History of Russia from Ancient Times. Volumes 1, 2

45 hrs. 50 min.

Language Russian

Author Sergey Solovyov

Narrator Evgeny Ternovsky

The famous work of the great Russian historian Sergey Mikhailovich Solovyov (1820–1879) is the greatest achievement of 19th-century Russian historical science. Solovyov was the “first among equals” among a galaxy of brilliant Russian historians, which includes N. Karamzin, V. Klyuchevsky, N. Kostomarov, A. Presnyakov, T. Granovsky, S. Platonov, and many others.

Volume One of an extensive 29-volume work covers the period from the history of Slavic tribes, in whose settlement territories Ancient Rus emerged, up to the end of the reign of Prince Yaroslav I (1054).

Volume 1. Contents

Book contents 1
Historian Solovyov Sergey Mikhailovich
Foreword
Chapter 01. The nature of the Russian state region and its influence on history.
The flatness of the land. — Its proximity to Central Asia. — The clash of nomads with a settled population. — Periods of struggle between them. — Cossacks. — Slavic and Finnish tribes. — Slavic colonization. — The significance of rivers on the great plain. — Four main parts of ancient Russia. — The lake area of Novgorod. — The area of the Western Dvina. — Lithuania. — The area of the Dnieper. — The area of the Upper Volga. — The route for the spread of Russian holdings. — The area of the Don. — The influence of nature on the character of a people.
Chapter 02. The gradual spread of information about Northern and Eastern Europe in ancient times.
Everyday life of the peoples inhabiting it. — Scythians. — Agathyrsi. — Nevri. — Androphagi. — Melanchlaeni. — Budini. — Geloni. — Taurians. — Sarmatians. — Bastarnae. — Alans. — Greek colonies on the northern shore of the Pontus. — Trade. — The character of the Asian movement.
Chapter 03. The Slavic tribe.
Its migrations. — Venedi of Tacitus. — Ants and Serbs. — Migrations of Slavic tribes according to the Russian Primary Chronicle. — Clan life of the Slavs. — Cities. — Morals and customs. — Hospitality. — Treatment of prisoners. — Marriage. — Burial. — Dwellings. — The way war was conducted. — Religion. — The Finnish tribe. — The Lithuanian tribe. — Yotvingians. — The Gothic movement. — Huns. — Avars. — Kozars. — Varangians. — Rus.
Chapter 04. The calling of the Varangians-Rus by the northern Slavic and Finnish tribes.
Consequences of this event. — An overview of the condition of European peoples, primarily Slavic, in the middle of the 9th century.
Chapter 05. Traditions about Rurik, about Askold and Dir.
Oleg, his movement south, settlement in Kyiv. — The structure of cities, tribute, subjugation of tribes. — The Greek campaign. — Oleg’s treaty with the Greeks. — The death of Oleg, its significance in people’s memory. — The legend about Igor. — Campaigns against Constantinople. — Treaty with the Greeks. — Pechenegs. — The death of Igor, his character in the legends. — Sveneld. — The Rus’ campaigns in the East.
Chapter 06. The reign of Olga.
Revenge on the Drevlians. — The significance of the tale of this revenge. — The character of Olga in the tale. — Her ordinances. — Olga’s acceptance of Christianity. — The character of her son Svyatoslav. — His campaigns against the Vyatichi and Kozars. — Svyatoslav in Danubian Bulgaria. — Pechenegs under Kyiv. — The death of Olga. — Svyatoslav’s arrangement regarding his sons. — His return to Bulgaria. — War with the Greeks. — The death of Svyatoslav. — His character in the tale. — Internal strife between the sons of Svyatoslav. — Vladimir in Kyiv. — Strengthening of paganism. — The unruliness of the Varangians, their departure to Greece. (946–980)
Chapter 07. Vladimir the Holy. Yaroslav I
The invalidity of paganism. — News of Vladimir’s acceptance of Christianity. — The spread of Christianity in Rus under Vladimir. — Means to establish Christianity. — The influence of the clergy. — Vladimir’s wars. — First clash with the western Slavs. — Struggle with the Pechenegs. — Death of Vladimir, his character. — Internal strife between the sons of Vladimir. — Establishment of Yaroslav in Kyiv. — Relations with Scandinavia and Poland. — The last Greek war. — Struggle with the Pechenegs. — Yaroslav’s internal activities. (980–1054)
Chapter 08. The internal state of Russian society in its first period of existence
The significance of the prince. — The retinue, its relationship to the prince and to the land. — Boyars, men, gridzi, ognishchane, tiuns, youths. — Urban and rural regiments. — The thousand-man commander (tysyatsky). — Methods of conducting war. — Urban and rural population. — Slaves. — Rus’ Justice. — The morals of the era. — Customs. — Occupations of the inhabitants. — The state of religion. — Monasticism. — Governance and material resources of the church. — Literacy. — Songs. — Determining the degree of Norman influence.

