Who belongs to the Slavic tribes. Slavic peoples. History of the Slavs of the East European Plain

SLAVS, Slavs (Slavs outdated), units. Slav, Slav, husband. A group of peoples living in eastern and central Europe and the Balkans. Eastern Slavs. Southern Slavs. Western Slavs. “Leave it alone: ​​this is a dispute among the Slavs among themselves.” Pushkin... ... Dictionary Ushakova

SLAVS, a group of peoples in Europe: Eastern Slavs (Russians, Ukrainians, Belarusians), Western Slavs (Poles, Czechs, Slovaks, Lusatians), Southern Slavs (Bulgarians, Serbs, Croats, Slovenians, Macedonians, Bosnians, Montenegrins). They speak Slavic... ...Russian history

Ancient, a group of Indo-European tribes. First mentioned in the 1st and 2nd centuries. in ancient Roman sources under the name of the Wends. According to the assumption of a number of researchers, the Slavs, along with the Germans and Balts, were descendants of pastoralists and agriculturalists... Art encyclopedia

Slovenian Dictionary of Russian synonyms. Slavs noun, number of synonyms: 1 Slovenes (2) ASIS Dictionary of Synonyms. V.N. Trishin. 2013… Dictionary of synonyms

Modern encyclopedia

Group of peoples in Europe: eastern (Russians, Ukrainians, Belarusians), western (Poles, Czechs, Slovaks, Lusatians), southern (Bulgarians, Serbs, Croats, Slovenes, Macedonians, Bosnians, Montenegrins). 293.5 million people (1992), including Russian Federation… … Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

SLAVS, yang, unit. Yanin, ah, husband. One of the largest groups in Europe of peoples related in language and culture, making up three branches: East Slavic (Russians, Ukrainians, Belarusians), West Slavic (Poles, Czechs, Slovaks, Lusatians) and... ... Ozhegov's Explanatory Dictionary

Slavs- (Slavs), group of peoples of the East. Europe, known in Ancient. Rome as the Sarmatians or Scythians. It is believed that the word S. comes from slowo (well-spoken; the word Slovenian has the same root). After the collapse of the Hunnic state in the 5th century. S. migrated to 3 ... World history

Slavs- SLAVS, a group of related peoples with a total number of 293,500 thousand people. Main regions of settlement: countries of Eastern Europe (about 290,500 thousand people). They speak Slavic languages. Religious affiliation of believers: Orthodox, Catholics,... ... Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary

The largest group of peoples in Europe, united by the proximity of languages ​​(see Slavic languages) and common origin. The total number of glory. peoples in 1970 about 260 million people, of which: Russians over 130 million, Ukrainians 41.5 million... Great Soviet Encyclopedia

Books

• , . Slavs, their mutual relations and connections / Op. Joseph Pervolf, order. prof. Warsaw. un-ta. T. 1-3A 183/690 U 390/30 U 62/317 U 238/562: 1890: Reproduced in the original author’s spelling...
• Slavs, their mutual relations and connections T. 1-3, . Slavs, their mutual relations and connections / Op. Joseph Pervolf, order. prof. Warsaw. un-ta. T. 1-3A 183/690 U 62/317 U 390/30 U 238/562: Warsaw: typ. Warsaw. textbook okr., 1893: Reproduced in...

The demographic situation of the Slavic peoples in the post-Soviet period is analyzed. Materials from the All-Russian Population Censuses of 2002 and 2010 were used, as well as statistical data for Belarus, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, and Ukraine. The reasons for demographic losses include the transition to a small family, gender disproportion, aging, and emigration.

Loginova Nina Nikolaevna

Candidate of Geographical Sciences,
Associate Professor of the Department of Physical and Socio-Economic Geography
Mordovsky state university them. N.P. Ogareva

Slavs ― the largest ethno-linguistic community in Europe, numbering about 300 million people. The Slavic group of peoples is formed by three subgroups: 1 - Western (Poles - about 45 million, Czechs - over 11 million, Slovaks - about 6 million and Lusatians - about 100 thousand people); 2 - southern (Bulgarians - over 9 million, Serbs - more than 10 million, Croats - about 6 million, Slovenes - about 2.5 million, Macedonians - about 2 million, Montenegrins - about 1 million, Bosnians - over 2.2 million people .) and 3 - eastern (Russians - about 140 million, Rusyns, Ukrainians - about 50 million and Belarusians - over 9 million people).

