Culture of Russia 10-13 centuries. The Importance of Accepting Christianity

The sources that have survived to this day tell about the peculiarities of the formation of the state, about the culture of Ancient Rus. 10-13 centuries have played an essential role in the development of the spiritual sphere of the country. This was the period of the formation and flourishing of feudalism. The culture of Rus was formed on the basis of the achievements of the then existing tribes and the Sarmatians and Scythians that lived before them. Of course, the spiritual sphere of each nationality and region had its own identity and was influenced by neighboring states.

New religion

It is difficult to overestimate the importance of adopting Christianity. Byzantium had a great influence on the development of the spiritual life of the country's population. With the adoption of the new religion in 988, it included the traditions of the ancient Greek civilization in the first place. It should be noted that Slavic paganism also influenced the development of the spiritual sphere. Despite the adoption of a new faith, it continued to exist in many regions. Slavic paganism was manifested in virtually all spheres of life. Getting rid of him was spontaneous. However, attempts were made to strengthen the new faith, make it accessible, bring people closer, and explain to them the importance of adopting Christianity. The churches began to be erected on the places where the temples were located earlier. So the elements of the deification of nature penetrated into the new faith. Some saints were attributed to the role of the former gods. Elements of the spiritual life of Byzantium were reworked and received specific, national forms. From them the new culture of Russia began to be gradually formed. "10-13 century gave the gospel and tradition," Pushkin subsequently wrote. Based on their own centuries-old customs and customs, the masters managed to form a completely new direction. Rus enriched the European culture with completely new, unique forms of churches, icon painting, original paintings. They can not be confused with the Byzantine, despite the apparent kinship of the pictorial language.

Architecture of Ancient Russia

The 10th-13th centuries became a watershed in the development of architecture. For a long time the country was "wooden". Terem, huts, chapels, everything was built of wood. In this material the masters expressed their perception of the proportion, construction beauty, fusion with the surrounding nature. With the adoption of Byzantine religion began to change the whole culture of. 10-13 century was the period of transition from wooden to stone buildings. Such an experience was absent in Western Europe, since the peoples who inhabited it were always built of stone. Russian wooden architecture was characterized by multi-tiered structures, the presence of a variety of extensions, hallways, crossings, stands, towers and towers. The carving was also traditional. Under the influence of Byzantine civilization, the building culture of Russia has radically changed. 10-13 century was marked by the construction of churches on the model of the cross-domed Greek temple. The first buildings were erected in strict accordance with Byzantine traditions. The St. Sophia Cathedral , built in Kiev, already reflects the combination of Russian and Greek traditions. The base of the cross-domed church was crowned with thirteen chapters. The stepped pyramid of the Cathedral revived the style of wooden architecture. The highest heyday reached architecture during the reign of Bogolyubsky.

Education

At a certain stage in the development of society, a need arose to meet new, fairly deep needs of the population. So there was a written language of 10-13 centuries. In Russia, undoubtedly, people used to express their thoughts on paper before. But socio-economic relations began to become more complicated, the formation of statehood began. These circumstances marked the next stage, to which the culture of Rus passed. The 10th-13th century was a turning point in the development of means of fixing and transferring ideas, thoughts and knowledge in space, preserving and disseminating the achievements of the spiritual sphere. At this time the alphabet was created. Her appearance is associated with the names of Cyril and Methodius - by Byzantine monks-missionaries. However, the sources indicate two alphabets - Glagolitic and Cyrillic. Disputes about which one of them appeared earlier, were conducted long enough. Today it is considered established that the Glagolitic was created in the 2nd half of the 9th century, and the Cyrillic alphabet originated at the turn of the 9th-10th centuries.

The first books

Literature of the 10th-13th centuries had a special impact on the spiritual life of the population. In Russia, most of the books were destroyed during numerous Mongolian invasions and fires. In total, about 150 of all that existed previously were preserved. The most ancient is Ostromir Gospel. It was compiled by the deacon Gregory in 1057 for Ostromir (Novgorod's posadnik). The high level of skill with which books that have survived to this day are spoken, speak of the established production of manuscripts already in the 11th century, about the skills of compiling them at that time. Books corresponded mainly in monasteries.

