Would you be able to live like the ancient Slavs? Plowing vegetable gardens, picking berries and fruits, raising livestock, hunting, fishing, living in shaky huts without a floor, washing with your hands in the river, raising more than six children and enduring the raids of neighboring tribes? Life in ancient times for us would have been a real hard labor, but for our ancestors it was the norm and even better than it could have been. How the ancient Slavs lived, what they ate, drank, how they dressed and how they built their life, read on.

Someone from our modern society the way of life of the ancient Slavs may be terrifying to the depths of the soul, but at that time people were happy with everything and everyone was practically happy. The Slavs did not strengthen their settlement, since they were practically not afraid of anyone. Their houses differed significantly from the dwellings of foreign contemporaries (Greeks, Germans, Turks, etc.).

Houses were built like a dugout or a semi-dugout, and an earthen stove was required for everyone (otherwise how to cook food), and it was always built in the most distant corner of the room. As for the material itself for building a house, our ancestors believed that not every tree could suit them. As old signs say, some wood could bring trouble to the house, but some protection. Therefore, dwellings were built from pine, oak and larch. An interesting fact is that aspen was considered an unclean tree.

Our ancestors were very superstitious in choosing a tree. A huge role was played by the place where the tree grew, the shape and even the side on which it fell after it was cut down. In no case should you cut the trees that grew in the cemetery or in a sacred place. Also, they often refused to cut down young or too old trees, and those who had a hollow, an unusual growth or simply a strange shape were considered the abode of evil spirits.

As for the place for the construction of the settlement, then over time the Slavs began to choose difficult places (swamps, high banks of a river or lake). Since the settlement itself was never fortified, nature served as a talisman against the raids of warring tribes. It is also worth noting that the ancient Slavic tribes were very resourceful, therefore, in their homes (for some reason, few people mention this), they often built several emergency exits in case of danger.

The life of the ancient Slavs in the settlements - the concept of "genus"

All Slavs built settlements where each lived with his own family. Now the concept of "genus" has changed a little. Now we say "relative", "kin", "kinship". In those days, the family was considered not only close people by blood. No. There lived both the closest and the most distant, since the word "clan" was used by the Slavs as "tribesman", or in the sense of "people". The family was headed by the ancestor, the father of the whole family.

Many chroniclers described the Slavs' dwelling as an inaccessible structure, elevated in an impassable place, with many escape routes, with valuable things buried in the ground. Thus, they lived like robbers, hiding and fleeing at the first threat. Here one cannot but agree, since the ancient Slavs really often fought with each other, because of which the tribe could be completely exterminated in just a day.

Economy of the ancient Slavs

The main occupation of the ancient Slavs was agriculture. In this they have succeeded like nowhere else. For the LLP, in order to survive the cold winter and not die of hunger, people were very anxious about the land, and tried to grow everything they could on it (recall that there were no potatoes yet, and therefore the tribes ate cereals and bread). To make the land fertile, they began to cultivate it even in winter. First, they cut down a section of the forest (the trees were not cut down to the end, so that they would dry out and could be easily knocked down), uprooted the stumps and burned all the wood. Such a month was called “slash”, from the word “slash”, “cut”. After that, in the spring, the people sprinkled the area with ash, loosened the ground with a special wooden plow and sowed seeds. The main grain crops were millet, rye, wheat and barley. From vegetables, turnips and peas. This type of processing was widespread only in forest areas, and fallow was used more in swamps and fields.

Fallow is the second method of cultivating the soil for sowing. The land was first plowed and fertilized, and then sown. The next year, another site was taken, since this one was already depleted.

The second most important type of economy that the ancient Slavs were engaged in was cattle breeding. Sheep, cows, chickens and pigs were raised. They often hunted wild animals and caught fish in the forests. In addition, beekeeping was also popular - picking up honey in wild hives.

The craft of the ancient Slavs

Forges were very widespread, where blacksmiths made plows for plowing the land, made weapons for the army (squads), created fine jewelry (bracelets, pendants and rings) of gold, bronze and silver, which were decorated with embossing, filigree and fading enamel. The Kuznetsk business was not only popular, but necessary both for simple tribes of the Slavs and for the princes of the state. Sickles, coulters and scythes were made for farmers, and swords, spears and arrows for warriors. For women, they often forged needles, hooks, locks, keys, knives, awls, scrapers, etc. ancient Russia their craft was essential to their survival.

Thanks to yarn, Slavs made fabric from flax, hemp and sheep's wool, after which they could sew clothes and bedding. The fabric was made not only simple, but also patterned for the outfits of princes or socialites. The loom was considered the most difficult craft, but at the same time as essential as the forge.

