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IMC 2009: Sessions

Session 1119: Non-Orthodox Christian Groups on the Russian-Belorussian-Ukrainian Border Region

Wednesday 15 July 2009, 11.15-12.45

Organiser:Evgeny Shinakov, Department of Ancient & Medieval Russian & East-European History, Bryansk State University, Russia
Moderator/Chair:Alexander Dubrovsky, Bryansk State University, Russia
Paper 1119-aTraditional Medieval Russian Mentality in Old Believer Groups in the Borders of Three East Slavic States
(Language: English)
Michael Brjantsev, Bryansk State University, Russia
Index terms: Archaeology - Sites, Economics - Urban
Paper 1119-bEconomic History of Old Believer Groups in the Borders of Three East Slavic States
(Language: English)
Alexander Dubrovsky, Bryansk State University, Russia
Index terms: Archaeology - Sites, Economics - Urban
Abstract

Bryansk Region is situated in the south-west corner of Russian territory. Its borders are common ones with Ukraine and Byelorussia. We can see here a mixed culture of different peoples and 'islands' of Ukrainian and Byelorussian cultures. Besides these socio-cultural appearances there are some places and micro-regions of non-Orthodox culture.

The major line of economic development of region Starodubja and Vetka was economic activity of Old Believers. Conditions for agriculture development here were unfavourable. However local soils comprised minerals. Here there were convenient overland and river ways. Thanks to the ethnic-religious factor in region a number of crafts, trade began to develop successfully. Large villages trade and handicraft, settlements, occupied by Old Believers, turned to cities (Novozybkov, Klintsy, Gomel). Economic successes of Old Believers have been caused by mutual aid, corporate and confessional generality. In activity of Old Believers - of businessmen the big support was rendered by arrival. Process of an eminence of merchant class was characteristic for various groups of Old Believers in the end of 18th - first of 19th century. From this environment there were large merchant dynasties of Russia. Process of their folding has mentioned not only Moscow and St Petersburg, but also the Russian province. Rough economic development of old believers' settlements Starodubij and Vetka during the specified period has prepared high growth of industrial production, industrial re-equipment in second half 19th-20th century beginnings along with which there was an intensive development of trade and banking.