During the development of civilization, people united their scattered homes. This is how cities appeared. History has erected great settlements and just as mercilessly wiped them off the face of the Earth. Only a few cities were able to pass through the centuries, enduring all the blows of fate. The walls have stood in the sun and rain, they have seen eras come and go.

These cities became silent witnesses to how our civilization was revived and fell into decay. Today, not all the great cities of the past continue to provide shelter to people; many simply lie in ruins or have completely disappeared from the face of the Earth.

The British newspaper The Guardian selected the 15 most ancient cities in the world, each of which has its own unique architecture and unusual history. These places have so much ancient history that dates can only be given as approximate dates; historians are debating around them. So where does a person live continuously the longest?

Jericho, Palestinian Territories. This settlement appeared here 11 thousand years ago. This is the oldest residential city in the world, which was repeatedly mentioned in the Bible. Jericho is also known in ancient texts as the “city of palm trees.” Archaeologists found here the remains of 20 consecutive settlements, which made it possible to determine the venerable age of the city. The city is located near the Jordan River, on the western bank. Even today, about 20 thousand people live here. And the ruins of ancient Jericho are located west of the center of the modern city. Archaeologists were able to discover here the remains of a large tower from the pre-ceramic Neolithic period (8400-7300 BC). Jericho contains burial sites from the Chalcolithic period and city walls dating back to the Bronze Age. Perhaps they were the ones who fell to the loud trumpets of the Israelites, giving rise to the phrase “the trumpets of Jericho.” In the city you can find the ruins of the winter palace-residence of King Herod the Great with swimming pools, baths, and lavishly decorated halls. The mosaic on the floor of the synagogue, dating back to the 5th-6th centuries, has also been preserved here. And at the foot of the Tel al-Sultan hill is the source of the prophet Elisha. Historians believe that the hills adjacent to Jericho hide many archaeological treasures comparable to the Valley of the Kings in Egypt.

Byblos, Lebanon. The settlement in this place is about 7 thousand years old. The city of Gebal, mentioned in the Bible, was founded by the Phoenicians. He received his other name, Byblos (Byblos), from the Greeks. The fact is that the city supplied them with papyrus, which was called “byblos” in Greek. The city has been known since the 4th millennium BC. Byblos became famous for its temples of Baal; the cult of the god Adonis originated here. It was from here that it spread to Greece. The ancient Egyptians wrote that it was in this city that Isis found the body of Osiris in a wooden box. The main tourist attractions of the city are the ancient Phoenician temples, the temple of St. John the Baptist, built by the crusaders in the 12th century, the city castle and the remains of the city wall. Now here, 32 kilometers from Beirut, is the Arab city of Jebeil.

Aleppo, Syria. Archaeologists believe that people settled here in 4300 BC. Today this city is the most populous in Syria, with a population approaching 4 million. It was formerly known as Halpe or Khalibon. For many centuries, Aleppo was the third largest city in the Ottoman Empire, second only to Constantinople and Cairo. The origin of the city's name is not entirely clear. Presumably "haleb" means copper or iron. The fact is that in ancient times there was a large center for their production here. On Aramaic"Halaba" means "white", which refers to the color of the soil in the area and the abundance of marble rocks. And Aleppo received its current name from the Italians who visited here during the Crusades. Ancient Aleppo is evidenced by Hittite inscriptions, Mari inscriptions in the Euphrates, in central Anatolia and in the city of Ebla. These ancient texts speak of the city as an important military and commercial center. For the Hittites, Aleppo had special significance, as it was the center of worship of the weather god. Economically, the city has always been an important place. The Great Silk Road passed here. Aleppo has always been a tasty morsel for invaders - it belonged to the Greeks, Persians, Assyrians, Romans, Arabs, Turks and even the Mongols. It was here that the great Tamerlane ordered the erection of a tower of 20 thousand skulls. With the opening of the Suez Canal, Aleppo's role as a commercial center became smaller. Currently, this city is experiencing a renaissance, it is one of the most beautiful places in the Middle East.

Damascus, Syria. Many people think so. That Damascus is worthy of the title of the oldest city in the world. Although there is an opinion that people lived here 12 thousand years ago, another date of settlement seems more truthful - 4300 BC. The medieval Arab historian Ibn Asakir in XII argued that after Flood The first wall erected was the Damascus Wall. He attributed the very birth of the city to the 4th millennium BC. The first historical evidence about Damascus dates back to the 15th century BC. Then the city was under the rule of Egypt and its pharaohs. Later, Damascus was part of Assyria, the Neo-Babylonian kingdom, Persia, the empire of Alexander the Great, and after his death, part of the Hellenistic kingdom of the Seleucids. The city flourished during the Aramaic era. They created a whole network of water canals in the city, which today form the basis of modern water supply networks in Damascus. The urban agglomeration today numbers 2.5 million people. In 2008, Damascus was recognized as the cultural capital of the Arab world.

Susa, Iran. The settlement in this place is already 6200 years old. And the first traces of humans in Susa date back to 7000 BC. The city is located on the territory of modern Khuzestan province in Iran. Susa entered history as the capital of the ancient state of Elam. The Sumerians wrote about the city in their early documents. Thus, the works “Enmerkar and the Ruler of Aratta” say that Susa was dedicated to the deity Inanna, the patroness of Uruk. There are repeated mentions of the ancient city in the Old Testament, its name appears especially often in the Scriptures. The prophets Daniel and Nehemiah lived here during the Babylonian captivity in the 6th century BC; Esther became queen in the city and saved her from persecution by the Jews. The Elamite state ceased to exist with the victories of Ashurbanipal, Susa itself was plundered, which was not the first time that happened. The son of Cyrus the Great made Susa the capital of the Persian kingdom. However, this state also ceased to exist, thanks to Alexander the Great. The city has lost its former significance. Susa was later destroyed by Muslims and Mongols, as a result of which life barely glimmered in it. Today the city is called Shusha, about 65 thousand people live in it.

