Culture of Russian lands in the 12th and 13th centuries - the main stages of development

The culture of Russian lands in the 12th-13th centuries is due to the intensification of feudal fragmentation, the weakening of Kiev's influence. Small feudal principalities develop on the outskirts of the once great state. Such polycentricity contributes to the emergence of several cultural centers, which have already significantly moved away from the influence of Kiev and developed their own distinctive directions. The north of Russia was represented by the Vladimir-Suzdal and Novgorod principalities, and the west by Galicia-Volynsky. Painting, architecture, literature, natural sciences - these are the main directions that characterized the culture of Russian lands 12-13 centuries. We briefly describe these trends below.

Architecture

Each of the Russian principalities claimed a leading role in cultural development. In imitation of such a high degree of Kiev in each of them cathedrals are being built like the Sophia of Kiev, the Golden Gate is being established. Over time, from the imitation of its own special style, characteristic of the ancient architecture. Vladimir Assumption Cathedral, the Church of the Intercession on the Nerl, Dmitriyevsky Cathedral - the most famous architectural masterpieces by which the culture of the Russian lands of the 12-13 centuries was famous.

Literature. Birchbark

The first letters on the birch bark were found in Novgorod in 1951. They date from the 11th to the 12th century. Later birchbark were found in Pskov, Vitebsk, Staraya Russa and Smolensk. Basically, the letters describe the social aspects of people's lives in those days. There are court actions, wills and administrative orders, orders. Among the valuable finds were letters describing training in Ancient Rus. As it became known, the overwhelming majority of Russian residents from different social strata at that time could read and write. Not only men, but also women were taught not only in reading and writing.

Books and Translations

A great place in the literature of that time was devoted to theological books. The culture of Russian lands in the 12th and 13th centuries is replete with translations from all known languages. A huge number of theological treatises were translated into Russian. Over time, the secular literature began to be translated. Biographies of great people, their covenants and aspirations. At that time various chronicles and chronicles are written in the monasteries. A new type of literary work - "teachings" - has spread. The most famous monuments of writing have survived to this day: "Monomakh's Teaching", "The Lay of Igor's Host".

Natural Sciences

Expansion of scientific knowledge of man and the universe is one of the main directions that characterized the culture of Russian lands in the 12-13 centuries. Foreign manuscripts explaining the structure of the world and the universe, the diversity of the animal and plant world, were actively translated and disseminated. Of course, in those days all natural phenomena were interpreted from a religious point of view, but the texts provided the necessary material for future scientific research.

Painting of the 12th-13th century

The culture of Russian lands is characterized by the emergence of Russian iconography. This religious trend in painting came to us from Byzantium, but later it was transformed into a purely Russian direction of art. Strict asceticism of Byzantine icons suited the cheerful worldview of the Eastern Slavs. The main subjects of Russian icons preserved Byzantine names. For example, Byzantine remained the most common images of the Virgin: "Oranta" - a praying, "Odigidriya" - holding the Infant in her arms, "Eleusa" - pressing the Infant. Two main directions of iconography have already been singled out - Novgorod, in which bright, saturated colors are applied, and Kiev, using more gentle shades and semitones.

At the same time, applied arts and crafts - carving in stone and wood - became widespread. The stone carvings were decorated with temples and palaces, and wooden patterns were encountered even in everyday life: they were decorated with objects of everyday life and kitchen utensils.

Despite feudal fragmentation, the culture of Russian lands in the 12th-13th centuries was at a high level. Its further development was prevented by the advance of the Tatar-Mongol troops to the Russian lands and the establishment of the Horde yoke.