Text | Lanzi Ji
Ed Lanzi Ji
In other words, the map is a "priceless treasure" as a ladder to trace history and learn from the experience of our ancestors.
Have you ever seen these 7 precious maps of Russian history?
Today, I will start with the Slavs and Normans in 880 AD, and savor the fascinating aroma of history from a new perspective through 7 vivid historical maps.
Slavs and Normans up to 880 AD
The Varans are a mysterious ethnic group originating from the northern part of the European continent.
They migrated throughout their long history, eventually settling in Kiev, which later became known as the birthplace of Russian history. Their arrival completely changed the fate of this land.
The most influential nobleman among the Normans was Grand Duke Rurik, who led a large army into Constantinople in 860 AD and witnessed and participated in many important historical events.
The conquest of Constantinople was only one of them, and during his reign he managed to recapture the city from alien hands, earning himself high prestige. After that, he became the leader of the Valans.
At the end of the 9th century (around 880 AD), Prince Oleg, the successor of Grand Duke Rurik, decided to build a new capital in Kiev.
Under his leadership, the Varans moved to Kiev on a large scale, quickly occupied this rich and rich land, and began to use their wisdom and courage to write their own legendary chapters.
Because of this, Kyiv has gradually transformed into a vibrant new metropolis.
In the process, the Normans and Slavs gradually developed a new political entity called "Kievan Rus".
This new thing not only shows the long Slavic cultural tradition, but also incorporates elements of the Norman subculture of the north.
Thus, this intercultural exchange triggered a major social change that laid the foundations of today's modern Russia.
The Slavs have grown from a small scattered tribe to a force to be reckoned with through the Valans.
However, the Valans did not immediately seize the absolute leadership of Kievan Rus' when they migrated to Kievan Rus, and they needed to overcome the separatist mentality inherent in the Slavs in order to achieve the full integration of the entire region.
This so-called "Valan" is actually what we now call "Rus".
Therefore, it can be said that this historical classic records the collision of two ancient civilizations, Scandinavia and Slavic, and the formation of a strong ideology of the Rus' nation.
The epic conquest of the Valans continued until the 12th century AD. By this time, their legacy had been deeply imprinted in the annals of Russian history.
Kievan Rus' 880-1054 AD
As we all know, Kievan Rus' was founded by Rurik, a descendant of the Norman people.
For more than 200 years, they have succeeded in maintaining a stable political landscape, although there have been brief periods of internal strife.
This stability laid a solid foundation for the famous Norman dynasty to focus on organizing and expanding the state, which led to the rapid rise of the nascent kingdom.
What really brought Kievan Rus' into the spotlight was the marriage between the Rurik family and the Byzantine imperial family.
Through this marriage, the Normans eventually chose to embrace Christianity.
Since then, Christianity has profoundly influenced and transformed the social and cultural life of Kievan Rus', triggering many ideological enlightenments and mutual integration.
When it comes to Kievan Rus', we have to mention the ruler who is known as "Vladimir". He vigorously advocated religious freedom and actively promoted the rule of law, which had a profound impact on the development of the entire country.
Under Vladimir's leadership, Kievan Rus' became a prominent among many European peninsular countries, and its influence is self-evident.
In order to strengthen the management of his subjects and maintain the order of power, Vladimir integrated the wisdom of all parties during Yaroslav's tenure and formulated the first Russian legal code, which not only demonstrated his importance to the construction of the legal system, but also reflected the social stability of Kievan Rus' at that time.
In that romantic era, the rulers of Kievan Rus' were not only concerned with the consolidation of political power and the integrity of the legal system, but also with a love of literature and art.
As we all know, Kiev art is quite beautifully decorated, like a bright pearl shining on the northern lands.
At the same time, the churches and monasteries in Kievan Rus' are all artistic treasures of the era. These magnificent buildings bear witness to those passionate years and lead a new trend of advocating art and culture.
Christianity and Slavs up to 1000 AD
In this era of multicultural coexistence, the integration and conflict of different religious beliefs is of great value for historical research.
Especially when it comes to the blending and collision of great civilizations of the East and the West, its far-reaching historical impact and complexity are even more fascinating.
First, let's go back to the land of Europe at the beginning of the 7th century AD.
At that time, the Eastern Roman Empire gradually conquered Western Europe with its strong military strength, and Christianity was widely spread and deeply rooted in the hearts of the people.
In this context, many peoples in the Slavic world have chosen to follow the teachings of the Catholic Church, which can be said to have laid the foundation for the multiculturalism of today's European countries.
However, this phenomenon caused heated controversy and eventually led to a split within the Slavic world.
Specifically, as early as 700 AD, the Croatian nation had begun to accept and embrace Roman Catholicism, and by 999 AD, the Polish nation had also chosen to join the Roman Catholic Church.