Faiyum, Egypt. This city has a history of 6 thousand years. It is located southwest of Cairo, in the oasis of the same name, occupying part of Crocodilopolis. At this ancient site, the Egyptians worshiped the sacred Sobek, the crocodile god. The pharaohs of the 12th dynasty loved to visit Fayyum, then the city was called Shedit. This fact follows from the remains of burial pyramids and temples found by Flinders Petrie. In Fayoum there was the same famous Labyrinth that Herodotus described. In general, quite a lot of archaeological finds have been found in this area. But world fame went to the Fayum drawings. They were made using the enacoustic technique and were funerary portraits from the times of Roman Egypt. Currently, the population of the city of Al-Fayoum is more than 300 thousand people.

Sidon, Lebanon. People founded their first settlement here in 4000 BC. Sidon is located 25 kilometers south of Beirut on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. This city was one of the most significant and oldest Phoenician cities. It was he who was the heart of that empire. In the X-IX centuries BC. Sidon was the largest trading center of that world. In the Bible he was called the “firstborn of Canaan,” the brother of an Amorite and a Hittite. It is believed that both Jesus and the Apostle Paul visited Sidon. And in 333 BC. the city was captured by Alexander the Great. Today the city is called Saida and is home to Shiite and Sunni Muslims. It is the third largest city in Lebanon with a population of 200 thousand people.

Plovdiv, Bulgaria. This city also arose 4 thousand years BC. Today it is the second largest in Bulgaria and one of the oldest in Europe. Even Athens, Rome, Carthage and Constantinople are younger than Plovdiv. The Roman historian Ammianus Marcellinus said that the first name for this settlement was given by the Thracians - Eumolpiada. In 342 BC. The city was conquered by Philip II of Macedon, the father of the legendary conqueror. The king named the settlement Philippopolis in honor of himself, but the Thracians pronounced this word as Pulpudeva. From the 6th century, the city began to be controlled by Slavic tribes. In 815 it became part of the First Bulgarian Kingdom under the name Pyldin. For the next few centuries, these lands passed from hand to hand from the Bulgarians to the Byzantines, until the Ottoman Turks captured it for a long time. Four times the crusaders came to Plovdiv and plundered the city. Currently, the city is an important cultural center. There are many ruins here that testify to its rich history. The Roman aqueduct and amphitheater, as well as the Ottoman baths, stand out here. About 370 thousand people now live in Plovdiv.

Gaziantep, Türkiye. This settlement appeared around 3650 BC. It is located in the south of Turkey, near the Syrian border. Gaziantep dates back to the times of the Hittites. Until February 1921, the city was called Antep, and the Turkish parliament gave the prefix gazi to the residents for their services during the battles for the country's independence. Today more than 800 thousand people live here. Gaziantep is among the most important ancient centers in southeastern Anatolia. This city lies between the Mediterranean Sea and Mesopotamia. Here the roads between the south, north, west and east intersected, and the Great Silk Road passed through. To this day, in Gaziantep you can find historical relics from the times of the Assyrians, Hittites, and the era of Alexander the Great. With flourishing Ottoman Empire and the city experienced times of prosperity.

Beirut, Lebanon. People began to live in Beirut 3 thousand years before the birth of Christ. Today this city is the capital of Lebanon, the economic, cultural and administrative center of the country. And the Phoenicians founded Lebanon, choosing rocky land in the middle of the Mediterranean coast of the modern territory of Lebanon. It is believed that the name of the city comes from the word "birot", meaning "well". For a long time, Beirut remained in the background in the region, behind its more significant neighbors - Tire and Sidon. It was only during the Roman Empire that the city became influential. There was a famous school of law here, which developed the main postulates of the Justinian Code. Over time, this document will become the basis of the European legal system. In 635, Beirut was occupied by the Arabs, incorporating the city into the Arab Caliphate. In 1100 the city was captured by the Crusaders, and in 1516 by the Turks. Until 1918, Beirut was part of the Ottoman Empire. In the last century, the city glorious history became an important cultural, financial and intellectual center in the Eastern Mediterranean. And since 1941, Beirut became the capital of the new independent state- Lebanese Republic.

Jerusalem, Israel/Palestinian Territories. This great city without a doubt was founded in 2800 BC. Jerusalem was able to become both the spiritual center of the Jewish people and the third holy city of Islam. In the city big number important religious sites, including the Western Wall, the Dome of the Rock, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher al-Aqsa. It is not surprising that there were constant attempts to conquer Jerusalem. As a result, the history of the city includes 23 sieges and 52 attacks. It was captured 44 times and destroyed 2 times. The ancient city lies on the divide between Dead Sea and the Mediterranean, in the spurs of the Judean Mountains at an altitude of 650-840 meters above sea level. The first settlements in this area date back to the 4th millennium BC. IN Old Testament Jerusalem is spoken of as the capital of the Jebusites. This population lived in Judea even before the Jews. It was they who founded the city, settling it initially. There is also a mention of Jerusalem on Egyptian figurines of the 20th-19th centuries BC. There, among the curses against hostile cities, Rushalimum was mentioned. In the 11th century BC. Jerusalem was occupied by the Jews, who proclaimed it the capital of the Kingdom of Israel, and from the 10th century BC. - Jewish. After 400 years, the city was captured by Babylon, then it was ruled by the Persian Empire. Jerusalem changed owners many times - these were the Romans, Arabs, Egyptians, and Crusaders. From 1517 to 1917, the city was part of the Ottoman Empire, after which it came under the jurisdiction of Great Britain. Now Jerusalem, with a population of 800 thousand people, is the capital of Israel.

