Many historians now care about the problem of the origin of the eastern Slavs.Modern science can not answer the question of when it originated Slavic nation and where are its roots.Our knowledge of the possible ancestors of the Russian people are limited to 4-5 centuries BC, the time when the Slavs had settled in the area from the Black Sea to the Baltic Sea.
According to the theory of some historians, his first State Old Slavic tribes formed in 622 in what is now the Czech Republic, called in those days, Moravia.By the eighth century, they settled in the territory of the Balkans.At the same time, the tribes of the Eastern Slavs went to conquer the earth, subsequently received the name of Kievan Rus.By the way, some scientists have linked the emergence of Slavic peoples directly from Trypillya civilization.Tripoli is considered one of the earliest centers of human development.There the State at the turn 3-4 millennia BCon the territory of modern Ukraine.Because quite naturally considered the ancestor of the people of the Ukrainians.However, this issue is very controversial.The origin of the Slavs Trypillians to date has not been proven.
ancient Eastern Slavic tribes were very numerous.The name most of them comes from the place of their primary residence.Prominent representatives of the eastern Slavs are considered vyatichi, buzhans, Dregovichi, drevlyans, Krivichi, clearing northerners Tivertsy, Ulichi etc.These people were resettled from south to north between the two seas (the Baltic and Black) and quite often fought among themselves.
first Eastern Slavic tribes settled on the shores of lakes and rivers.For buzhans occupied the banks of the River Bug, where, in fact, went their name, Volhynians occupied territories located at the origins Pripyat vyatichi lived on the banks of the rivers Oka and Moscow.The Slavs were sedentary and initially settled in dugouts - dwellings, similar to some animal burrows, and then began to build for its wooden houses.At the center of these homes being constructed hearth, the smoke from which goes out through the hole in the roof has done.Each house certainly had more Pletnev construction.For extra safety, the Slavs were pooled their home (5-6) and a run-out on the perimeter of an earthen rampart.
main occupation, by which the Eastern Slavic tribes, and survived, was agriculture.The cultivation of land enabled them to grow crops of wheat, rye, barley, turnips, cabbage, which is not allowed to starve to death in the cold season.It is also known that the Slavs actively grown hemp and flax.Depending on where you live, the Eastern Slavic tribes engaged in cattle breeding, apiculture, hunting and fishing.
As for the spiritual part of life, our ancestors worshiped the forces of nature.All Eastern Slavic tribes as their religion preached paganism (up to the 10th century).They especially revered god of the sun - Dazhdbog (some tribes Horse, Jari), the god of thunder - Perun, the god of the sky - Svarog, the god of wind - Stribog.The ancient Slavs believed that the souls of dead people can come back and wander in the world of the living, making thus a variety of crimes.By the way, many of the heroes of Russian folk tales come to us because of the beliefs of our ancestors.The Slavs believed in the existence of mermaids (drowned), sprites (forest spirits), water (spirits swamps and rivers), fright (evil spirits dwelling).It was believed that to protect themselves from evil tricks you can use special amulets and charms, as that could be used canines animal figures carved out of wood, dried bundles of plants, etc.
Basic customs and celebrations of the Slavs is also directly connected with the cult of nature.Their main celebrations were extant Kolyada (Christmas), Mardi Gras, Ivan Kupala.Most of the customs and rituals of East Slavic tribes was forgotten after their accession to the Russian state and the adoption of Christianity, some of them have been preserved in the form of fairy tales and superstitions.