Weaving was very popular in Russia. Bast shoes - natural footwear of common people - have become especially popular. In addition to bast shoes, they wanted leather shoes. It was not sewn, but simply folded in folds and tied with ropes on the leg. Leather was very popular, so horse harness, quivers and other household items of the ancient Slavs were often made from it.

They also could not live without pottery. Pottery appeared a little later than the blacksmith craft, and it especially improved when the potter's wheel was invented. Clay was used to make dishes, children's toys, bricks, washstands, etc.

Faith of the ancient Slavs

Like all ancient peoples, the Slavs were pagans, with well-thought out customs and norms. Their world was inhabited by various gods and goddesses, most of whom were associated with natural phenomena. Among them were evil and kind, just and mean, playful and weak. The most important of them are Perun - the god of lightning and thunder, Svarog - the god of fire, Mokosh - the goddess who protects women, Veles - the patron saint of cattle breeding, Simargl - the god of the underworld. The sun god was especially held in high esteem, which was called by different names: Dazhdbog, Khoros, Yarylo.

The life and everyday life of the ancient Slavs was always on the verge of peace and war. Constant quarrels with neighboring tribes, frequent migrations, bad lands, raids of robbers, difficult living conditions and harsh laws of the gods. It is not for nothing that foreign chroniclers wrote about the Russians as a strong, strong-willed and courageous people who could withstand everything and break any wall in their path. Such were the ancient Slavs, our ancestors.

We all know that the Slavs played an important role in the formation of the states of Eastern Europe. This group of kindred peoples, the largest on the continent, has similar languages ​​and similar customs. Its population is about three hundred million people.

Eastern Slavs in antiquity: resettlement in Europe

Our ancestors were a branch of the Indo-European family of peoples, which during the Great Migration was scattered throughout Eurasia. The closest relatives of the Slavs are the Balts, who settled in the territories of modern Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia. Their neighbors were the Germans in the south and west, the Scythians and Sarmatians in the east. In ancient times, the Eastern Slavs passed through Eastern and Central Europe, where the first cities of Ukraine and Poland were founded in the interfluve of the Dnieper and Vistula rivers. Then they overcame the foothills of the Carpathians, settling along the banks of the Danube and on the Balkan Peninsula. The great territorial remoteness of the Proto-Slavs made its own adjustments to their language, customs and culture. Therefore, the group was divided into three branches: western, southern and eastern.

Eastern Slavs in antiquity

This branch of our forefathers occupied a vast territory. From the Ladoga and Onega lakes to the Black Sea coast, from the Oka and the Volga to the Carpathian mountains, they plowed the land, ordered trade, and built temples. In total, historians name fifteen tribes of the Eastern Slavs. The Finno-Ugric tribes peacefully coexisted with them - our ancestors were not distinguished by excessive belligerence, but preferred to support good relationship with everyone.

Activities of the Eastern Slavs

Our ancestors were farmers. They skillfully wielded a plow, a sickle, a hoe, a plow with a share. The steppe inhabitants plowed virgin lands, in the forest zone, trees were first uprooted, and ash was used as fertilizer. The gifts of the land were the basis of the diet of the Slavs. Millet, rye, peas, wheat, barley, buckwheat, oats were used for baking bread and for cooking cereals. Also, industrial crops were grown - flax and hemp, from the fibers of which they spun threads and made fabrics. People were especially fond of domestic animals, since each family raised cattle, pigs, sheep, horses, and poultry. Together with the Slavs, cats and dogs lived in their homes. Hunting, fishing, bee-keeping, blacksmithing and pottery were developed at a very high level.

Religion of the Proto-Slavs

Before Christianity came to the Slavic lands, paganism reigned here. In ancient times, the Eastern Slavs worshiped a whole pantheon of gods who personified the forces of nature. Svarog, Svarozhich, Rod, Stribog, Dazhdbog, Veles, Perun had their places of worship - temples where idols stood and sacrifices were made. The dead were burned at bonfires, and mounds were poured over the ashes placed in a pot. Unfortunately, East Slavs in antiquity they left no written evidence about themselves. The famous Velesov book raises doubts among researchers about its authenticity. However, archaeologists find a large number of household items, weapons, remnants of clothing, jewelry, and cult things. They can tell about the life of our ancestors no less than chronicles and legends.

The life of the ancient Slavs was not boring at all, as it might seem at first glance. Our ancestors had enough to do. We will try to briefly describe them.

A rough outline of the article. The article consists of the following sections:

• wars;
• clean living conditions;
• city ​​building;
• hunting;
• gathering;
• agriculture;
• cattle breeding;
• beekeeping.

Wars

All peoples at that time waged wars, and the Slavs were no exception. The Slavs were not bloodthirsty and especially cruel, unlike the ancient Romans, for example. The wars waged by the Slavs began only for the sake of preserving statehood.

At first, the Slavs had nothing more than ordinary settlements, but then they grew into cities. Slavic cities were built along the banks of the rivers that protected them from the enemy.