Tire, Lebanon. This city was founded in 2750 BC. Tire was a famous Phoenician city and a major trading center. The date of its foundation was named by Herodotus himself. And there was a settlement on the territory of modern Lebanon. In 332 BC. Tire was taken by the troops of Alexander the Great, which required a seven-month siege. From 64 BC Tire became a Roman province. It is believed that the Apostle Paul lived here for some time. In the Middle Ages, Tire became known as one of the most impregnable fortresses in the Middle East. It was in this city that Frederick Barbarossa, King of Germany and Holy Roman Emperor, was buried in 1190. Now on the site of the great ancient settlement stands the small town of Sur. It no longer has much significance; trade began to be conducted through Beirut.

Erbil, Iraq. This settlement is already 4300 years old. It is located north of the Iraqi city of Kirkuk. Erbil is the capital of the Iraqi unrecognized state of Kurdistan. Throughout its history this city belonged to different peoples- Assyrians, Persians, Sassanians, Arabs and Turks. Archaeological research confirmed that people have lived in this area without interruption for more than 6 thousand years. This is most eloquently evidenced by the Citadel Hill. It represents the remains of former settlements. There was a wall around it, which was created in pre-Islamic times. When Erbil was under Persian rule, Greek sources they called him Havler or Arbela. The Royal Road passed through it, which went from the very center of the Persian center to the coast of the Aegean Sea. Erbil was also a transit point on the Great silk road. To this day, the ancient city citadel, 26 meters high, is visible from afar.

Kirkuk, Iraq. This city appeared in 2200 BC. It is located 250 kilometers north of Baghdad. Kirkuk is located on the site of the ancient Hurrian and Assyrian capital of Arrapha. The city had an important strategic position, so three empires fought for it at once - Babylon, Assyria and Media. It was they who shared control of Kirkuk for a long time. Even today there are still ruins here that are 4 thousand years old. The modern city, thanks to its proximity to the richest field, has become the oil capital of Iraq. About a million people live here today.

Balkh, Afghanistan. This ancient city appeared around the 15th century BC. Balkh became the first large settlement that the Indo-Aryans created during their transition from the Amu Darya. This city became a large and traditional center of Zoroastrianism; it is believed that it was here that Zarathustra was born. In late antiquity, Balkh became an important center of Hinayana. Historians said that in the 7th century there were more than a hundred Buddhist monasteries in the city, with 30 thousand monks living in them alone. The largest temple was Navbahar, its name translated from Sanskrit means “ new monastery" There was a huge Buddha statue there. In 645 the city was first captured by the Arabs. However, after the robbery they left Balkh. In 715, the Arabs returned here, having settled in the city for a long time. The further history of Balkh saw the arrival of the Mongols and Timur, however, even Marco Polo, describing the city, called it “great and worthy.” In the 16th-19th centuries, the Persians, the Bukhara Khanate and the Afghans fought for Balkh. Bloody wars ended only with the transfer of the city to the rule of the Afghan Emir in 1850. Today this place is considered the center of the cotton industry; leather is well tanned here, producing “Persian sheepskin.” And 77 thousand people live in the city.

From its very appearance, Rus' was famous for its densely populated and fortified villages. It was so famous that the Varangians, who later began to rule it, called it Slavic lands"Gardariki" is a country of cities. The Scandinavians were amazed by the fortifications of the Slavs, since they themselves spent most of their lives at sea. Now we can figure out what the ancient Russian city is and why it is famous.

Reasons for appearance

It is no secret that man is a social being. For better survival, he needs to gather in groups. And if earlier the tribe became such a “center of life,” then with the disappearance of barbaric customs it was necessary to look for a civilized replacement.

In fact, the emergence of cities in people's lives is so natural that it could hardly be otherwise. They differ from a village or village in one important factor - the fortifications that protected the settlements. In other words, walls. It is from the word “fence” (fortification) that the word “city” comes from.

Education ancient Russian cities connected, first of all, with the need for protection from enemies and the creation of an administrative center for the principality. After all, it was in them that the “blue blood” of Rus' was most often found. A sense of security and comfort was important to these people. All traders and artisans flocked here, turning the settlements into Novgorod, Kiev, Lutsk, bustling with life.

In addition, the newly created settlements became excellent trading centers; merchants from all over the world could flock here, receiving the promise of being under the protection of a military squad. Due to the incredible importance of trade, cities in Rus' were most often built on the banks of rivers (for example, the Volga or Dnieper), since at that time waterways were the safest and most in a fast way delivery of goods. Settlements along the river banks became richer than ever before.

Population

First of all, the city could not exist without a ruler. It was either the prince or his deputy. The building in which he lived was the richest secular housing; it became the center of the settlement. He resolved various legal issues and established procedures.

The second part of the ancient Russian city is the boyars - people close to the prince and capable of influencing him directly with their words. They occupied various official positions and lived in such settlements richer than anyone, except perhaps the merchants, but they did not stay in one place for long. At that time, their life was an endless road.

Next, we need to remember about the various artisans of all possible professions, from icon painters to blacksmiths. As a rule, their living quarters were located inside the city, and their work workshops were outside the walls.

And the last in the social ladder were the peasants; they did not live inside the settlement, but were located on the lands that they cultivated. As a rule, people entered the Old Russian gorodon only for trade or legal matters.

Cathedral

The center of the ancient Russian city is the church. The cathedral, located in front of the main square, was a real symbol. The most monumental, decorated and rich building, the temple was the center of spiritual power.

The larger the city became, the more churches appeared inside it. But none of them had the right to be grander than the main and first temple, which personified the entire settlement. Princely cathedrals, parish and house churches - they all seemed to reach out to the main spiritual center.

Monasteries played a special role, which sometimes became literally cities within cities. Often a fortified settlement could arise precisely around the place of residence of the monks. Then the main temple of the monastery became dominant in the spiritual life of the city.

