4. State the main problems discussed in the text.

5. Define which details of the text are of particular importance for understanding of the text.

Topical conversation

l. Speak on Britain as a Roman province.

2. Discuss the question of how archaeological and literary material helps to build up a picture of Roman Britain.

Text 5

The ancient Russian state

The ancient Russian state emerged as the result of the long process of development of the East-Slav tribes. The Slavs constitute one of the biggest and most important ethnic groups of Europe.

The first mention of the Slav tribes in written sources dates back to the first century. Much more was written about them in the sixth century, due to the role the Slav tribes were beginning to play in Eastern Europe and to their struggle against Byzantium.

In this century the Slavs were going through the last stage of development of the clan system of social organization, the basis of which was the patriarchal family commune known as the very. Statehood had not yet been achieved. Supreme power was vested in the veche, the assembly of the people. Side by side with the veche there were the tribal chiefs, the knyazya (princes}. The tribal chiefs belonged to the tribal aristocracy, who were beginning to emerge from the mass of the tribesman on account of their property status.

In the sixth century tribal disunity had still not been overcome, but there were signs that the Slavs ware ready for unity on a more stable basis.

By the sixth century the tribe, a form of social organization, had ceased to serve as a vehicle for farther historical development. The break-down of primitive clan relations among the Slavs was also a break-down of the tribal system and the development of statehood. This process became especially intensive between the seventh and ninth centuries and resulted in the formation of the ancient Russian state.

This was a period that saw a rapid development of productive forces among the Eastern Slavs.

It was in these centuries that the farming of permanent plough lands spread over the whole territory occupied by the Eastern Slavs as far as Lake Ilmen. The use of plough-lands more productive, implements - wooden and iron plough - and draught animals was progressive,

A further indication of the growth of the productive forces among the Eastern Slavs was the development of handicraft industries.

Although the smelting and working of iron and non-ferrous metals were the most highly developed branches, a number of other branches, the working of bone, tunning, weaving sad pottery - also became concentrated in the hands of artisans whose goods were produced for exchange and not only for personal use.

These economic developments led to the growth of towns as centres of handicraft industry and barter. The biggest of the ancient Russian towns - Kiev, Chernigov, Smolensk and Novgorod - came into existence between the seventh and ninth centuries.

This period was also one in which external economic relations grew between the Eastern Slavs and the countries of the East, Byzantium and the Baltic countries. The Volga Route was a link between the Eastern Slaves and the tribes inhabiting the Middle Volga and across the Khvalin (Caspian) Sea, with the countries of the East. The Dnieper Route connected the Eastern Slavs with Byzantium. By the end of the ninth century, the Volga Route and the Dnieper Route ("the path from the Varangians to the Greeks") were extended to the Baltic area and thus became trade routes of all-European importance.

The social structure of the Eastern Slavs between the seventh and ninth centuries is reflected in Russkaya Pravda (Russian Law), a code of laws compiled in the eleventh century under Prince Yaroslav the Wise (for which reason it is also known as Pravda Yaroslava) but which basically refers to the period immediately preceding the formation of the ancient Russian state.

Learn to pronounce the words

ancient [ ]

tribe [ ]

slav [ ]

Bysantium [ ]

Patriarchal [ ]

Greek [ ]

Baltic area [ ]

Ploughland [ ]

Key words and expressions

Tribe племя

written source письменный источник

to date back to относиться к

clan system родовая система, строй

century столетие

commune община

statehood государственность

tribal chief вождь племени

break-down упадок

productive forces производительные силы

handicraft industriy ремесло

to smelt iron плавить железо

tunning and weaving дубление кожи и ткачество

pottery гончарное производство

artisan ремесленник

barter меновая торговля

permanent ploughlands одни и те же пахотные земли

Assignments

1. Find English equivalents in the text:

Древнее государство, длительный процесс развития, столетие, славянские племена, родовой строй, письменный источник, вождь племени, появиться, возникнуть, упадок, единство, образование государства, железный плуг, дубление кожи, гончарное производство, свод законов, экономические отношения.

2. Suggest Russian equivalents to the following:

A state, emerged, the first mention, to data back to, a patriarchal family commune, statehood, a tribal chief, a historical development, permanent plough lands an iron plough, working of bone and iron, growth of towns, external economic relations, a barter, an artisan, all-European importance.

3. Find historical terms in the text, write them out.

4. Give definitions to the following:

Slav tribes, the verv, the veche, the knyazya, handicraft industry.

Interpretation of the text

1. Divide the text into logically complete parts writing out some topical sentences.

2. Mark off the passages that seem important to you.

3. Say whether the following statements are true or false:

1. The Slav tribes constitute one of the biggest and most important ethnic groups.

2. Much more was written about the Slavs in the ninth century,

3. Supreme power was vested in the knyasya.

4. By the sixth century the tribe system had ceased to serve as a vehicle for further historical development.

5. The development of handicraft industries was a further indication of the growth of the productive forces among the Eastern Slavs.