Volume Two covers the period from the end of the reign of Yaroslav I to the end of the reign of Mstislav of Tveretsk (1054–1228).

Volume 2. Contents

Chapter 01. The princely relations in general
Yaroslav I’s testament. — Indivisibility of the lineage. — The importance of the eldest in the lineage, or the grand prince. — Rights to seniority. — Loss of these rights. — Inheritance. — The relationship of the junior prince’s domain to the senior.
Chapter 02. Events during the lifetime of Yaroslav’s sons (1054–1093)
The lines of the Rurikid dynasty—Iziaslavichi and Yaroslavichi. — Instructions of the last ones concerning their domains. — The movements of Rostislav Vladimirovich and his death. — The movements of Vseslav of Polotsk and his capture. — The invasion of the Polovtsians. — Defeat of the Yaroslavichi. — The uprising of the people of Kyiv and the flight of the grand prince Iziaslav from Kyiv. — His return and second exile. — Iziaslav’s second return and his death in battle against deprived nephews. — The character of the first internal strifes. — The reign of Vsevolod Yaroslavich in Kyiv. — New movements of the deprived princes. — Strifes in Volhynia. — Struggle against Vseslav of Polotsk. — Death of the grand prince Vsevolod Yaroslavich. — The sad state of Rus. — Struggle with Polovtsians, Torks, Finnish and Lithuanian tribes, Bulgars, Poles. — The retinue of the Yaroslavichi.
Chapter 03. Events among Yaroslav’s grandsons (1093–1125)
Previous reasons for internal strifes. — The character of Vladimir Monomakh. — He yields seniority to Svyatopolk Iziaslavich. — The character of the latter. — The invasion of the Polovtsians. — Oleg Svyatoslavich in Chernihiv. — Struggle against him by Svyatopolk and Vladimir. — Oleg’s failure in the north. — Monomakh’s message to Oleg. — A congress of princes in Lyubech and the stopping of the struggle in the east. — A new internal strife in the west due to the blinding of Vasylko Rostislavich. — Its termination at the Vitichev congress. — Instructions regarding Novgorod the Great. — The fate of Yaroslav Yaryopolkovich, nephew of the grand prince. — Events in the Polotsk principality. — Wars with the Polovtsians. — Struggle with other neighboring barbarians. — Connection with Hungary. — Death of the grand prince Svyatopolk. — Kyiv people choose Monomakh as their prince. — War with the prince of Minsk Gleb and with Yaroslav of Volhynia. — Attitudes toward the Greeks and the Polovtsians. — Death of Monomakh. — The retinue among Yaroslav’s grandsons.
Chapter 04. Events among Yaroslav’s great-grandsons, the struggle of uncles against nephews within the Monomakh line, and the struggle of the Svyatoslavichi against the Monomakhovichi until the death of Yuri Vladimirovich Dolgoruky (1125–1157)
Sons of Monomakh. — Mstislav, grand prince. — Strife between the Chernihiv Svyatoslavichi. — The principality of Murom. — The annexation of Polotsk to the domains of the Monomakhovichi. — War with the Polovtsians, Chud’, and Litva. — Death of the grand prince Mstislav Vladimirovich. — His brother Yaryopolк—grand prince. — The beginning of the struggle of uncles against nephews within the Monomakh family. — The Chernihiv Svyatoslavichi interfere in this struggle. — Events in Novgorod the Great. — Death of Yaryopolк Vladimirovich. — Vsevolod Olgovich of Chernihiv expels Vyacheslav Vladimirovich from Kyiv and establishes himself there. — Relations between the Monomakhovichi; war with them by Vsevolod Olgovich. — His relations with relatives and cousins. — Galician Rostislavichi. — War of the grand prince Vsevolod with Volodimirk Volodarevich, Galician. — Principes of Gorodensky, Polotsk, Murom. — Events in Novgorod the Great. — Intervention by Rus’ princes in Polish affairs. — Sea raiding by Swedes. — Struggle of Rus’ against Finns and Polovtsians. — Final arrangements of the grand prince Vsevolod Olgovich. — His death. — Exile from Kyiv of Igor Olgovich. — Iziaslav Mstislavich Monomakhich reigns