Cathedrals were actively decorated, and gilded domes appeared for a reason: they were visible for many kilometers, and they were a “guiding star” for travelers and lost souls. The temple, with its splendor, was supposed to remind people that earthly life- nothing, and only God’s beauty, which was the church, can be considered true.

Gates

Gates, of which there were up to four in fortified villages (on the cardinal points), were, oddly enough, given great importance. As the only passage into the ancient Russian city, they represented a huge symbolic meaning: “to open the gates” meant to give the city to the enemy.

They tried to decorate the gates as much as possible, and it would be better to make at least one of them a grand entrance through which the prince and noble people would enter. They were supposed to instantly shock the visitor and testify to the prosperity and happiness of the local residents. No money or effort was spared on the good finishing of the gates; the entire city often repaired them.

It was also customary to consider them a kind of sacred place, which was protected not only by earthly troops, but also by saints. In the rooms above the gate there were often many icons, and right next to them there was a small chapel, the purpose of which was to protect the entrance by the Will of God.

Bargain

A small area, usually near a river (most settlements were founded around them), was a necessary part of economic life. The ancient Russian cities of Russia could hardly have existed without trade, the main ones of which were merchants.

Here, at the auction, they placed and unloaded their goods, and this is where the main transactions took place. Often, spontaneously, a market appeared here. Not the one where peasants traded, but a rich place created for the city elite with a lot of foreign goods and expensive jewelry. It represented not a symbolic, but a true “sign of quality” of the settlement. It was from the bargaining that one could understand how rich the settlement was, because the merchant would not stand idle where there was no profit.

Mansions

The embodiment of secular power was the residence of the prince or governor. It was not only the residence of the ruler, but also an administrative building. Various legal issues were resolved here, trials took place, and troops gathered before campaigns. Often this was the most fortified place in the city, with a protected courtyard, where all residents were supposed to run in the event of a military threat.

Around the ruler's chambers there were less wealthy boyar houses. Most often they were made of wood, unlike a prince’s house, which could be afforded. Old Russian cities were architecturally rich precisely thanks to the dwellings of the nobility, who tried to decorate their home as much as possible and show their material wealth.

Ordinary people lived in separate wooden one-story houses or huddled in barracks, which most often stood on the very edge of the city.

Fortifications

As already mentioned, the cities of the ancient Russian state were created, first of all, to protect people. For this purpose, fortifications were organized.

At first the walls were wooden, but over time stone defensive structures appeared more and more often. It is clear that only wealthy princes could afford such a “pleasure”. Fortifications made from heavy logs pointed at the top were called forts. A similar word originally designated every city in the Old Russian language.

In addition to the palisade itself, the settlement was protected by an earthen rampart. In general, most often settlements appeared in advantageous strategic points. In the lowlands the city would not have existed for long (until the first military conflict), and therefore most often they were based on high points. We can say that we know nothing about poorly fortified settlements, because they instantly disappeared from the face of the earth.

Layout

For modern, very chaotic and confusing settlements, the real example is the ancient Russian city. The fortress, in which most of the population lived, was truly skillfully and precisely planned, as nature itself would dictate.

Essentially, the cities of that time were round in shape. In the middle, as already mentioned, stood two important centers: spiritual and secular. This main cathedral and the prince's estate. Around them, twisting in a spiral, were the rich houses of the boyars. Thus, wrapping around, for example, a hill, the city descended lower and lower, to the walls. Inside, it was divided into “streets” and “ends,” which ran like threads through the spirals and went from the gate to the main center.

A little later, with the development of settlements, the workshops, which were initially located outside the main line, were also surrounded by walls, creating secondary fortifications. Gradually, over the centuries, cities grew in exactly this way.

Kyiv

Of course, the modern capital of Ukraine is the most famous ancient Russian city. In it you can find confirmation of all the theses stated above. In addition, it must be considered the first truly large fortified village on the territory of the Slavs.

The main city, surrounded by fortifications, was located on a hill, and Podol was occupied by workshops. There, next to the Dnieper, there was a market. The main entrance to Kyiv, its main entrance, is the famous Golden Gate, which, as was said, had not only practical, but also sacred significance, especially since they were named after the gates of Constantinople.

It became the spiritual center of the city. It was to him that other temples and churches gravitated, which he surpassed in both beauty and grandeur.

Velikiy Novgorod

Old Russian cities in Russia cannot be listed without mentioning. This densely populated center of the principality served a very important purpose: it was an extremely “European” city. It was here that diplomats and traders from the Old World flocked, since Novgorod was located in the middle of the trade routes of Europe and the rest of Rus'.

The main thing that we have now received thanks to Novgorod is an incomparably huge number of different historical monuments Unique opportunity to see them right now by buying a plane ticket is because Novgorod was not destroyed and captured during the Mongol yoke, although it paid an exorbitant tribute.

The so-called “Novgorod Kremlin”, or Novgorod Detinets, is widely known. These fortifications served as a reliable fort for the great city for a long time. In addition, one cannot fail to mention Yaroslav's Dvorishche - a huge district of Novgorod on the banks of the Volkhov, where there was a market and many houses of a wide variety of wealthy merchants. In addition, it is assumed that it was there that the prince’s monastery was located, although it has still not been possible to find it in Veliky Novgorod, perhaps due to the absence of an integral princely system as such in the history of the settlement.

Moscow

The history of ancient Russian cities, of course, cannot be described without the presence in the list of such a grandiose settlement as Moscow. It got the opportunity to grow and become a center modern Russia thanks to its unique location: virtually every major northern trade route passed by it.

Of course, the main historical attraction of the city is the Kremlin. It is with it that the first associations now arise when this word is mentioned, although initially it simply meant “fortress.” Initially, as for all cities, the defense of Moscow was made of wood and much later acquired the familiar appearance.

The Kremlin also houses the main temple of Moscow - the Assumption Cathedral, which has been perfectly preserved to this day. Its appearance literally embodies the architecture of its time.

