The concept of "social order". The social system of the ancient Slavs, Kievan Rus

The main aspect determining the legal capacity of people in Ancient Rus was the position of their personal freedom. Based on this, the population was conditionally divided into slaves (slaves) and free. In addition, there were intermediate classes of enslaved people. They were considered legally free, but in fact they were in economic dependence (debt or land). As a consequence, they were still infringed on the rights.

Social order

This concept includes the organization of the society, which is determined by a certain degree of development of production, as well as the exchange and distribution of products. In addition, the features of the social system depend on the consciousness of people and traditions, enshrined in laws and protected by the state. Its structure consists of several elements, including political, economic, social and cultural-spiritual relations.

Ancient Russia

In surviving annals it is written that the social order of the Slavs, who settled on the lands in the area of the East European Plain, was a tribal community. This meant that all power and property were in the hands of the sergeant-major. Ancient Slavs professed a clan cult, honoring their ancestors.

Since the VI century, in connection with the emergence of tools made of metal, as well as with the transition from slash farming to grazing, the former relations began to disintegrate. Now it was required to unite the efforts of all members of the family without exception, in order to successfully manage the economy. Thus, a separate family came to the fore.

The social system of the Eastern Slavs was constantly changing. Over time, tribal communities became neighbors or territorial. They retained their common ownership of arable land, pastures, ponds and forest land. Now separate families were given allotments. Such plots of arable land they had to process by their own forces and their own implements of labor, leaving almost the entire harvested crop. Then the repartition ended, and the allotments were transferred to permanent property, which had separate families.

Further improvement of the tools of labor entailed the emergence of surplus products, and then - the development of a natural exchange between families. In this regard, gradually began to appear a new social system of the Slavs, which led to the differentiation of the community, property inequality and a significant accumulation of state by elders and other nobles. At that time, the main organ of government was the veche, at which all important issues were decided together. But gradually it began to lose its significance.

As is known, the Eastern Slavs constantly fought with their neighbors. In addition, they also reflected the numerous raids of nomadic tribes. As a result, the importance of the commanders, who were the princes, began to increase. They were the main persons who controlled the tribes. The surplus production allowed the prince's communities to be kept with his faithful squad - detachments of soldiers. Gradually, all power and the bulk of wealth were concentrated in their hands. They appropriated land and imposed taxes on their fellow tribesmen. Thus, in the VIII-IX centuries the social structure of Ancient Rus began to change again. A sharp property stratification began to give prerequisites for the formation of the state.

Basic Groups

The social structure of Kievan Rus consisted of four main groups of the population, called feudal lords, peasants, serfs and city (or townspeople) inhabitants. All of them had different rights.

The division of people into classes, according to most historians, testified to the rapid development of feudal relations. At the same time, former free members of the congregation eventually became dependent people. I must say that at this stage of feudalism there was not yet serfdom, which implied the peasants' attachment to the land and personally to the owner.

Free population

The state and social system of Kievan Rus was an early feudal monarchy. The head of state was the Grand Duke, and he, in turn, was subordinated to other, smaller ones. Special meetings were held to resolve disputes between them, such as the division or redistribution of land, as well as cases relating to the conclusion of peace or war.

The princes ruled through their squad - detachments of professional soldiers. The soldiers collected tribute, and at the expense of it they received the content. Senior warriors led by the prince took part in the creation of laws and entered with him into a council called the Duma.

The military elite was given administrative functions, through which a so-called decimal control scheme appeared. Over time, it will be replaced by a palace-patrimonial system, relying on feudal ownership of the land.

Druzhinniki gradually became landowners and received some kind of immunity, which gave them the right to dispose of their territories without any interference in their affairs by the prince's administration.

Class of feudal lords

The social system that existed at that time was a kind of staircase, at the top of which sat the Kiev prince with his elite - the feudal lords. The most privileged was to know. It, in turn, was divided into several subgroups. Among them - boyars. These were the names of retired senior combatants, once serving as the Grand Duke of Kiev. Since the XI century, they have become major feudal landowners. They also participated in the government (most often in the role of governors.)

The princes are the closest associates of the head of state. They were his political advisors, and also consisted of the so-called Council under the prince. These people did not have landed property and lived on a dependent basis. They were the descendants of the great and light princes, as well as the elders of the tribes.

Ognischans called major officials involved in the management of various areas of the state economy.

People who led personal affairs and property of the prince, were called princes' tiuns, i.e. Servants. As for their legal status, they were at the level of ordinary slaves.

There were also young children-younger ranks of the Grand Duke's warriors. They were considered feudal landowners and took part in the government of the state.

The main privilege enjoyed by the senior militia, namely the boyars, was land ownership with a special immunity right, allowing them the following:

● not to obey not only the communal authorities, but also the feudal in the field;

● enjoy the support of the prince's jurisdiction;

● levy a variety of taxes and conduct courts in respect of dependent people.