in Kyiv. — Capture of Igor Olgovich. — Discord among the Chernihiv Svyatoslavichi. — Alliance of Iziaslav Mstislavich with the Chernihiv Davydovichi; alliance of Svyatoslav Olgovich with Yuri Vladimirovich Monomakhich, prince of Rostov, against Iziaslav Mstislavich. — The first mention of Moscow. — Withdrawal of the Chernihiv Davydovichi from Iziaslav Mstislavich. — Kyiv people kill Igor Olgovich. — Peace of Iziaslav Mstislavich with the Chernihiv Svyatoslavichi. — The son of Yuri of Rostov, Rostislav, goes over to Iziaslav Mstislavich. — Iziaslav in Novgorod the Great; his campaign against the domain of his uncle Yuri. — Exile of Rostislav Yurievich from Kyiv. — Movement of his father Yuri south. — Yuri’s victory over his nephew Iziaslav and taking Kyiv. — Hungarians and Poles support Iziaslav; Galician prince Volodimirk supports Yuri. — Feats of Yuri’s son Andrey. — He arranges peace between his father and Iziaslav Mstislavich. — Peace doesn’t last. — Iziaslav expels Yuri from Kyiv but must yield seniority to another uncle, Vyacheslav. — War between Iziaslav and Volodimirk of Galicia. — Yuri expels Vyacheslav and Iziaslav from Kyiv. — Iziaslav with the Hungarians again expels Yuri from Kyiv and again gives seniority to Vyacheslav—under whose name Vyacheslav rules in Kyiv. — Continuation of Iziaslav’s struggle with Yuri. — Battle on the Ruth River and defeat of Yuri, forcing him to leave the south. — Two more unsuccessful campaigns of his southward. — War of Iziaslav Mstislavich in alliance with the Hungarian king against Volodimirk of Galicia. — Breach of oaths and death of Volodimirk. — War between Iziaslav and Volodimirk’s son Yaroslav. — Death of Iziaslav, his character. — Vyacheslav summons his brother Iziaslav’s brother Rostislav from Smolensk to Kyiv. — Death of Vyacheslav. — Rostislav gives Kyiv to Iziaslav’s Davydovich nephews of Chernihiv. — Rostov Yuri forces the Davydovich to leave Kyiv and finally establishes himself there. — Internal strife between the Svyatoslavichi in the Chernihiv domain and between the Monomakhovichi in Volhynia. — Alliance of princes against Yuri. — His death. — Events in Polotsk, Murom, Ryazan, Novgorod. — Struggle with Polovtsians and Finnish tribes. — Retinue.
Chapter 05. Events from Yuri Vladimirovich’s death to the taking of Kyiv by the troops of Andrey Bogolyubsky (1157–1169)
Iziaslav Davydovich reigns in Kyiv again; causes of this. — Movements in the Chernihiv domain. — An unsuccessful campaign of the princes against Turov. — Iziaslav Davydovich defends the exiled Ivan Berladnik of Galicia. This arms many princes against him. — Unsuccessful campaign of Iziaslav against the princes of Galicia, Yar oslav, and against Mstislav Iziaslavich of Volhynia. — He is forced to leave Kyiv, where Mstislav Iziaslavich of Volhynia transfers his uncle Rostislav Mstislavich from Smolensk. — Agreement between uncle and nephew about two rival metropolitans. — War with Iziaslav Davydovich. — Death of the latter. — Quarrel between the grand prince Rostislav and his nephew Mstislav of Volhynia. — Death of Svyatoslav Olgovich of Chernihiv and the ensuing unrest on the eastern side of the Dnieper. — Death of the grand prince Rostislav; his character. — Mstislav Iziaslavich reigns in Kyiv. — Discontent of the princes toward him. — Andrey Bogolyubsky’s army expels Mstislav from Kyiv and devastates the city. — Death of Ivan Berladnik. — Polotsk unrest. — Events in Novgorod the Great. — Struggle of Novgorodians with the Swedes. — War of Andrey Bogolyubsky with the Kama Bulgars. — Struggle with the Polovtsians. — Retinue.
Chapter 06. From the taking of Kyiv by Bogolyubsky’s troops to the death of Mstislav Mstislavich of Turovec (1169–1228)
