The History of Kyivan Rus as Political Weapon

Both Ukrainian and Russian historians consider Kyivan Rus as important part of their national histories. Russian historians try to show that Moscow is a lawful heir to Kyivan Rus. They say that there was the so-called Ancient Rus People (Древнерусский народ) which inhabited Kyivan Rus. In the 13^th and 14^th centuries the Mongol and Lithuanian-Polish invasions caused the division of this Ancient Rus People into three brotherly branches: Russians, Ukrainians, and Belarusians. These three brotherly branches were quite naturally “reunited” by Russian tsars in the 17^th and 18^th centuries. The political idea of this concept is quite clear: if these brotherly peoples were once a single people why should not they be reunited again in a form of some union under Russian leadership.[30]

Many Ukrainian historians, beginning from M. Hrushevsky, have been trying to prove that there was not any single Ancient Rus People which disintegrated into three branches. They say that Ukrainians as a distinct nation had already lived on the territory of present-day Ukraine in Kyivan Rus times. According to them, the Russians at this time were also a distinct people who populated the territory of present-day Russia. Hrushevsky even wrote that Russians could hardly be called a Slavic people since Slavic element was not significant in their national composition. Such famous Russian place-names as Moskva, Oka, Tver, Ryazan are not of Slavic origin; their origin is Finno-Ugric. So, according to these historians, there was not any “natural reunification” of these peoples by Russian tsars, but rather it was an “artificial attachment” of Ukraine to Russia. The idea of that concept is also politically motivated. It indicates that since Ukrainians are a different nation from Russians it would be more natural for them to live in an independent state.

[1] The Tyipillian culture was discovered by famous archeologist Innokentii Khvoika.

[2] Some historians suppose that these figures were also used as symbolic protectors from evil forces.

[3] They believe that by making the Ukrainian nation older they will give it more grandeur.

[4] Trypillians had narrow long faces and aquiline noses. (They looked like Jews and Armenians).

[5] Goths were not nomads.

[6] Olvia means ‘happy’ in Greek.

[7] Some scholars explain the name by Romans’ inability to understand the wild language of those tribes. It sounded for them like ‘bar bar bar,’ hence the name ‘barbarians.’ Another theory suggests that the word comes from Latin ‘barba’ which means ‘beard.’ The dirty and bearded Barbarians looked differently from the Romans who usually took bath and shaved themselves.

[8] The name comes from Greek tavros – bull.

[9] The Avars defeated the Antes, a union of Slavic tribes located in central Ukraine, and forced them to pay tribute.

[10] Some modern historians, however, consider the Antes a union of different ethnic tribes which included Slavonic, Germanic and Iranian elements. The name Antes is of Iranian origin.

[11] Most scholars believe that Kyiv appeared at the end of 5^th century or at the beginning of the 6^th century AD.

[12] Perun was the only god who needed human sacrifices.

[13] Ancient Slavs did not have temples.

[14] The name is derived from Norman, which means Viking.

[15] Since Byzantine chronicles are silent about that event many scholars believe that Nestor (author of the chronicle) confused the raid of Oleh with that of Askold.

[16] Squirted from tubes or thrown in clay pots from catapults, Greek fire could burn even under water. The formula still remains a secret.

[17] Some historians derive this name from Scandinavian “Sveineld.” Other historians think that ‘Sviatoslav’ is a Slavic name.

[18] Many historians believe that it was Sviatoslav’s serious mistake since Khazaria at the time did not threaten Kyivan Rus; on the contrary it served as an important barrier against nomadic raids to Kyivan Rus. The destruction of Khazaria made Kyivan Rus vulnerable to nomadic attacks.

[19] Yaroslav became known as the Wise because of his diplomatic skills, cultural interests and codification of laws.

[20] In Western European model the edicts of the Roman Catholic Church had priority over the edicts of the kings. The kings could not even be crowned without the Roman Pope’s permission.

[21] According to a legend, Volodymyr wanted to choose Islam first since it allowed polygamy and the prince was a famous womanizer. The thing that severely disappointed him in Islam was the prohibition of drinking alcohol. “Drinking is a joy of Rus – we cannot live without it”, Volodymyr said.

[22] The result of their efforts was a new language – Old Slavonic (Старославянский), based on Macedonian and Bulgarian dialects but understood in all Slavic lands. This language was used for writing books or in church; people rarely used it for speaking.

[23] Icons – paintings on wood of holy figures or saints.

[24] Fresco – a picture painted on a wall or ceiling while the plaster is still wet (to allow the paint to penetrate it and thus last longer).

[25] Mosaic – a picture made by placing together small pieces of glass, stone, etc of different colors.

[26] That was done because people did not live long. A few people lived over 40 due to epidemics, deceases, famines, wars, etc. Besides, half the children died in their infancy. So a woman was expected to produce children every year for the nation to survive.

[27] The French erected a monument in honor of Anna of Kyiv. The Gospel brought by Anna was used for centuries during coronation of French kings.

[28] Volodomyr Monomakh was a strong and wise ruler. He wrote the Instructions (1117) to his followers on the throne (‘Pouchenie detiam’) where he advised them to love motherland, parents and neighbors; to defend the weak (widows and orphans). His son Prince Yury Dolgoruky founded Moscow in 1147.Yury Dolgoruky died as Kyivan prince and his tomb is still located in Kyiv.

[29] Golden Horde was the name of a state established by Batu at the lower Volga.

[30] In 2005 Russian president Vladimir Putin said that the disintegration of the Soviet Union was one of the most tragic events in Russia’s history. (Ukrainians and many other peoples became independent as a result of this disintegration).

Date: 2015-12-24; view: 899