What did Afanasy Nikitin discover? "The Journey of the Three Seas" by Afanasy Nikitin

Surely you would be curious to find out what Afanasy Nikitin discovered. After reading this article, you will find out where this great traveler visited . The years of Afanasy Nikitin's life - 1442-1474 (75). He was born in Tver, Nikita's family, a peasant, so Nikitin is a patronymic, not the surname of the traveler. Most of the peasants at that time did not have names.

Only partially known to historians is his biography. There is no reliable information about the youth and childhood of this traveler. It is known only that he became a merchant at a fairly young age and visited the Crimea, Byzantium, Lithuania and other states for trade. Afanasii's commercial enterprises were quite successful: he returned safely with an overseas product to his homeland.

Below is a monument to Afanasy Nikitin, located in Tver.

In 1468 Athanasius undertook an expedition, during which he visited the countries of the East, Africa, India and Persia. This journey is described in a book called "The Journey of the Three Seas" by Athanasius Nikitin.

Ormuz

Nikitin went to Persia through Baku, after which, having crossed the mountains, he went further to the south. He made his journey without haste, stopping long in the villages and studying local languages, and also engaged in trade. Athanasius arrived in the spring of 1449 in Ormuz - a large city located at the intersection of various trade routes: from India, China, Asia Minor and Egypt.

In Russia, goods from Ormuz were already known. In particular, famous for the Ormuz pearl. Athanasius Nikitin, learning that horses were being exported to the cities of India from this city, decided to make a risky venture. He bought an Arabian stallion and boarded a ship in the hope of reselling it profitable 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 sailing trip. The strongest impression on the merchant was made 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 had seen. In his notes, India appears as a wonderful country, in which everything is completely different than in Russia. Athanasius wrote that all people here are naked and black. He was amazed that even poor people wear jewelry made of gold. Nikitin himself, by the way, also struck the Indians. Seldom had the locals seen white people before. Nikitin did not succeed in selling his stallion in Chaul. He went deep into the country, visiting a small town in the upper reaches of Sina, and then in Junnar.

What did Afanasy 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 local people eat, what they feed livestock, what goods they sell, how they dress. They even described the process of making intoxicating drinks, as well as the custom of housewives in India to sleep in one bed with guests.

The story that took place in the fortress of Junnar

In the fortress of Junnar the traveler was delayed not of his own free will. The local khan took the stallion from Athanasius when he found out that he was an alien from Rus, and not a basurman, and set a condition for a heterosexual: either he accepts Islam, or not only does not return his horse, but will be sold by the khan to slavery. For meditation was given four days. Only the case saved the Russian traveler. He met Muhammad, an old acquaintance who vouched for a stranger in front of the khan.

Nikitin studied for two months, which he spent in Junnar, agricultural activities of the population. He noticed that in India they sow and plow wheat, peas and rice during the rainy season. He also describes local winemaking. Coconuts are used in it as raw materials.

How did Athanasius sell his horse?

Athanasius visited the city of Alland after Junnar. There was a big fair here. The merchant wanted to sell the Arabian horse, but this could not be done again. And without him at the fair there were many good horses.

Afanasiy Nikitin managed to sell it only in 1471, and even without profit, and even with 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, became friends with the local population. Athanasius told the inhabitants about his faith and earth. Hindus also told a lot about their family way of life, prayers, customs. A lot of Nikitin's records are devoted to the religion of local residents.

Parvat in the records of Nikitin

The next thing that Athanasius Nikitin discovered was the sacred city of Parvat. He arrived here, on the shore of Krishna, in 1472. From this city came believers from all over India to the annual festivities that were dedicated to the god Shiva. Nikitin notes in his diaries that this place is as important for Indian brahmanas as Jerusalem for Christians.

Further travel Afanasy Nikitin

Another year and a half, a merchant traveled in India, trying to trade and study local customs. But the commercial enterprises (why Afanasy Nikitin went for the three seas) failed. Suitable for export to Russia from India the goods he did not find.

Afanasy Nikitin visited Africa (the eastern coast) on his way back. In the Ethiopian lands, according to diary entries, he miraculously managed to avoid robbery. The traveler bought bread and rice from the bandits.

Return trip

Afanasiy Nikitin's journey continued with the fact that he returned to Ormuz and went north through Iran, where at that time military operations were conducted. Athanasius passed Kashan, Shiraz, Erzinjan and found himself in Trabzon, a Turkish city located on the southern coast of the Black Sea. The return seemed close, but luck turned again from Nikitin. The Turkish authorities arrested him, since he was mistaken for an Iranian spy. So Afanasy Nikitin, a Russian merchant and traveler, was deprived of all his possessions. All that's left for him is his diary.

Athanasius borrowed money for the journey on parole. He wanted to get to Theodosia, where he planned to meet Russian merchants and pay debts with their help. In Cafu (Theodosius), he could only reach in 1474, in the autumn. Nikitin spent the winter here, completing the travel notes. In the spring, he decided to go back to Russia on the Dnieper, in Tver. This ended the trip to India Afanasy Nikitin.

The death of Afanasy Nikitin

But it was not destined to return to the traveler: he died in Smolensk under unclear circumstances. Probably, years of hardship and wandering have undermined the health of Athanasius. His companions, Moscow merchants, brought his manuscripts to Moscow and gave them to Mamyrev, the deacon, the adviser to Ivan III. Records were later included in the chronicles of 1480.

They were discovered in the 19th century by Karamzin and published under the author's title in 1817. Mentioned in the title of this work are three seas - the Caspian, Black and Indian Ocean.

What did Afanasy Nikitin discover?

Long before the arrival of Europeans in India in this country was a Russian merchant. The sea route was opened here by Vasco da Gama, a Portuguese merchant, a few 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 to tell talented about this to his compatriots. 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 he had not visited himself, but of which the Indians told him. He mentions, in particular, the island of Ceylon, Calcutta, Indochina, which at that time were unknown to the Russians. Therefore, what Athanasius Nikitin discovered was of great value. The carefully collected information today allows us to judge the geopolitical and military aspirations of the rulers of India of that time, of their army.

"Walking for the Three Seas" by Afanasy Nikitin is the first text of its kind in the history of Russian literature. The unique sound of the composition is attached to the fact that the traveler did not exclusively describe sacred places, like pilgrims before him. Not different objects of the Christian religion fall into his field of vision, but people with other beliefs and way of life. Notes are devoid of internal censorship and officiality, which is especially valuable.