It is noteworthy that at the same time, some ethnic Serbs, Bulgarians and ethnic Russians had turned to the East and to the embrace of the Orthodox Church.
This series of changes undoubtedly made the divisions within Slavic society more pronounced, thus exposing the inextricable rifts and misunderstandings between the Russian and Polish peoples, and between the Serbs and the Croats.
The prosperity of Russian monasteries in 1200-1600
Historically, the wave of monasteries in European cities reached its peak between 1200 and 1350 AD. During this period, many monasteries were built and became cultural treasures revered by later generations.
However, these great buildings did not rise from the flat plains, but were scattered in a meandering and staggered manner.
Most of them are built in rural or inaccessible areas, so-called "desert" areas.
One can imagine how the monks who worked hard and prayed silently in sparsely populated places gradually turned their dreams into reality with unwavering faith and endless wisdom and perseverance.
Between 1350 and 1450, more than 150 new monasteries were built.
By this time, we can see that a complex of buildings has been erected between Galich and the Ural Mountains, which was created by those who have overcome all kinds of difficulties and persevered themselves over the years.
As we all know, since ancient times, land has been an important carrier of human social activities.
Therefore, we have to ask, how did the monks who toiled on the land manage to acquire so many land resources?
The answer may be hidden in the late 15th century......
At that time, more and more villages were included in the territory of the monastery, and part of the land of these villages belonged to the monastery, while the rest belonged to other villagers.
It can be said that most of the inhabitants of those areas were originally pagans. However, as time went on and dynasties changed, the village gradually fell under Christian control, and it became more natural that it became part of the monastery.
In addition, until the end of the 16th century, the monastery remained one of the largest property controllers in Russia.
According to a report from the late 16th century, many of the best lands in Russia were still in the hands of monasteries, and they continued to expand their territory. This shows how influential the monastery was at that time!
The division of Kievan Rus' in 1054-1238
In the vast scrolls of history, there are many scenes of cultural diversity and power struggles, such as Kievan Rus'.
In 1054, the death of the Slavic prince Yaroslav of Georgi, caused an uproar like a boulder thrown into the lake.
The struggle for the throne brought the kingdom, once known for its prosperity and wealth, to the brink of collapse.
Since then, the fate of the Rus' land has been closely linked to the feuds between the brothers. This evil relationship exists like a shadow, so that this powerful kingdom can never get out of the turbulent situation.
Between 1113 and 1125, Vladimir Monomakh successfully implemented reforms, led his troops to quell civil strife, and achieved short-term unification. However, the good times were short-lived, and Ross soon fell apart again, with frequent wars and the whole country in turmoil.
Despite this, the search for the dawn of peace was never abandoned, and it was not until 1254 that the independent status of the Duchy of Galicia and Volyn was officially recognized by the Pope. After that, it took a hundred years of tempering, and it was not until the Mongol invasion that it came to a temporary end.
Beginning in 1307, the Duchy of Polotsk came under the control of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and the sense of independence in the heart gradually weakened, and a new chapter in the history of Rus' was opened.
This long-lasting chaos and division reflects the shortcomings of ancient society. Political corruption, economic stagnation, and religious strife combined to make the Rus' social system increasingly fragile.
However, despite the difficulties they faced, the Rus' people persevered in their struggle, fought for their rights and interests, and worked hard to preserve the unity of the country. It is precisely because of these fighters with faith and courage that they were able to write the wonderful stories in the history of Kievan Rus'.
Looking back on this magnificent history, we can't help but sigh that everyone's life is short-lived, but the fate of the country will take a long time to give an answer.
Only in the process of continuous change and progress can we find the right path to create a better future.
Novgorod Republic in 997-1478
In the long history, there have been many glorious civilizations and unique regimes, but behind the many glories, there are also scarred marks.
The Novgorod Republic, the name is believed to be unfamiliar to many readers.
Located in the eastern part of what is now Russia, this city is known for its ancient and charming architecture, rich cultural and artistic heritage, and history full of stories.
However, the long history of this land has endowed the land with a mixture of glory and tribulation, making the country legendary for more than 300 years.
In 997, Novgorod broke away from Kievan Rus', which was then in power, and gained political autonomy. Since then, the small republic has been on its own.
Novgorod has benefited from its strategic location in the trade zone, which has made the country an important international business center. In addition, there are many museums in the city, and there are many cultural relics and monuments that allow people to appreciate the breadth and depth of ancient European culture.
However, in those complex and volatile times, the prosperity of any country cannot avoid struggles and tribulations. Especially at that time, the Polish-Lithuanian alliance had been coveting the northeast for a long time and had repeatedly launched wars of aggression.
But the people of Novgorod, with their firm will and courage, never gave up their resistance in the face of a strong enemy. At a time when the country's survival was at stake, the people of Novgorod even emerged victorious in major military conflicts such as the Mongol invasion.