Representatives of the Slavic ethnic group make up the bulk of the population of the Russian Federation (146.5 million people in 2016), as well as the republics of Eastern Europe: Belarus (9.5 million), Ukraine (42.9 million), Poland (38.5 million) , Czech Republic (10.5 million), Slovakia (5.4 million), Bulgaria (7.2 million). Slavs make up the majority in Western and Southern Europe. Representatives of Slavic ethnic groups live in the Baltic Republics, Hungary, Greece, Germany, Austria, Italy, America and Australia.

The total number of Slavic peoples in the world at the beginning of the 20th century. was about 150 million people, including: Russians ― 65 million, Ukrainians 31 million, Belarusians ― 7 million; Poles ― 19 million, Czechs ― 7 million, Slovaks ― 2.5 million; Bulgarians ― 5.5 million. The bulk of Slavic ethnic groups lived in Russian Empire(approx. 110 million), Austria-Hungary (25 million), Germany (4 million) and the countries of America (3 million people).

According to the All-Russian Census of 1897, more than 100 large nations were identified, although the core of the empire’s population were Great Russians (55.7 million people or 44.35%) (Russians), whose national identity was formed among the East Slavic population Old Russian state. Another large Slavic people were the Little Russians (Ukrainians), whose number reached 22.4 million people. (17.8%) and the third largest Slavic people in number were Belarusians ― 5.9 million people (4.7%). All of them were officially considered “Russians,” whose total number was 83.6 million people, or 66.3% of the empire’s population. All Slavs (Russians, Ukrainians, Belarusians, Poles, Bulgarians, Serbs, etc.) made up about 75% population of the Russian Empire.

The first Soviet census of 1926, covering the entire territory of the USSR, showed that the country's population had increased to 147.0 million people. (including the population of Russia ― 92.7 million people), took into account over 190 ethnic communities and about 150 languages ​​(without dialects). On the territory of the RSFSR, the number of large Slavic peoples was: Russians ― 74.0 million people (79.8%), Ukrainians ― 7.9 million people (8.5%), Belarusians 638.0 thousand people. (0.6%). On the territory of Ukraine: Russians lived 2.7 million people, Ukrainians ― 23.2 million people, Belarusians 75.8 thousand people, on the territory of Belarus there were 383.8 thousand Russians, Ukrainians ― 34.6 thousand people, Belarusians ― 4.0 million people .

Two world wars caused severe damage to the population of the Russian Federation and the countries of Eastern Europe. Direct military losses in the first of them amounted to over 7 million people. (only in Germany ― more than 2 million people). If we take into account indirect losses, then combined with direct losses they will amount to more than 25 million people. The Second World War claimed the lives of more than 40 million people. .

In the post-war years, all European countries experienced a slight increase in the birth rate. The number of Slavs grew at a particularly rapid pace, both in the USSR and in the countries of Eastern Europe. In 1961, the Slavic group of peoples amounted to 243 million people, including: Russians ― 121 million, Ukrainians ― 40, Poles ― 35, Czechs ― 9.7, Belarusians ― 8.3, Bulgarians ― 7.5. In 1970 compared to the beginning of the 20th century. the total number of Slavs increased by more than 100 million and amounted to about 260 million people. Of these: Russians - over 130 million, Ukrainians - 41.5 million, Belarusians - 9.2 million; Poles - about 37 million, Czechs - about 10 million, Slovaks - 4.7 million, Bulgarians - 7.9 million people. . In 1975, the number of peoples of the Slavic group increased to 270 million people, including: Russians - 136 million, Ukrainians ― 44, Poles ― 38, Chekhov ― 10.3, Belarusians ― 9.6, Bulgarian ― 8.2 million people The number of Slavic peoples in Eastern European countries also grew in the 1980s. (Table 1,2).

