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History of the world economy - Polyak GB

Domestic and Foreign Trade

During the period of feudal fragmentation and the Mongol-Tatar yoke, the role of commodity-money relations was small. Payment of Tatars in the form of tribute to large amounts of money and products hindered the growth of trade. Meanwhile, these obstacles could not stop the trade, it existed primarily in towns and villages. At the local city auction, agricultural products were exported - grain, flour, vegetables, as well as cows, horses, sheep, poultry, fish, honey, wax, incense, hay, firewood, salt, ash, tar and handicraft products - cloth, shoes , Furs, collars, hats, weapons, household items.

In the XIII-XIV centuries. Trade is developing not only between the nearest cities and villages, but also individual territories. For example, from Novgorod goods reached Tver, Suzdal, Moscow, etc. In the trade between cities and regions, an important place was occupied by salt, which was exported from the Crimea, Galicia, from the Trans-Volga region, and from the Komi-Permyak settlement near Kama. An important object of importation to the northern regions of Russia was bread. There were uyezd markets. Major trading centers were Moscow, Novgorod, Beloozero, Tver, Smolensk.

The development of trade relations was hampered by numerous internal customs duties: washing (import of goods for sale or money for the purchase of goods): turnout (notification of intention to trade), a drawing room (when hiring a room), more weight (when weighing goods), etc. Exempt from internal duties Large monasteries, some groups of the population; Individual feudal lords had the right to levy a tax in their favor in their fiefdom.

The feudal fragmentation of the country, the Mongol-Tatar yoke, the transfer of trade routes to the Mediterranean Sea, also brought about changes in the foreign trade of Russia. Foreign trade of Russia with the West expanded (France, Northern Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Poland, Czech Republic, Bulgaria). Russian merchants exported traditional goods (furs, honey, wax, hemp), and imported mainly luxury goods (precious metals and stones, silk, wines, handicrafts).

Formed associations of merchants specializing in trade with individual countries. Thus, the "Ivanovo hundred", uniting the Novgorod merchants, carried out trade with the Hanseatic cities; Moscow "guests-citizens" conducted trade with the Crimea; "Moscow cloth-mongers," who joined the Smolensk traders, created a "cloth series" that traded with Western countries.

Among the merchants distinguished top - the so-called guests (wealthy merchants, moneylenders) who issued loans to princes, feudal lords and by usury subjugated themselves to small merchants, merchants.

During the period of feudal fragmentation, circulation of metal money and their coinage decreased. However, Novgorod, who mined silver in the Ural mines, used silver in ingots in foreign trade. The issue of silver coins began Novgorod, where the mint was founded . In Moscow coinage begins in the XIV century. Under Prince Dmitri Donskoi, who ordered the Mongolian silver coin to be struck. There is a Russian monetary system and a monetary metal unit - a ruble and a penny.

The largest Russian lands

In the era of feudal fragmentation economic development of various Russian lands was very peculiar. As noted, the largest princedoms after the collapse of Kievan Rus were the Vladimir-Suzdal and Galicia-Volyn and Novgorod republics,

The Vladimir-Suzdal Principality occupied the territory between the rivers Oka and Volga. In the vicinity of the cities of Rostov and Suzdal, a large boyar landholding was formed. In the XII-XIII centuries. The cities of Vladimir, Pereyaslavl, Yuryev and others were concentrated servicemen, artisans and merchants. In 1147, for the first time in written sources, Moscow was mentioned, the future center of the unification of the Russian lands. The upsurge of the economy and the growth of the influence of the Principality on national interests was facilitated by the movement of the masses of the population from the southern borderlands with the steppe in search of protection from attacks by nomadic tribes and favorable conditions for agriculture and handicrafts. In the forest areas, land was cleared for arable lands. The first ruler of the Vladimir-Suzdal principality in the era of political fragmentation was Yuri Dolgoruky, who strove to expand the territory of the principality. He, and then Andrey Bogolyubsky and Vsevolod the Big Nest managed to break the separatism of the old boyars. Already at the end of the XII century. The land of North-Eastern Russia was named the Grand Duchy of Vladimir. The development of agricultural and handicraft production, the construction business, the active policy of the Vladimir-Suzdal and then the Moscow princes were factors that ensure the growth of the influence of the Northeast land on the policies of Ryazan, Pskov, Veliky Novgorod and other Russian lands. However, in the late 30's. XIII century. The process of economic recovery was interrupted by the Mongol-Tatar conquest.