This indomitable national spirit has enabled the Novgorod Republic to gallop continuously on the Eurasian continent and write a magnificent epic chapter.
However, the glory days did not last long.
With the death of Grand Duke Alexei Trofimović, who desperately rebelled against the Swedish king in 1478 and ultimately failed gloriously, this marked the end of the 242-year-long history of the Novgorod Republic.
Until 1478, when the city was annexed to Muscovy under Ivan III, the city was forced to give up its status as an independent self-government.
The ancient city of Novgorod, located on the eastern bank of the Volkhov River basin, is still alive and well after hundreds of years.
900-1500 Eastward expansion of the Germanic peoples and the Baltic states
When discussing many issues of European history and culture, it is often impossible to avoid an indispensable and important role: the Germanic peoples.
"Expansion to the East" is a longing and yearning that has always been entrenched in the hearts of Germanic people. To this day, we can still find the imprint of this desire in their various actions.
From the 8th century onwards, the Germanic peoples embarked on a long and arduous journey to expand their territory into Central and Eastern Europe.
A series of kingdoms and empires based on military conquests, such as the Holy Roman Empire and the Teutonic Knights, all reflect the Germanic people's passion for territorial expansion.
Throughout their centuries-long history of conquest, the Baltic Sea was undoubtedly one of the focal points of the Germanic people's dreams. However, this alluring treasure is ruthlessly stopped by the hard reality that lies in the middle of the Germanic invasion of the East that has been going on for more than 500 years.
Since the Middle Ages in Europe, the Germanic peoples have become increasingly influential, not only in politics but also in terms of culture and religion.
The Roman Catholic Church made a significant contribution to the conversion of pagan beliefs through the power of Germanic culture.
It is a pity that on the road to the Baltics, the Germanic people suffered inevitable setbacks.
With the passage of time, various moral concepts in the Middle Ages gradually changed, and people's value orientations became more and more diverse.
At this time, conflicts and contradictions were becoming more and more frequent in various parts of Europe, especially between the Baltic states of Lithuania, Poland, Sweden and Prussia. This trend reached its peak in 1772, and since then wars, coups, revolutions, and other turbulent activities involving all countries have continued until the outbreak of the First World War.
Looking back on this history, we can't help but ponder:
Why did the Germanic peoples insist on gaining access to the Baltic Sea, and what did their quest mean?
The answer is undoubtedly multiple.
epilogue
In the vast corridor of time, the map is like a time machine carrying civilization and history, vividly highlighting the unique cultural features and social changes of each region.
Among them, the most fascinating and influential is the historical map of Russia. This map is like a long narrative poem, which depicts the magnificent picture of Russia, a modern developed power, from the past to the present.
Russia's rise and fall of glory and disgrace reflect the brilliant curtain of civilization.
Entering a new era, we must be based on the present and face the future. But we must remember that history cannot be flouted, let alone forgotten.
Only by standing on the shoulders of history can we take the road to the future.
Resources:
(i) MAPS
Atanasiu, A.D.,La Bessarabie (Paris,1919)
Bazewicz,J.M.,Poland in the Three Partitions (Warsaw,n,d.)
Bazileva,Z.P.,Rossiiskaya Imperia 1801-1861(Moscow,1960)
British G.H. O.,Constantinople, Ethnographical Map of Caucasus (Constantinople，1920)Fedorovskaya, G，P (publisher), Promyshlennost Rossii 1913;
PromyshlennostSoyuza SSR 1940(Moscow，1962)
Filonenko,W.J.,Folklore Map of the Crimea (Vienna,1932)Kuchborskaya,E.P.,Rossiikaya Imperia 1725-1801(Moscow,1959)Stanford,Edward
Sketch of the Acquisitions of Russia (London，1876)Wyld, James, Wyld's Military Staff Map of Central Asia , Turkistan and Af-ghanistan (London，1878)
(H) ENCYCLOPAEDIAS，REFERENCE BOOKS AND GENERAL WORKSBaedeker，Karl，Russland (Leipzig，1912)Cole,J. P.
Geography of the USSR (London，1967)Florinsky, Michael T,(ed), Encyclopaedia of Russia and the Soviet Union(New York，1961)
Katzenelson,Y.L.and Gintsburg, D. G. (eds), Eureiskaya Entsiklopediya.16 vols (St Petersburg，1906-13)Kubijovyc
Volodymyr (ed)， Ukraine: A Concise Encyclopaedia ( Toronto,1963)Pares，Bernard，A History of Russia (London，1926)Parker
W.H.，An Historical Georgraphy of Russia (London,1968)Sumner, S. V.，Survey of Russian History (London，1944)
Utechin, S. V.,Everyman’s Concise Encyclopaedia of Russia (London,1961)Zhukov, E. M. (ed), Sovetskaya Istoricheskaya Entsiklopediya , vols 1- 12(Moscow，1961-69)