Andrey Bogolyubsky stays in the north: significance of this. — Character of Andrey and his behavior in the north. — Vladimir-on-Klyazma. — Andrey’s brother Gleb rules in Kyiv. — His war with Mstislav Iziaslavich. — Death of both rivals. — Andrey Bogolyubsky hands Kyiv to Roman Rostislavich of Smolensk. — Quarrel between the Rostislavichi and Andrey. — Mstislav Rostislavich the Brave. — Unsuccessful campaign of Andrey’s force against the Rostislavichi. — Yaroslav Iziaslavich rules in Kyiv. — His struggle with Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich of Chernihiv. — Murder of Andrey Bogolyubsky and consequences of this event. — Rivalry between Rostov and Vladimir; rivalry between the Yuryievich uncles and Rostislavichi nephews in the north. — The triumph of Mikhail Yuryievich over his nephews and the triumph of Vladimir over Rostov. — Resumption of the struggle after Mikhail’s death. — The triumph of Vsevolod Yuryievich over his nephews and the final fall of Rostov. — In the south, internal strife between Monomakhovichi and Olgovichi. — Campaign of Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich of Chernihiv against Vsevolod Yuryievich of Suzdal. — Svyatoslav is established in Kyiv. — Weakness of the Kyiv prince before the Suzdal one. — Struggle of Yaroslav of Galicia with the boyars. — His death. — Internal strife between his sons, Vladimir and Oleg. — Boyars expel Vladimir and accept Roman Mstislavich of Volhynia. — King Bela III of Hungary intervenes in this strife and seats his son Andrey in Galicia. — Death of Berladnik’s son Rostislav. — Violence by Hungarians in Galicia. — With the help of the Poles, Yaroslavich Vladimir establishes himself there. — Death of Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich, the prince of Kyiv. — Rurik Rostislavich takes his place by decision of Vsevolod of Suzdal. — The last one quarrels Rurik with his son-in-law Roman of Volhynia. — Roman’s participation in Polish internal strife. — War between the Monomakhovichi and the Olgovichi. — Roman of Volhynia establishes himself in Galicia after the death of Vladimir Yaroslavich. — He expels Rurik Rostislavich from Kyiv. — Rurik is again in Kyiv and gives it over to Polovtsian plunder. — Roman tonsures Rurik as a monk. — Roman dies in battle with the Poles; his character. — His underage sons, Daniel and Vasilko, are surrounded by enemies. — Rurik is again in Kyiv and fights against the Romans. — The latter must flee from Galicia. — Galician boyars call for the princes of the Northern line—Igorevichi. — The tragic fate of the small Roman children. — The Hungarians take Galicia and reign there with cruelty. — The Northern Igorevichi expel the Hungarians, but arm against themselves the boyars, who, with the help of the Hungarians, enthrone Daniel Romanovich. — New unrest among the boyars and Daniel’s flight. — Boyar Vladislav rules in Galicia. — Hungarians and Poles divide Galicia between themselves. — Continuation of the internal strife between Monomakhovichi and Olgovichi for Kyiv; Monomakhovichi in Chernihiv. — Strengthening of Vsevolod III Yuryievich in the north. — His relations with Ryazan, Smolensk, and Novgorod the Great. — Activity of Mstislav the Brave in the north. — His death. — Changes in Novgorod the Great. — Mstislav Mstislavich of Turovec, the son of the Brave, delivers Novgorod from Vsevolod III. — Final arrangements of Vsevolod III. — His death. — Internal strife between his sons—Konstantin and Yuri. — Mstislav of Turovec intervenes in this strife and gives victory to Konstantin with the Lipetsky battle. — Death of the latter. — Yuri again is grand prince in Vladimir. — Ryazan and Novgorod events. — Activities of Mstislav of Turovec in Galicia. — Changes in Kyiv, Chernihiv, and Pereiaslav. — Retinue. — Germans in Livonia. — Unrest in Novgorod and Pskov. — Wars of Novgorodians with the Yam. — Their incursions to Zavolochye. — Struggle of Suzdal princes with Bulgars. — Foundation of Nizhny Novgorod. — Wars with Lithuania, Yatvyags, and Polovtsians. — Mongol invasion. — General overview of events from the death of Yaroslav I to the death of Mstislav of Turovec.
Additions to Volume Two
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