Table 1. The number of Slavic peoples in 1980, thousand people

Table 2 . Population dynamics of the Slavic countries of Eastern Europe after the Second World War, million people

The total number of peoples of the Slavic group at the end of the 20th century. amounted to: in the USSR - 190.7 million people, in Foreign Europe - 78.9 million, in Foreign Asia - 90 thousand, in Africa - 15 thousand, in America - 6.9 million, in Australia and Oceania - 137 thousand people There were about 277 million people in the world as a whole. representatives of the Slavic group of peoples.

The dynamics of the population of the Slavic countries of Eastern Europe in 2014 is given in table. 2. The data in Table 2 indicates that from 1950 to 1988. The population increased in all Slavic countries of Eastern Europe. The largest absolute increases were in the Russian Federation, Poland and Ukraine. However, in 1970, the rate of natural growth in the countries of Eastern Europe and the USSR began to decline (Table 3). This led to a slowdown in the growth rate of the Slavs. If the population growth rate of the RSFSR in 1939 - 1959. amounted to 8.4%, in 1959 – 1970. ― 10.7%, then in 1970 – 1980. ― 5.0%; Ukraine, respectively: 3.5%, 12.6%, 5.0% and Belarus: 9.6%, 11.8%, and 5.0%. The main reason, in our opinion, is the decline in fertility rates and the persistence of a high mortality rate.

The decline in the birth rate was the result of deliberate restrictions. This trend was characteristic of both urban and rural populations of Slavic countries. The orientation of spouses towards a small family, with a relatively high life expectancy, has become dominant.

Table 3. Dynamics of general demographic rates in the Slavic countries of Eastern Europe after the Second World War, ‰

The nature of changes in the level of fertility and type of reproduction is reflected by the dynamics of the total fertility rate. During the transition to a new, modern type of population reproduction, a decrease in the total birth rate occurred in all Slavic countries. For example, in 2000, the birth rate in the Russian Federation decreased to 8.6 ‰, and the mortality rate increased to 15.2 ‰, the total fertility rate decreased to 1.20. An increase in the birth rate and a decrease in mortality have been recorded since 2007 (Table 4).

Table 4 . Dynamics of population reproduction rates in the Russian Federation,‰

The size of the Slavic population of Russia grew only in the 20th century: from 1897 to 1926 it increased by 18 million; from 1926 to 1989, by another 36.3 million people. After the collapse of the USSR, the number of Slavs began to decline. Thus, from 1989 to 2002 there were 4.0 million fewer Russians, Ukrainians ― by 1.5 million and Belarusians ― by 0.4 million people From 2002 to 2010, the number of Slavs decreased even more significantly: Russians ― by 4.8 million (but their share in the entire population of the country increased by 0.3%), Ukrainians ― by 1.0 million and Belarusians ― by 0.3 million people Despite the fact that Ukrainians remained in third place in the ranking, their number decreased by 1,014 thousand people, which led to a significant decrease in the share of Ukrainians in the country’s population (by 34.5%). The decline in the number of Belarusians in Russia has become noticeable since 1989. In 2002–2010. the number of Belarusians decreased by 300 thousand people, or 37.5% (Table 5).

Table 5. Dynamics of numbers and share of Slavic peoples in the population of Russia,

Thus, in the modern period Russian history the number of East Slavic peoples decreased by 12.1 million people. During the period under review, Russians decreased by 8.9, Ukrainians ― by 2.5 and Belarusians ― by 0.7 million people

The decline in the number of Slavs led to an increase in their median age. If the average median age of the Russian population was 38.0 years, then among the “young” Chechens ― 23.9 years, and the “oldest” Belarusians ― 54.2, Ukrainians ― 52.5 years old. Between 2002 and 2010 there was the highest increase in median age among Slavs ― more than 6 years.

This development of demographic processes was largely historically determined. The reasons for this situation are due to three factors. The first factor is associated with differences in the natural reproduction of individual ethnic groups. Second ― with the processes of change in ethnic identity under the influence of a complex of reasons. Third factor ― This is external migration due to many different reasons.

