To the history of the ancient Russian province

Abstract

East-Slavic community had social stratification since the end of the ninth century. Old Rus’ state was inhomogeneous socially, geographically and culturally from the very beginning of its existence. Already in the 9–10 centuries in Rus’ the central regions were more important for rulers, and provincial regions had smaller value in the eyes of the princes. This has been one of the causes of the fragmentation of the state in the 12 century.