The Galicia-Volyn principality was located on the territory from the land of Prussians and Lithuanians to the Danube, from Pobuzhye to Transcarpathia. It was a land with fertile lands, a favorable climate, vast forests and numerous cities (Galich, Przemysl, Cherven, Lvov, Vladimiro-Volynsky, Holm, Berestye, etc.). Power Galicia-Volyn principality reached under Yaroslav I Osmomysle. In 1199 Prince Prince Roman Mstislavich of Galicia and Volynia land merged. There was one of the largest states in Europe with strong princely authority. The son of Roman Mstislavich Daniel led a long struggle for the throne and in 1238 he managed to establish his authority. A characteristic feature of the Galicia-Volyn principality was the development of a large boyar landholding, and an advantageous geographical location made it possible to establish a waterway from the Black Sea to the Baltic Sea. This contributed to the development of trade with Silesia, the Czech Republic, Moravia, Poland, and German cities. In 1240 the Galicia-Volyn principality was subjected to the Mongol-Tatar invasion. After 100 years, the Galicia-Volyn principality turned out to be part of Poland (Galich) and Lithuania (Volyn).

Novgorod land occupied territory from the coasts of Narva to the Urals, from the coast of the Barents Sea to the upper Volga. Novgorod included the lands inhabited by Karelians and other nationalities: Izhorskaya, Karelian, Kola Peninsula, etc. In 1136 there was a separation from the Russian lands of Novgorod, which by that time became a feudal republic. The government formally belonged to the people's assembly - the veche, but the real masters were the boyars, who ruled to the veche, seeking through numerous supporters to resolve issues in their favor.

Novgorod owned a huge land area. Although the basis of the economy was agriculture, agriculture was less developed than in other parts of Russia. In adverse years Novgorod imported grain from neighboring principalities. Natural conditions allowed the development of livestock. Not only the villagers, but also the townspeople engaged in cattle breeding. The feudal lord collected from the peasants a share (from 1/4 to 1/2) of the harvest from the peasant allotment.

Various fisheries have developed: hunting, beekeeping, fishing. The handicraft industry reached an unprecedented heyday, the specialization of artisans was extremely wide: potters, smiths, carpenters, shoemakers, glass blowers, bristles, nailers, jewelers, boiler-makers, etc. Part of the urban artisans already in the 11th-13th centuries. Worked for the market, and the other still manufactured products on order.

Novgorod was bound by trade relations with all Russian lands. Novgorod played an important role in international economic and political relations, established a major trade with Denmark, Sweden, Hanseatic cities. If in Russia in general foreign trade involved representatives of the ruling class, then in early formed a layer of professional merchants who kept foreign trade in their hands.

The Mongol-Tatar invasion and its consequences

Despite the fact that feudal relations in Russia developed progressively and there were factors contributing to unification (a single language, a single faith, common historical roots, signs of a nationality, the need to protect against external enemies, etc.) "political and economic fragmentation in the 13th century . Reached the highest degree. This weakened the strength of the country - it could not resist the Mongol-Tatar invasion.

The withdrawal by the Mongol conquerors of prisoners from Galicia-Volyn Rus

The invasion and the established yoke had a great impact on the further socio-economic and political development of the Russian lands. They destroyed the productive forces and slowed down the historical process.

Numerous sources indicate the colossal destruction and mass destruction of human and material resources. Of the well-known excavations of 74 Russian cities XII-XIII centuries. 49 were destroyed, in 14 of them life was not revived, and 15 turned into villages. A severe blow was struck on agriculture and handicraft production. The death of many craftsmen, who pass from generation to generation the secrets of craftsmanship, has led to the disappearance of some branches of craft and handicraft profession. Stone construction was suspended, cultural monuments were lost. The trade relations between Russia and the countries of the East and the West were interrupted. Even more isolated Russian lands.

Serious damage to cities led to a sharp slowdown in the country's progress, towards the formation of capitalist relations. Russia, although it became a vassal of the Golden Horde, but retained local government. Meanwhile, the grand reign needed to get a label - a statement in the Horde. Mongolian-Tatar officials in 1246 conducted a census of the population of Rus, which meant the legal registration of the Horde yoke, then the census was carried out in 1255-1256, 1257-1258, 1276. The population was subjected to cruel oppression, paying the Golden Horde tribute - various "Horde burdens." The main one was the " tsar's tribute", or "way out", collected from the master's yard. Only the Moscow and Novgorod "exits" amounted to 7-8.5 thousand rubles. Silver per year. In the XIV-XV centuries. Tribute was a fixed amount.