Ethnicity has become an important aspect of the analysis of population dynamics in countries. Population decline is occurring in Russian regions with a predominantly Slavic (Russian) population. The leaders in terms of positive demographic indicators are national republics with a low share of the Russian population, as well as the Tyumen region and Moscow (thanks to immigration and the high standard of living of citizens). Regions with a large share of ethnic Russians have high natural population decline. The highest natural population decline in the Russian Federation was recorded in poor regions with a high share of the Russian population (87-95%). For example, in the Pskov region. (the poorest Russian subject, where after minimal spending a complete family with two children has 570 rubles at their disposal), Tula, Tver, Tambov, Novgorod, Leningrad regions. the decline was -7 to -5 ‰ or -0.7–0.5% per year. It should be noted that the Russian regions of the Central Federal District are characterized by the lowest birth rates and high mortality rates. The subjects of the Central Federal District in terms of birth rates are 1.5 times, and in terms of mortality rates are 1.7 times worse than the indicators of the subjects of the North Caucasus Federal District. The prospect of achieving an excess of birth rates over deaths in the Russian (Slavic) regions of the country in the coming years is impossible.

According to the 2010 census, households consisting of 2 people predominated among the Slavic peoples of Russia, for example, among Belarusians ― 62%, Ukrainians ― 59%, Russians ― 41%. Of the total number of households consisting of 2 or more people, 66% had one child, 27% ― 2 children and only 7% ― 3 or more children. The highest percentage of families with one child was among Belarusians (74%), Ukrainians (71%) and Russians (69%). Among families with three or more children, the lowest rates are among Belarusians, Ukrainians (4% each) and Russians (5%). Among Slavic families there are many consisting of one person: 15% among Belarusians, 13% among Ukrainians and 10% among Russians. And the most lonely people are aged 55 and older: Belarusians ― 73%, Ukrainians ― 70% and Russians ― 60 % .

The demographic situation in the Slavic countries of Eastern Europe especially worsened at the beginning of the 21st century, which led to a decrease in the total population. In 2014, compared to 2000, the population decreased in 4 countries (including the Russian Federation), and in 3 countries ― increased. There was a slight increase in population in the Czech Republic (Table 6). The deterioration of the demographic situation can be explained by low birth rates and fairly high death rates, which predetermined the natural population decline at the beginning of the 21st century. in many Slavic countries of Eastern Europe.

In 2014, natural population growth took place in Slovakia and the Russian Federation. In the Czech Republic, simple replacement of generations was registered, and in Poland, Bulgaria, Ukraine and Belarus ― There was a natural population decline. These countries can be classified as demographically disadvantaged regions of Eastern Europe.

Table 6. Dynamics h population density of the Slavic countries of Europe

* Assessment taking into account the population of the Crimean Federal District

In 2014, the highest birth rate was recorded in the Russian Federation, and the lowest ― in Bulgaria. The lowest mortality rate was recorded in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, and the highest ― in Ukraine and Bulgaria (Table 7).

At the turn of the XX–XXI centuries. became again topical issue about the common destinies of the Western, Eastern and Southern Slavs. The first All-Slavic Congress took place in Prague in 1848. In 1858, the initiative in the Slavic movement passed to Moscow, and ties between the Slavic peoples strengthened. Since 1898, congresses began to be held regularly. But well-known events at the beginning of the 20th century. again destroyed Slavic unity.

Table 7 . Fertility, mortality and natural population growth,‰

During the Second World War, the idea of ​​Slavic brotherhood again became relevant. In 1946, the next Slavic Congress was held in Belgrade, but in 1948, Soviet-Yugoslav relations worsened and the Slavic movement practically ceased to exist.

In 1998, the VII Slavic Congress was held in Prague. The idea of ​​Slavic brotherhood began to revive again. Slavic congresses were held in Moscow (2001), Minsk (2005) and Kyiv (2010). The Day of Friendship and Unity of the Slavs was proclaimed on June 25, 2013. The ideas of Slavic unity are regaining their relevance. However, the events in Ukraine in 2014-2015. apparently again dealt a serious blow to the international Slavic movement.

