Why Moscow became the center of the unification of Russian lands? Russian history

The history of our Motherland is so deep in the past that many of our contemporaries do not even think about the question of why Moscow became the center of the unification of Russian lands.

Many reasons contributed to this, some of which we will try to consider in this article.

How and when did Moscow come into being?

The state of Kievan Rus, created by the descendants of Rurik, his son, grandson and great-grandson Vladimir, was located on the lands of modern Ukraine, Belarus and southern Russia. Its center was the city of Kiev.

Its northern outskirts was the land of the Eastern Slavs-Vyatich and the Finno-Ugrians-the future land of the ancient city of Moscow. Here there were impassable forests and marshes, and there was no talk of any capital.

Meanwhile, it was here that the beginning of the unification of the Russian lands was started, the history of Russia confirms this fact.

According to the most common version, Moscow was founded by Prince Yuri, nicknamed Dolgoruky, who was famous for the skills of a diplomat and commander, in the 12th century.

By the way, for Prince George, the question of why Moscow became the center of the unification of Russian lands was not raised at all, because feudal disunity was felt at that time, when every prince was for himself.

This fragmentation and entailed a terrible disaster for the young state - the invasion of the horde of Khan Batu, which wiped out many Russian glorious cities, including the old Ryazan, from which it was a stone's throw to the small town of Moscow.

The reasons for the rise of Moscow during the Tatar-Mongol yoke

Igo brought many disasters to Russia: it was a tribute to goods, products, gold and people, which every principality had to pay; Constant raids by the Horde; Destruction of buildings.

Little Moscow was lucky: it was in impenetrable forests (the word "Moscow" itself is translated from Finno-Ugric as a "swampy place"), which partially reduced the probability of raids by foreigners.

On the other hand, people in Moscow reigned, whose diplomatic qualities allowed them to negotiate with the formidable Horde Khans.

The most outstanding of these people was Prince Ivan, nicknamed Kalita. He was able to negotiate with the Horde and get for himself and his descendants a shortcut to the grand reign (which gave his bearers the opportunity to rule all the other princes of Rus on behalf of the khan).

In a difficult struggle Kalita won a victory over another Russian prince who also claimed this label, Mikhail Tversky. According to the denunciation, Prince Michael and his son Alexander, as well as the grandson of Fedor, were captured and severely executed.

However, not only cunning and the mind helped the Moscow princes in the struggle for the Grand Duke's throne, a considerable role in this played their military merit.

Kulikovskaya battle of Dmitry Donskoy

Why Moscow became the center of the unification of Russian lands? This question is easy to answer, if you turn to the events of Russian history in 1380. Then the young Moscow Prince Dmitry called on the inhabitants of Russia to fight the Horde invaders. The battle took place on the Kulikovo field and ended with the complete victory of the Russian troops.

True, two years later, the Horde troops again attacked our Fatherland under the leadership of Khan Tokhtamysh, but the victory at the Kulikovo field and the unification of the Russian lands under the leadership of Moscow are links of one chain. It turns out that without Dmitry Donskoy his city would never become the capital of Russia.

Why Moscow became the center of the unification of Russian lands: the judgments of historians

Russian historians agree that Moscow has become the center of Russia, most likely not because of its geographical location or other factors, but because about 200 years in this city ruled by princes who were prominent politicians, diplomats and military leaders.

It was thanks to the activities of these princes that the Russian lands were unified.

After the victory at the Kulikovo Field, the Moscow Principality grew very intensively, absorbing the lands of its neighbors. Even the grandfather of Ivan the Terrible Prince Ivan was able to overcome the resistance of the northern Russian lands - Pskov and Novgorod, and then appropriated most of their territories.

It was Prince Ivan Vasilyevich who finally managed to get rid of the Horde yoke, which further strengthened Moscow's authority. Therefore, the prince's contemporaries did not raise the question of why Moscow became the center of Russia. She deserved it.