Bottom line

Many names of ancient Russian cities were not mentioned here, but the goal was not to create a list of them. Three are enough to clearly demonstrate how conservative the Russian people were in establishing settlements. And you can’t say that they had this quality undeservedly; no, the appearance that the cities had was dictated by the very nature of survival. The plan was as practical as possible and, in addition, created a symbol of the real center of the region, which the fortified settlements were. Now such construction of cities is no longer relevant, but it is possible that someday they will talk about our architecture in the same way.

The Old Russian city is a fortified settlement, which at the same time was the military, economic, political, social and cultural center of the entire surrounding territory. Merchants, artisans, monks, painters, etc. settled in the cities.

Founding of ancient Russian cities

The history of Russian cities began with the appearance in a certain place of people who built housing and settled in it for a long time. In the vicinity of ancient cities that have survived to this day (Moscow, Kyiv, Novgorod, Vladimir, etc.) traces have been found early eras, dating back to the Paleolithic. During the Trypillian culture in the territory future Russia there were already settlements of several dozen and hundreds of houses and dwellings.

Settlements Ancient Rus', as a rule, were located on elevated places near natural sources of water (rivers, springs). They consisted of houses protected from enemy attacks by a log palisade. The predecessors of Russian cities in the Middle Ages are considered to be fortified sanctuaries and shelters (Detinets and the Kremlin), erected by residents of several settlements in the area.

Early medieval cities were founded not only by the Slavs, but also by other tribes: Rostov the Great was founded by the Finno-Ugric tribe, Murom by the Murom tribe, Suzdal, Vladimir were founded by the Meryans together with the Slavs. Part Kievan Rus In addition to the Slavs, there were the Baltic and Finno-Ugric peoples, who merged into a single people through political unification.

In the 9th-10th centuries, along with cities of refuge, small fortresses began to appear, and then settlements in which artisans and merchants settled. Exact dates the foundations of early Russian cities are usually established only by the first mentions in the chronicles of those times. Some dates for the founding of cities were established as a result of archaeological excavations of the places where there were ancient Russian cities. Thus, Novgorod and Smolensk are mentioned in chronicles of the 9th century, but cultural layers earlier than the 10th century have not yet been discovered.

The largest cities that began to develop rapidly in the 9th-10th centuries. on the main waterways - these are the cities of Polotsk, Kyiv, Novgorod, Smolensk, Izborsk, etc. Their development was directly related to trade carried out at the intersections of roads and waterways.

Ancient fortresses and defensive structures

There were “senior” cities and suburbs (subordinates), which came from settlements from the main cities, and their settlement was carried out according to orders from the capital. Any ancient Russian fortified city consisted of a fortified part and nearby unfortified settlements, around which there were lands used for haymaking, fishing, grazing livestock, and forest areas.

The main defensive role was played by earthen ramparts and wooden walls, under which there were ditches. Suitable terrain was used to build defensive fortifications. Thus, most of the fortresses of Ancient Rus' were located in protected areas: hilltops, islands or mountain capes.

An example of such a fortified city is the city of Vyshgorod, located near Kyiv. From the very foundation it was built as a fortress, surrounded by powerful earthen and wooden fortifications with ramparts and a moat. The city was divided into the princely part (Detinets), the Kremlin and the Posad, where the artisans' quarters were located.

The fortress rampart was a complex structure consisting of huge wooden frames (often made of oak) standing end to end, the space between which was filled with stones and earth. The size of such log houses, for example, in Kyiv was 6.7 m, in the transverse part more than 19 m. The height of the earthen rampart could reach 12 m, and the ditch dug in front of it often had the shape of a triangle. At the top there was a parapet with a combat platform, where the defenders of the fortress were located, who shot at enemies and threw stones. Wooden towers were built at turning points.

The only entrance to the ancient fortress was through a special bridge laid over the moat. The bridge was placed on supports, which were destroyed during attacks. Later they began to build drawbridges.

Internal structure of the fortress

Old Russian cities of the 10th-13th centuries. have already had difficult internal organization, which developed as the territory increased and united various fortified parts along with the settlements. The layout of cities was different: radial, radial-circular or linear (along a river or road).

The main social and economic centers of the ancient city:

• Church residence and Vechevaya square.
• Prince's court.
• Port and trading area next to it.

The center of the city is the detinets or kremlin with fortified walls, ramparts and a moat. Gradually, socio-political administration was grouped in this place, the princely courts, the city cathedral, the dwellings of servants and squads, as well as artisans were located. The street layout consisted of highways that ran along the river bank or perpendicular to it.

Roads and utilities

Each ancient Russian city had its own plan, according to which roads and communications were laid. The engineering device for that time was at a fairly high level.

Wooden pavements were built, consisting of longitudinal logs (10-12 m long) and wooden logs, split in half, with the flat side up, laid on top. The pavements had a width of 3.5-4 m, and in the 13-14th centuries. already 4-5 m and usually functioned for 15-30 years.

The drainage systems of ancient Russian cities were of 2 types:

• “sewage”, which drained underground water from under buildings, consisting of barrels for collecting water and wooden pipes through which water flowed into a catch basin;
• catchment - a square wooden frame, from which then dirty water flowed down a thick pipe towards the river.

Structure of an urban estate

The estate in the city consisted of several residential buildings and outbuildings. The area of ​​such yards ranged from 300 to 800 square meters. m. Each estate was fenced with a wooden fence from neighbors and the street, which was made in the form of a palisade of spruce logs sticking up to 2.5 m high. Inside it, residential buildings stood on one side, and economic ones (cellar, medusha, cage, cowshed, granary, stable, bathhouse, etc.). A hut was any heated building with a stove.