Gathering, cattle breeding, bee-keeping and farming

The ancient Slavs also hunted. They hunted both animals that were found in the forests and birds. The Slavs at that time already had a bow with arrows and spears. Forests were on the banks of the rivers, which gave convenience to the Slavic life.

The Slavs were engaged in fishing. Fish was undoubtedly included in the Slavic diet.

The Slavs were engaged in gathering. Berries, plants - everything was included in the diet. The Slavs also harvested from medicinal herbs.

Agriculture is the main Slavic occupation. For a long time they have grown wheat, rye and other crops. It was hard work, because the land was cultivated with our own hands using a plow.

The Slavs were engaged in beekeeping. Honey played a major role in their lives. Honey was a sweetener.

The Slavs were also engaged in cattle breeding - animal breeding, however, due to climatic conditions, it was not very developed.

The peculiarity of life is purity

Clean living conditions - distinctive feature ancient Slavs. While the Europeans were drowning in mud, dying of plague, the Slavs used baths. They even had a bath day. Women, giving birth to children, arranged special rituals in the bathhouse. On many religious holidays, they were purified with water.

The ancient Slavs were engaged in hunting for wild animals, fishing, agriculture, finding and collecting wild honey, and extracting wax. Grain plants were sown - millet and buckwheat, and flax and hemp were grown for the manufacture of various clothes. In addition, various livestock were bred - sheep, cows, pigs. The men hunted, mined honey and wax, and fished. The women were busy weaving, cooking, picking various berries and herbs. Together, men and women were engaged in agriculture.

The ancestors of today's Slavs, the so-called ancient Slavs, emerged from the vast Indo-European group that inhabited the entire territory of Eurasia. Over the course of time, tribes, close in economic management, social structure and language, united into a Slavic group. We find the first mention of them in the Byzantine documents of the 6th century.

In the 4-6 centuries BC. the ancient Slavs participated in the great migration of peoples - a large one, as a result of which they settled the vast territories of Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe. Gradually they split into three branches: Eastern, Western and Southern Slavs.

Thanks to the chronicler Nestor, we know the main and places of their settlements: in the upper reaches of the Volga, Dnieper, and higher to the north lived the Krivichi; from Volkhov to Ilmen there were Slovenes; Dregovichi inhabited the lands of Polesie, from Pripyat to Berezina; the Radimichi lived between Iput and Sozh; northerners could be found near the Desna; from the upper reaches of the Oka and downstream stretched the lands of the Vyatichi; in the area of ​​the Middle Dnieper and Kiev there were glades; the Drevlyans lived along the Teterev and Uzh rivers; the Dulebs (or Volynians, Buzhanians) settled in Volyn; Croats occupied the slopes of the Carpathians; the tribes of the Ulitsy and Tivertsy settled down from the lower reaches of the Dnieper, the Bug to the mouth of the Danube.

The life of the ancient Slavs, their customs and beliefs became clear in the course of numerous archaeological excavations. So, it became known that for a long time they did not depart from the patriarchal order: each tribe was divided into several clans, and the clan consisted of several families who all lived together and owned common property. The elders ruled the clans and tribes. To resolve important issues, a veche was convened - a meeting of elders.

Gradually, the economic activities of families became isolated, and the generic device was replaced (by ropes).

The ancient Slavs were sedentary farmers who grew useful plants, raised livestock, were engaged in hunting and fishing, and knew some crafts. When trade began to develop, cities began to arise. The glades were built by Kiev, the northerners - Chernigov, the Radimichi - Lyubech, the Krivichi - Smolensk, the Ilmen Slavs - Novgorod. Slavic warriors created squads to protect their cities, and princes, mostly Varangians, became the head of the squads. Gradually, the princes seize power for themselves and actually become the masters of the land.

The same one tells that such principalities were founded by the Varangians in Kiev, Rurik - in Novgorod, Rogvold - in Polotsk.

The ancient Slavs settled mainly in settlements - settlements near rivers and lakes. The river not only helped to get to the neighboring settlements, but also fed the local residents. However, the main occupation of the Slavs was agriculture. They plowed with a plow on oxen or horses.

Cattle breeding was also significant in the economy, but due to climatic conditions it was not too developed. The ancient Slavs were much more active in hunting and beekeeping - the extraction of wild honey and wax.

According to their belief, these tribes were pagan - they deified nature and deceased ancestors. They called the sky the god Svarog, and all heavenly phenomena were considered the children of this god - the svarogs. So, for example, Svarozich Perun was especially revered by the Slavs, because he sent thunder and lightning, and also gave his patronage to the tribes during the war.

Fire and the Sun showed their destructive or beneficial power, and depending on this, they were personified by the good Dazhdbog, giving life-giving light and warmth, or the evil Khors, burning nature with heat and fires. Stribog was considered the god of storm and wind.

