subject: Settling of the Slavs Part 2 [print this page] Archaeologists distinguish different cultures and identify them with certain ethnic groups. They note that in the south of Belarus preserved monuments of Prague culture (early Slavic tribes, which in V - VII cc. BC inhabited the territory of the Dnieper and the lake. Ilmen to the east and to the river. Elbe and Danube in the west and south). Or, more precisely, its local variants - the culture of the type Korczak (it is understood as an archaeological culture of the tribes, which in VI - VII centuries. AD lived in the north-western Ukraine and southern Belarus). It is undisputed that these monuments belong to the Slavs. At the core territory of Belarus and neighboring regions in the V - VIII centuries settled other tribes, who left behind monuments of the so-called bantserovskoy culture. The name she received from the settlement Bantserovschina on the left bank Svisloch. As for accessories bantserovskoy culture, between the scientists are divided. Some consider it Balt, others - Slavic. This is due to the fact that during the excavations in the material culture shows signs of Culture and the Slav and Balt.
Supporters of the former hypothesis is the Russian archaeologist Vladimir Sedov. He created the theory of substrate origin of the Belarusians. Under the substratum of Baltic (from the Latin term - basis, lining) is understood ethnocultural populations Balta ethnic group, influenced the formation of the Belarusian culture. Proponents of this theory argue that as a result slavyanizatsii Balta population mixing with Slavs, has been separated parts of the East Slavic nation, which led to the formation of the Belarusian language and nationality.
Other researchers argue that settled on an area previously occupied by Baltic tribes, the Slavs partially pushed them, partly destroyed. Only small islands of the Balts, which is likely to submit to the Slavs, preserved in Move over, the upper reaches of the Dnieper. But Balts were the right bank of middle Ponemanya and some parts of the territory between the Neman and the Pripyat.
There is no clear universally accepted opinion among researchers and on the formation of tribal alliances that have formed the basis of Belarusian, Russian and Ukrainian ethnic groups. Some suggest that as a result of intensive development of Slavic territory, where previously lived Balts, in VIII - IX centuries. formed ethnically close to each tribal alliances: krivichi, Dregovichi, Radimichians, partly Volhynians. On the basis of old Belarusian ethnos was formed. Its formation was attended Yotvingians and some other Baltic tribes.
The ancestors of the eastern Slavs, who settled in the Pripyat Polesie, assimilated Baltic tribes. As a result, the territory, which occupied Prydniprovsky Balts, any East Slavic tribes Dregovichi, krivichi, Radimichians - ancestors of the Belarusians. On land that was previously lived in Iranian tribes settled glade Derevlians, northerners Volhynians - ancestors of modern Ukrainians. Assimilation finougorskih tribes led to the emergence of the Novgorod Slavs, Vyatichians, partly in the Upper kryvichy - ancestors of modern Russian.
The other view imagine this scene slightly differently. First, they believe that the supporters of the above hypothesis exaggerate the role of the Balts in the ethnogenesis of the Belarusians. Another thing, they note, average Ponemane where Balts formed a significant portion of the population still at the beginning of II millennium. In slavyanizatsii those lands a considerable role belongs Volhynians, Dregovichy, to a lesser extent - Drevlyane and Kriviches. They recognize that the basis of the old Belarusian ethnos were krivichi, Dregovichi, Radimichians, to a lesser extent - Volhynians, most of whom participated in the ethnogenesis of Ukrainians. Argue that as part of volynyan took part in the formation of the Belarusians, and part Dregovichi - in ethnogenesis of Ukrainians. Radimichi equally involved in the formation of the Belarusians and one group of Russian ethnos. Kryvychi played an important role not only in the formation of Belarusians, but also in the formation of the north-western part of the Russian ethnos.
The main occupation of the population of the Belarusian land was agriculture. Eastern Slavs brought a more progressive form of agriculture - arable, but continued to use and shifting cultivation. Sowed rye, wheat, millet, barley, flax. An important role was played by livestock. Families united by common economic life, formed a village (next door), or territorial communities. Agricultural land, forests and water bodies were the property of the whole community. The family enjoyed a separate plot of communal land - allotment.
In IX - XII centuries. East Slavs formed feudal order. In the beginning most people were freemen, who were called "people". Their social situation is gradually changing: some fell into a dependent position, part remained relatively free. Dependent people were called "servants". As part of servants were categories of the population, deprived of personal freedom - slaves.
On becoming a class society shows not only the dependent status of certain categories of the population, but also the presence of guards. The guards (or boyars) received from the prince the right to collect tribute from a certain area. Collect tribute from the free population of the territory, which "owned" the prince, called the personal collection of tribute. Gradually becomes a tribute to the feudal rent. At that time, formed the city. Some have grown from the strengthening of rural settlement as Polotsk, like other princely castles - Mensk, Grodno, Zaslavl. Still others appeared on the trade routes. The town consisted of parts: detintsa, fortified ramparts, moats, walls, tenements - a place where settled artisans and merchants, and trade - the place of sale and purchase of goods.