Later, several more rights to protect life, health and honor were recorded in the letters. They also became available to a special order of inheritance, according to which the property could be transferred not only in the male, but also in the female line. In addition, the responsibility for the murder was significantly increased, where it was noted that the life of the feudal lord then cost 80 hryvnias.

Dependent population

As already known, the social order of the Eastern Slavs gradually changed, which led to its stratification and division into classes. There was a dependent population, which included smerds, purchases and randovichi. It was a large part of the inhabitants of Ancient Rus.

Smerds were called personal free peasant communes. They owned property with the right to transfer it by inheritance, and could also enter into a contractual relationship. Those who committed the crime had to pay the fine in full. They had the right to participate in litigation both as a plaintiff and as a witness or defendant.

The purchases were smerds, somehow caught in dependence for their debts to creditors. They had to work it out until they could repay the debt. Procurements retained their property, inherited by their relatives, but their debts were not transferred. They could conclude treaties and be held criminally responsible, as well as participate in litigation in the role of both the defendant and the plaintiff. However, the purchases did not have the right to leave the creditor's economy or refuse to work for it. Disobedience was punished by slavery. Procure also could not act as a witness at court hearings, since he was dependent on his creditor.

The social system, on the basis of legal aspects, determined the factors by which the procurement could be released. The first of these is the repayment of debt. The second is release on the basis of a court decision, if the creditor transfers the obligations of the debtor to a third party. And, finally, the last, when the purchase was beaten by the lender.

The ringleaders called debtors who, on the security of their freedom, did not take money, but any things.

Not Free Population

The social structure of Ancient Rus was arranged in such a way that it had a class of people completely bonded and disenfranchised. They were called slaves. They did not have any personal legal status and property. They were considered incompetent and did not have the right to participate in litigation and be held criminally liable.

There were several reasons why people could become slaves (slaves):

● By birthright. This means that if at least one of the parents was a slave, then the child also became a slave.

● Marriage on a slave.

● Self-selling. For this, a document was drawn up, which was signed by witnesses.

● Capture during hostilities.

● Escape the purchase. In this case, the whole family was turned into slaves.

● A criminal offense that was punishable by forfeiture of property. In addition, the whole family became slaves. Such punishment was imposed for murder, robbery, arson, horse-stealing and bankruptcy.

It should be noted that the social system of Kievan Rus with its laws did not allow the serfs to become free. Moreover, to release them to freedom was considered a terrible insult to free people. The only exception could be the fact that the slave had a child from her master. And when the owner died, she became a free person.

Residents of the city

The social system, which was formed on the Russian lands in those days, assumed the lack of serfdom in the cities. Posad residents had full legal equality. Only in the XII century in urban society began to show signs of stratification (differentiation) of the population on property basis.

People began to divide into two groups: the elders and the black ones. The first were merchants and "guests" engaged in foreign trade, and the second - artisans. The social and economic system began to emerge, under which legal inequality in the cities appeared. At the same time Black could send either to the militia or to public works without their consent.

The emergence of cities

During the period of the emergence and further development of the feudal system, part of the artisans who were part of the community began to depend on rich landowners. Others began to leave their villages and leave for a new place of residence. They settled under the walls of prince's fortresses and castles. So, the social system of Rus has been replenished with another group of the population - townspeople, or city people.

The way of life in these settlements was significantly different from the traditional way that prevailed in rural communities. In place of a world consisting of endless steppe spaces, bogs and impenetrable forests, a more secure fortified place came, which at first represented a kind of domination of order and law.

Approximately in the middle of X century, when the strengthening of the Old Russian state began, urban settlements acquired the ability to perform not only administrative and military tasks. With the adoption of Christianity began to appear and cultural centers.

The then political and social system of Rus primarily affected the emergence and development of cities such as Kiev and Novgorod. Archaeological research and excavations confirm that these settlements had already formed structure, where there was concentration of power, church administration, as well as all necessary manor buildings.

State management

The social and political system of Kievan Rus can be called an early feudal monarchy, since at the head of the country was one ruler - the Grand Duke. In his hands was concentrated legislative power, he established taxes and solved all major financial issues. It was the Grand Duke who was the head of the system of governing the state and the supreme judge, and also gave orders to his armed forces.

In addition, the manual also involved other mechanisms:

● Council under the prince. He was considered an informal authority and consisted of military ranks - senior vigilantes, representatives of higher clergy, city elders, etc.

● Veche. This is the highest official authority in the country, consisting of free citizens. The Veche could be convened both at the national level and at a lower level. His competence included issues of domestic and foreign policy. The power of influence of the veche always depended on the power or weakness of the prince's power.

● Feudal conventions. They solved various questions concerning the relationship between the princes. For the first time such a congress took place at the end of the XI century. The assemblies could be of national character or be convened on separate lands.

A superfluous confirmation that the political and social system of the state of Kievan Rus was precisely the early feudal monarchy is the very limited power of the prince. He himself and his decisions to some extent depended on the closest associates, as well as from the veche and other meetings. This situation is due to the fact that the central and territorial administrations were very poorly connected. This mechanism of state leadership was only the initial stage of the development of the monarchy.