The ancient dwellings that made up the ancient Russian city began their existence as semi-dugouts (10th-11th centuries), then above-ground buildings with several rooms (12th century). Houses were built on 1-3 floors. The semi-dugouts had a pillar structure of walls up to 5 m long each and up to 0.8 m deep; a round clay or stone oven was placed near the entrance. The floors were made of clay or planks, and the door was always located on the south wall. The roof was a gable roof made of wood, which was coated with clay on top.

Old Russian architecture and religious buildings

Cities in Ancient Rus' were places where monumental buildings were built, which were mainly associated with the Christian religion. The traditions and rules for the construction of ancient temples came to Rus' from Byzantium, which is why they were built according to a cross-dome design. Temples were erected by order of wealthy princes and the Orthodox Church itself.

The first monumental buildings were tithe churches, the oldest of which has survived to this day is the Spasskaya Church in Chernigov (1036). Starting from the 11th century, they began to build more complex temples with galleries, staircase towers, and several domes. Ancient architects sought to make the interior expressive and colorful. An example of such a temple is the St. Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv; similar cathedrals were erected in Novgorod and Polotsk.

A slightly different, but bright and original, architectural school has developed in the North-East of Rus', which is characterized by many decorative carved elements, slender proportions and plasticity of facades. One of the masterpieces of that time is the Church of the Intercession on the Nerl (1165).

Population of ancient Russian cities

The bulk of the city's population are artisans, fishermen, day laborers, merchants, the prince and his squad, the administration and the lord's "servants", an important role in connection with the baptism of Rus' began to be played by the clergy (monks and churchmen). Very large group The population consisted of all kinds of craft people who settled according to their specialties: blacksmiths, gunsmiths, jewelers, carpenters, weavers and tailors, tanners, potters, masons, etc.

In every city there was always a market through which the purchase and sale of all produced and imported goods and products was carried out.

The largest ancient Russian city was Kyiv in the 12th-13th centuries. numbered 30-40 thousand people, Novgorod - 20-30 thousand. Smaller cities: Chernigov, Vladimir, Polotsk, Smolensk, Rostov, Vitebsk, Ryazan and others had a population of several thousand people. The number of people living in smaller towns rarely exceeded 1 thousand people.

The largest lands of Ancient Rus': Volyn, Galician, Kiev, Novgorod, Polotsk, Rostov-Suzdal, Ryazan, Smolensk, Turovo-Pinsk, Chernigov.

History of Novgorod land

In terms of the territory covered by the Novgorod land (north and east of the living Finno-Ugric tribes), it was considered the most extensive Russian possession, including the suburbs of Pskov, Staraya Russa, Velikie Luki, Ladoga and Torzhok. Already by the end of the 12th century. this included Perm, Pechora, Yugra (Northern Urals). All cities had a clear hierarchy, dominated by Novgorod, which owned the most important trade routes: merchant caravans coming from the Dnieper, passing to Sweden and Denmark, as well as leading to the northeastern princely fiefs through the Volga and to Bulgaria.

The wealth of Novgorod merchants increased due to the trade in inexhaustible forest resources, but agriculture on this land was barren, so grain was brought to Novgorod from neighboring principalities. The population of the Novgorod land was engaged in cattle breeding, growing cereals, garden and vegetable crops. Trades were very developed: fur, walrus, etc.

Political life of Novgorod

According to archaeological excavations by the 13th century. Novgorod was a large fortified and well-organized city, inhabited by artisans and merchant people. Political life it was ruled by local boyars. On these lands in Ancient Rus', very large boyar landholdings developed, which consisted of 30-40 clans that monopolized many government positions.

The free population, which included the Novgorod land, was the boyars, living people (small landowners), merchants, traders and artisans. And the dependents included slaves and stinkers. Characteristic life of Novgorod - the calling of the prince through the execution of a contract for reign, and he was chosen only to make judicial decisions and military leadership in the event of an attack. All the princes were visitors from Tver, Moscow and other cities, and each tried to tear away some volosts from the Novgorod land, which is why they were immediately replaced. Over 200 years, 58 princes changed in the city.

Political rule in these lands was carried out by the Novgorod Veche, which, in essence, represented a federation of self-governing communities and corporations. Political history Novgorod developed successfully precisely due to the participation in all processes of all groups of the population, from the boyars to the “black people”. However, in 1418, the discontent of the lower classes culminated in their uprising, in which residents rushed to destroy the rich houses of the boyars. Bloodshed was avoided only through the intervention of the clergy, who resolved the dispute through the courts.

The heyday of the Novgorod Republic, which existed for many centuries, elevated the large and beautiful city to the level of medieval European settlements, whose architecture and military strength admired its contemporaries. As a western outpost, Novgorod successfully repelled all attacks of the German knights, preserving national identity Russian land.

History of the land of Polotsk

Polotsk land covered in the 10th-12th centuries. the territory from the Western Dvina River to the sources of the Dnieper, creating a river route between the Baltic and the Black Sea. Largest cities of this land in the early Middle Ages: Vitebsk, Borisov, Lukoml, Minsk, Izyaslavl, Orsha, etc.

The Polotsk inheritance was created by the Izyaslavich dynasty at the beginning of the 11th century, which secured it for itself, abandoning claims to Kyiv. The very appearance of the phrase “Polotsk land” was already marked in the 12th century. separation of this territory from Kyiv.

At this time, the Vseslavich dynasty ruled the land, but there were also redistributions of tables, which ultimately led to the collapse of the principality. The next Vasilkovich dynasty already ruled Vitebsk, displacing the Polotsk princes.

In those days, Lithuanian tribes were also subordinate to Polotsk, and the city itself was often threatened with attack by its neighbors. The history of this land is very confusing and little confirmed by sources. The Polotsk princes often fought with Lithuania, and sometimes acted as its ally (for example, during the capture of the city of Velikiye Luki, which at that time belonged to the Novgorod land).