Spreading literacy

In the 12th century, the rewriting business moved to the city. The appearance of "book descriptors" in large settlements indicates the spread of literacy among the population. This also indicates an increased need for literature. Of the known 39 scribes, only 15 were representatives of the clergy. The rest did not indicate belonging to the church. However, despite the spread of literacy in the cities, the main book centers remained monasteries, under which special workshops operated. Permanent collectives of copyists worked in them. In addition, in these workshops were engaged in the compilation of chronicles.

Art of Russia

10-13 centuries were marked by the growth of forces that destroyed the political and territorial unity of the country. The disintegration of the state was the result of the strengthening of large landownership, economic development in cities. The latter became new centers of independent parts of the country and sought political independence. The expression of one's own role and power became painting for many cities. 10-13 centuries in Russia were characterized by the formation of the identity of the regions of the country. Their peculiarity consisted in a combination of local features and traditions of Kiev.

Icons

The ancient art of Russia developed in the general medieval direction. Like the Western and Eastern European, this flow remained largely church. It refracted the perception of life through the prism of Christianity, respected the accepted iconography. Some icons of the Vladimir-Suzdal masters of the 12th century are close in style to the Kiev, created in the 11th century. Such works, for example, include an elongated image of "Deesis" from the Assumption Cathedral. With the skill of Kiev artists, the famous Yaroslavl Oranta is also associated. Its monumental and majestic figure is close to its proportions to the mosaics of Kiev. Yaroslavl Oranta is reminded of the solemn icon of Dm. Thessalonica. She was brought from Dmitrov. This icon differs symmetry, correctness and "sculptural" molding of a light face.

Music

A special place in Russian life was given to songs and dances. Music accompanied people in campaigns, in work, pensions were an integral part of the holidays and rituals. Among the instruments popular were percussion (nakry, tambourine), wind instruments (horn, horn, pipe, zhaleyka), string (gusli). On the famous frescos in the St. Sophia Cathedral, musicians and dancers are depicted. It should be said that the prevalence and degree of application of the tools was different. Pipes, for example, acted as signaling means for hunting. Tambourines and stringed instruments were used separately or as part of an orchestra on holidays and merrymaking. In some sources, there are indications of early enough appearance of musical notations. This was greatly facilitated by the adoption of Christianity. Singing was accompanied by worship. It went on specially composed singing books. Such manuscripts date back to the 12th century. In them, in addition to liturgical texts, there are also musical notation "hooks" and "banners".

Contents and direction of spiritual development

Defining it, it should be noted that the historical and cultural process in Russia was based on folk art. It became the source and starting point of the spiritual development of the population. In the conditions of feudal disunity, the devastating attacks of external enemies, the culture of Rus revealed the original creative potential of the people. He nurtured and contributed to the development of the state. Culture of Russia reflects a bright sense of optimism, it acts as a life-affirming force. Creative works of the people, who lived in the conditions of the feudal era, are characterized by:

• A firm belief that good will certainly defeat evil.
• The beauty of military and labor feats.
• High morality and nobility.
• Selfless love to his land.
• Inexhaustible, kind humor.
• Deep poetry.
• Accurate isolation of traditional life phenomena, accuracy and robustness of their assessments.

All these unique qualities of the Russian people in one form or another were expressed not only in the books of medieval Rus, but also in icons, frescoes, architecture, music.

Influencing factors

Development of the culture of Russia 10-13 century. Reflected the characteristic for this era of contradictions and peculiarities. They were conditioned by the economic, social and political processes that took place in the state. The mode of production that existed under the feudal system was distinguished by a certain conservatism in the improvement of the productive forces. For him was characteristic of the closed nature of the economy. The exchange was badly developed. All this slowed down cultural development, created obstacles for the formation of local characteristics and traditions. The Tatar-Mongol invasion had a special impact on the spiritual life of the people.

Conclusion

Undoubtedly, the predominance of the religious worldview was of great importance for Russian culture . A certain role, especially in the period of the early Middle Ages, belonged to the church. It promoted the spread of literacy, the development of painting, the improvement of architecture. Together with this the church took care and protected its dogmas. She was hostile to new cultural trends. The Church formed obstacles to the formation of science, the improvement of technical knowledge. Nevertheless, the cultural achievements of medieval Russia are the inalienable values of the state. They are part of the national heritage, the greatness and glory of the people.