The ancient Slavs attributed any natural phenomena and changes in nature. They tried in every possible way to appease them with various festivals and sacrifices. Interestingly, any person who wanted to do so could make a sacrifice. But on the other hand, each tribe had its own sorcerer-sorcerer or sorcerer who knew how to cognize the changeable will of the gods.

The ancient Slavs did not build temples and for a long time did not create images of the gods. Only later did they begin to make idols - crudely made wooden figures. With the adoption of Christianity, paganism and idolatry were gradually eradicated. Nevertheless, the religion of our ancestors has survived to this day in the form of folk signs and agricultural natural holidays.

We know from history textbooks that the Slavs are one of the largest ethnic communities in the Old World. However, it is not completely clear who they were or where they came from. Let's try to study this meager information bit by bit, and also dwell on more reliable facts about the life, way of life, culture and beliefs of these tribes.

Who are they?

Let's try to find out who the Slavs are, where they came from to Europe and why they left their homeland. There are several versions on this issue. Some historians believe that they did not come from anywhere, but have lived here since the creation of the world. Other scholars consider them to be the descendants of the Scythians or Sarmatians, while others refer to other peoples that emerged from the depths of Asia, including the Aryans. But it is unrealistic to draw conclusions precisely, each hypothesis has its own shortcomings and blind spots.

It is generally accepted to consider the Slavs as an Indo-European people who ended up in the Old World during the Great Migration. He lost touch with relatives due to the great distance and went his own way of development. But many adherents have the theory that this ethnic community came from Asia after the Flood, assimilating along the way with local residents and founding centers of civilizations - Etruscans, Greeks and Romans, and then settled in the Balkans, the banks of the Vistula, Dniester and Dnieper. believes that the Slavs came to Russia after

The name of the ethnic group is no less controversial. Some researchers are convinced that the Slavs mean “literate people who know the word”, others translate the name as “glorious” or look for its origins in the name of Dnepr - Slavutych.

The main occupations of our ancestors

So, we found out that the Slavs are nomadic tribes who settled. They were united mutual language, beliefs, traditions. And what were the occupations of the Slavs? There are no options, of course, this is agriculture. In forested areas, the site first had to be prepared by cutting down trees and uprooting stumps. In the forest-steppe regions, the grass was first burned, and then the soil was fertilized with ash, loosened and seeds were planted. The plow, plow, harrow were used from the tools. From agricultural crops they grew millet, rye, wheat, barley, peas, hemp, flax.

The rest of the activities of the Slavs were aimed at the production of tools for agriculture (blacksmithing), as well as for household needs (pottery). Livestock raising was highly developed: our ancestors raised sheep, horses, goats, pigs. In addition, they used the gifts of the forest: they collected mushrooms, berries, honey from forest bees, and hunted wild birds and animals. This is what they traded with neighbors, and the first money is considered to be the skins of martens.

Culture

The quiet life of the Slavs favored the development of culture. Agriculture remained the main occupation of the community, but decorative and applied crafts also developed (weaving, jewelry, wood, bone and metal carving, cooper, leatherworking). They also had the beginnings of writing.

Our ancestors lived in communities, made important decisions at a general meeting. The community owned meadows, arable land, pastures. But each person could have their own property and livestock. At the head of the tribal union was the prince, who relied on the boyars-votchinnikov. These were respected people who were elected during a popular meeting, then they turned into the local nobility.

In everyday life, the Slavs were unpretentious, easily endured the vagaries of the weather, hunger. But they remained proud, freedom-loving, brave and loyal to their community, their family. The guest was always greeted with bread and salt, offering the very best that was in the house.

Troubled neighbors

The Slavs settled between Europe and Asia, in lands with a unique supply of resources and fertile soil. They occupied a vast territory almost painlessly, since there was enough space for everyone. But the wealth of the land attracted robbers. The restless neighbors of the Slavs - the nomads Avars, Khazars, Pechenegs and Polovtsians - constantly raided the villages. Our ancestors had to unite against them and collectively beat the intruders. This taught them military science, constant readiness for danger, frequent change of habitat, endurance. But the Slavs themselves were non-warlike, friendly, they respected the rights of others, they never had slaves.

Instead of a conclusion

Before Prince Vladimir baptized Russia, the Slavs were pagans. They worshiped the forces of nature, built temples and created idols, brought them sacrifices (not human). The cult of ancestors, including the dead, was especially developed. Christianity allowed the ancient Russian state to get closer to Europe, but at the same time it stole a lot. Objects of material, spiritual and cultural value were destroyed, and what made the Slavs stand out from other peoples was lost. A certain symbiosis appeared, which, although it had elements of the previous culture, was formed under the influence of Byzantium. But this, as they say, is a completely different story ...