Polotsk troops made frequent raids on many Russian lands, and in 1206 they launched an assault on Riga, but unsuccessfully. By the beginning of the 13th century. In this region, the influence of the Livonian Swordsmen and the Smolensk Principality increases, then there is a massive invasion of the Lithuanians, who by 1240 subjugate the Polotsk lands. Then, after the war with Smolensk, the city of Polotsk came into the possession of Prince Tovtiwill, by the end of whose principality (1252) the Old Russian period in the history of the Polotsk land ended.

Old Russian cities and their role in history

Old Russian medieval cities were founded as human settlements located at the crossroads of trade routes and rivers. Their other goal was to protect residents from attacks by neighbors and enemy tribes. As cities developed and consolidated, there was an increase in property inequality, the creation of tribal principalities, and the expansion of trade and economic ties between cities and their inhabitants, which subsequently influenced the creation and historical development a single state - Kievan Rus.

The ancient city and its inhabitants Art and artistic work Grade 4 Teacher: Vlasova Svetlana Vasilievna GOU Secondary School No. 639 St. Petersburg Goals and objectives -To introduce students to the organization of the internal space of the city; -Give an idea of ​​the architecture of the Kremlin, shopping area and posad. -Improve paper design skills; -Develop compositional thinking; -Cultivate interest in the culture and history of the Russian people. A.M. Vasnetsov “The Kremlin under Dmitry Donskoy” “Novgorod bargaining” A.M. Vasnetsov A.M. Vasnetsov “Foundation of Moscow” A.M. Vasnetsov “Ancient Russian city” Kitai-gorod street in Moscow, 17th century. Defense of the city of Moscow under Ivan the Terrible Moscow Kremlin under Ivan 3 Moscow Kremlin under Ivan Kalita A.M. Vasnetsov “Book stalls on Spassky Bridge” N.K. Roerich “Messenger” N.K. Roerich “Messenger”, 1897 This painting is N .K. Roerich presented at the final exam of the Academy of Arts. “The Messenger” is the first painting from the “Slavs” series, written on the plot of ancient Russian history: a messenger in a boat hurries to a remote settlement with important news that generation after generation has risen. The picture takes the imagination back to ancient times. The artist found the theme in “The Tale of Fiery Years” - the first Russian chronicle compiled in the 12th century by the monk of Kiev- Pechersky Monastery Nestor. In this canvas, Roerich takes us into the past. The dark greenish river is the river of life, covered in the damp evening air after sunset. The river is the only road. Against the backdrop of a stern sky there is a pile of some buildings, primitive in shape, some kind of fortress, “a fortification, which the tightly moving human mind-calculation is still creating with difficulty. And right there on the palisade, on the tine - the primitives of the human and animal world of the skull , skeletons. This is a diagram of the foundations of life, its harsh geometry. Here are the people of those centuries - wary figures, a sword at their hip. They slide in a boot, hollowed out of wood, in the primitiveness of human river making. In the picture, precise archaeographic details are strung on a thread of the most authentic life. N.K. Roerich “The Messenger”, 1897 The first painting - and the first major success. It became a real sensation, it amazed, amazed with the accuracy of the psychological vision of time, the alarming tension of the colors. The painting not only made a name for the aspiring artist, but also became a phenomenon in Russian painting of those years. The landscape in it can be compared with the “moods” that fascinated Levitan, Serov and other artists at that time. At the same time, the imperious tread of the New Epoch could already be heard here. N.K. Roerich sought first of all to convey a holistic idea of ​​the Epoch, a certain historical mood. The picture is small, there is no known historical fact in it. But this is a historical work dedicated to a distant era. The artist tells about the life of the ancient Slavs, about their troubled everyday life. In the combination of elements of different genres - everyday life and landscape - Roerich conveys the spirit of the past. With this he approved a new type of historical compositions. The picture attracted everyone's attention and was highly appreciated. For this painting, Roerich was awarded the title of artist. P. Tretyakov wanted to acquire the entire planned series “Slavs”, but did not have time, and after Tretyakov’s death the paintings were dispersed to different places. N.K. Roerich “Messenger”, 1897 Roerich heard many reviews. We admired the unexpected glow of colors, young artist declared the founder of the historical landscape. At the same time, N.K. Roerich, together with Rimsky-Korsakov and the sculptor Ginsburg, went to see L.N. Tolstoy. Roerich brought a photocopy of "The Messenger". As expected by Stasov, who sent the artist to the great writer, Tolstoy saw what others did not see. He really understood the message the messenger was rushing with. Lev Nikolaevich said: “Have you ever crossed a fast river in a boat? You must always steer higher than the place where you need to go, otherwise it will blow away. Let your messenger hold the rudder very high, then he will swim.” These words will go to the very depths of the artist’s heart. Many years later, when Roerich will be worldwide famous artist, they will be resurrected in his letter to the aspiring painter: “Be simpler and love nature. Simpler, simpler. You do not create because need forced you. Sing like a free bird, you can’t help but sing. Remember, the lark is over the fields in the spring! height! Steer higher! "Date 1897) Homework Find and select illustrations depicting an ancient city. Prepare a story about ancient Russian cities.

Quarter problems:

An image of a Russian person, his best qualities.

Formation of aesthetic taste in children, understanding of the role visual arts in the life of society.

Good and evil. The people's faith in the victory of good over evil, friendship and love over enmity and deceit.

Problems for the lesson:

Mastery depends on hard work.

Formation of the ability to see the national characteristics of art and humanistic foundations in the art of one’s people.

An expression of love for one's country.

Understand the connection of time in folk art.

Objectives for the lesson:

Understanding the place of the artist in people's lives.

Awareness of one’s involvement in the fate of cultural monuments and respect for cultural heritage.

Admiration for the deeds of ancestors and contemporaries.

Willingness to come to the aid of your neighbor at any moment, to be kind and responsive.

Formation of artistic taste of students.

