepared them and soon they were populated by bees. Bortevye sharks were actively used until the XVII century, when they were replaced by apiaries. Beekeeping was a significant part of foreign and domestic trade, and in addition, it helped preserve the vast natural areas in their original form. The forest, where the board beads were located, was not cut down.
Apparently, what the ancient Slavs did, men and women, was primarily aimed at providing the family, the tribe and the principality with food. The choice of its sources was dictated by nature. We can say that our ancestors in this sense were lucky: the deep rivers and the forests stretching for many kilometers were always willing to share their food. Therefore, the main occupations of the ancient Slavs, summarized here, were so diverse. Agriculture, cattle raising, hunting, fishing and beekeeping were also complemented by handicrafts that arose almost simultaneously with them. Such occupations of the ancient Slavs, like pottery, carving in stone and wood, processing of iron, developed in parallel with others. Together they formed the unique culture of the young state.
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