The actual forerunner of the Russian state is the principality of Kiev known as Rus. The Viking raiders entered this region from the north and settled here.
The actual forerunner of the Russian state is the principality of Kiev known as Rus. The Viking raiders entered this region from the north and settled here. Scandinavian traders were also part of the people who settled in this region. Other settlers came from Asia as well. The Tartars who were Mongols, when they invaded Moscow in the year 1234 made the Russian slaves. They also invaded Kiev sic years later. So the Russian people have descended from a race of people comprising of the Finnish, the Tartars and the Slavic. AS early as 988 AD, Rus adopted orthodox Christianity.
Modern Russia was born in the year 1480, when it finally broke loose from the yoke of Tartan tyranny. Almost three decades earlier, the other Christian centre, Constantinople had fallen into the hands of the Ottoman Turks, who were Muslims. With connections with the rest of the Christian world cut off, the church in Russia developed independently. Since Constantinople and Rome has already fallen, Russia considered itself to be the new centre for Christianity, the third Rome. It took upon itself the responsibility of uniting the people from the East and the people from the West.
Since Caesar was the ruler of Rome, the new rulers of Russia wanted an equally powerful name. So they came up with the title ‘tsar’. However, Russia was totally cut off from the rest of the world and the major developments that went on in the rest of Europe. The West was experiencing the Renaissance with a number of developments in art, science, agriculture, commerce and economics. People from the middle class where beginning to realise their rights and exercise them. They brought about a number of reforms in society. While there was a flurry of activity in the West, Russia was totally isolated from all the excitement that the rest of the world was going through. This vast and ancient land was basically slumbering under the autocratic rule of the tsars.
The total isolation of the country from foreign influence made the people very strong in the love for their culture and traditions. The only traditions that they were aware of were their own. And they took great care to guard their culture with all their might. Their isolation also engendered a communal spirit where they shared everything with each other and felt a sense of belonging to one another. Lands and property were held in common and controlled by a senior group made of heads of households. All decisions were collective efforts and no single man’s decisions prevailed. Therefore, submission to authority and community living comes freely to the Russian people.
The size of the nation also made it one of the most populous nations of the world. Third only after China and India, Russia was estimated to have a population of almost 300 million according to an estimation in 1990. Almost 70% of this population belonged to the 3 Slavic groups comprised of Belorussians, Ukrainians and of course Russians.
As the new Russia emerges from the collapse of communism, and people are being exposed to western values and sentiments, the people of Russia are still feeling a strong urge to return to their roots. In fact, there has been a great revival in the hearts of people for their own traditions and customs. They are literally rediscovering the beauty and the richness of their ancient land. The various cathedrals, which had been neglected for decades, are now being renovated and opened for worship services. There is a new reawakening in various art forms like art, music and theatre.
All of these wonderful changes can only be truly comprehended by a person who can speak and understand the Russian language. It is however not very difficult to learn Russian. Just like learning any new thing, one can also learn the Russian language with a little effort. There are so many resources available on the Internet with which you can learn Russian free. Since most of these resources are available free of cost, it is extremely beneficial to learn Russian online. When you consider the beauty of the land, the congeniality of the people and the richness of their culture, you can take advantage of the Internet and learn Russian free online in order to truly learn more about Russia.
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