Teach children to pay attention to the meaningful meaning of the artistic, figurative language of decorative art.

Integrated Connections:

Literature:

M. Prishvin "My Motherland".

Stone craftsmen.

Natural-mathematical block:

Comparison of sizes, planar geometric figures, geometric and floral patterns.

Preparatory work:

Excursion to the Kremlin (Kolomenskoye, Krutitskoye courtyard, Moscow monasteries - optional)

Excursion to the House - Museum of V.M. Vasnetsova.

Chambers of Zaryadye.

In the first lesson, children depict an image of a wooden house using gouache and a brush, then decorate it using colored paper, scissors and glue.

In the second lesson, temples are depicted using the appliqué technique.

DURING THE CLASSES

Basic concepts:

Moral: respect for the historical past of one’s homeland, kindness, sensitivity, wisdom, talent, hard work, skill, dignity, pride.

Interdisciplinary: character, mood, appearance, creativity, proportions.

Art history: composition, ornament, sketch, collage.

Visual range:

Slides of the cities of the "Golden Ring" of Russia depicting preserved ancient centers.

Slides depicting types of Russian houses and temple architecture of Rus'.

Conversation

Since ancient times, people have created products that not only satisfy their immediate everyday needs, but at the same time also their aesthetic needs, and create according to the laws of beauty. Beauty appears in the form of decorating an object. The most ancient type of decoration is ornament. In previous lessons, we got acquainted with the elements of ornament and symbols associated with the Slavic idea of ​​​​the structure of the world, we completed elements for our common work: houses, temples, figures of people in Russian costumes.

Today we use our knowledge and materials from past lessons when performing the collective work “An Ancient City and Its Inhabitants.”

Appeared in bears
Very noisy neighbors:
They made roads;
Every step there is a house and a yard.
From the familiar den
The beast goes further into the forest.
And under the walls of the Kremlin
The plowmen are plowing the fields,
Our grandfathers plow the lands
wooden plow,
In the open air of the first arable lands
The bread is good!
Raise livestock and catching fish,
They extract wax and honey,
New log houses are being prepared,
And Moscow is growing.

N. Konchalovskaya

“Our Fatherland, our homeland is Mother Russia. We call Russia Fatherland because our fathers and grandfathers lived in it from time immemorial. We call it Motherland because we were born in it, they speak our native language in it, and everything in it dear to us; and as a mother because she fed us with her bread, gave us drink with her waters, taught us her language, like a mother she protects and protects us from all enemies...

There are many good states and lands in the world besides Russia, but a person has one natural mother - he has one homeland" (K.D. Ushinsky).

The Russian land is great and beautiful. It is rich in cities and villages. They were built in different ways, but they always grew up in beautiful places on the Russian land. During previous lessons we learned:

That Russian carpenters not only built, but also decorated houses with wooden carvings;

What did our ancestors wear, what holidays did they celebrate?

We got acquainted with ancient cities, with the fact that each city is unique in its development and architecture;

How buildings for housing were erected, how crafts and trade developed, how temples were erected in memory of the victory over the enemy.

We also worked a lot, and today we will combine the fruits of our labors into a large joint composition “Ancient City”.

Musical accompaniment:

Glinka Mikhail Ivanovich: symphonic fantasy "Komarinskaya" with Russian folk themes.

Option: Russian folk songs, appropriate mood.

Practical work(joint-individual).

Several sheets of whatman paper are glued together and placed on tables pushed together. Alternately, groups of children of 3-4 people approach the sheets and draw a background on them. The background is a Russian landscape with forests, fields and arable lands. When free from drawing, children cut out huts, temples, and images of people in Russian costumes from their albums. When the background is ready, you can start composing the city. All children take part in the discussion. And for each element its place has been found. Now all that remains is to glue them. Our city is ready!

Analysis and aesthetic evaluation of the work.

Group work is posted on the board.

Did we manage to show the life of the ancient city?

What image do ancient temples give you?

Ancient temples are like epic heroes;

Ancient temples look like white swans.

And now you can find patterned platbands, porches, carved boards on Russian huts, but where could people spy the beauty of the pattern?

The masters could see this beauty in the native nature surrounding them.

What is the wisdom of a wooden building?

A house is like a person.

Houses are richly decorated with wooden carvings not only for beauty, but these decorations also protected the home from all sorts of misfortunes.

How can we make our work more expressive?

You can come up with a collective work called “Holiday” or “Fair”.

Please tell us what you liked most about it? Did you enjoy working together?

Yes. Very.

Afterword.

The presentation is used in preparatory lessons when depicting houses, temples and in a lesson on the topic “An ancient city and its inhabitants” when assembling a composition.

A collective picture can be created over several classes, or the main content is decided in class, and then in free time in an extended day group, the composition can be supplemented, enriched, and expanded. Gradually the picture becomes more complete, meaningful, interesting, and expressive. Not all children can take part in the final refinement of the composition, but only those who express a desire. However, it is advisable to discuss further work on the composition with everyone. I noticed that children like this form of organizing work, and they get aesthetic pleasure when looking at the finished composition, which all children should also be involved in.

When performing collective works in fine art, I actively used gaming methods and techniques. Each was based on a specially developed game plot. Children can be dressed in Russian costumes, or elements of folk costume can be used.

When ready, the details are collected on a common sheet, and it remains for me to delicately guide the creation of the overall composition. When the initially planned part of the work is completed, there is always a need to refine something, improve something. This can create and deepen a conflict situation between children, which will not benefit collective work. Therefore, my task as a teacher is to delicately and professionally organize the interaction of children in at this stage, help them refine the composition so that all positive ideas and suggestions are implemented.

This topic can be completed with individual work with children. During these classes, it is possible to make models of huts and temples from paper and cardboard, or plasticine. Such a large amount of work is successfully completed if the teacher leads a club or elective in his subject.

The presentation for this work is available from the author of the article.