References

1. Brook S.I. World population. Ethnodemographic reference book. / M.: Nauka, 1981. – 880 p.
2. Loginova N.N. Population of the Republic of Mordovia: geodemographic situation, dynamics and structure: monograph / N, N. Loginova; scientific ed. A. M. Nosonov. – Saransk: Mordov Publishing House. University, 2011. – 100 p.
3. Population of the USSR, 1988. Stat. collection / State Statistics Committee of the USSR - M.: Finance and Statistics, 1989. - 704 p.
4. Population of the countries of the world: Handbook / ed. B.Ts. Urlanis. – 2nd ed., revised. and additional – M.: Statistics, 1978. – 527 p.
5. Rashin A.G. Population of Russia for 100 years (1811 – 1913). – M.: 1956.
6. Russian statistical yearbook. 2014. / Rosstat. – M.: 2015. – 880 p.
7. Russia 1913. Statistical and documentary reference book. St. Petersburg, 1995.
8. Socio-demographic portrait of Russia: Based on the results of the 2010 All-Russian Population Census / Federal. government service statistics. – M.: IRC “Statistics of Russia”, 2012. – 183 p.
9. Statistical Yearbook of Russia. 1915 / Ed. Central Statistical Committee of the M.V.D. - Petrograd, 1916. - 658 p.
10. Countries and peoples. – M.: OLMA Media Group, 2008. – 632 p.
11. Population Reference Bureau. 2014 Word Population Data Sheet.
12. Rosstat on the results of the 2010 All-Russian Population Census.

Slavic peoples belong to one of the largest ethnolinguistic groups in Eurasia and Europe. Despite this, their history is replete with blank spots. Moreover, some scientists believe that the history of the Slavs was rewritten more than once, which means that it is incredibly difficult to identify reliable facts from the abundance of information. However, year after year, historians manage to piece together more and more data about the lives of our ancestors and their cultural traditions. And they, as experts say, are very diverse. After all, the Slavs have never been a single nation with identical beliefs, culture and language. They were settled over quite vast territories, so over time they became more and more different from each other.

Our article examines the historical development of the Western Slavs, their identity and religious beliefs, which differ significantly from the peoples who are commonly called the Eastern and Southern Slavs.

Brief characteristics of the ethno-linguistic group

The Western Slavs, as our reader has probably already understood, are a kind of community of tribes united by a single name, cultural values ​​and traditions. Historians claim that this group emerged as a result of the settlement of tribes in various territories. This became the catalyst that launched the process of isolation of some Slavs from others.

For many, it remains unclear who belongs to the Western Slavs. After all, the common ethno-linguistic group includes quite a few tribes. The most prominent representatives of the named block are Croats, Czechs, Poles, Polans and similar nationalities.

The Slavic peoples, according to historians, were never united even at the initial stage of historical development. They had certain differences due to their residence in one area or another. Initially, it was difficult to call them noticeable or significant, however, after time, the cultural gap between the Slavic peoples only began to widen. This was mainly influenced by two factors:

• mass relocation to new territories;
• interbreeding with representatives of other ethnic groups.

The first wave of resettlement gave way to a new one, and gradually communities were created on the reclaimed lands that were significantly different from their prototypes. Cultural and trade ties between the Slavic tribes began to break down, which was largely influenced by distance. It can be said that exactly at the moment is considered the starting point at which the isolated history of the Western Slavs begins.

If we consider the topic of tribal settlement in a little more detail, it should be noted that it occurred in three directions: south, east and west. The Slavs, who later became known as Western Slavs, headed to the lands of the Middle Danube, and also settled the territories between the Oder and Elbe.

Territory of the Western Slavs

Historians write that the process of separation of this Slavic branch began before our era and continued for several centuries. It was during this period that the very traits that in the future became the basis of a new ethnic group were formed. The first thing that united the resettled tribes was territorial boundaries.

The settlement of the Western Slavs was a long process, as a result of which vast territories were occupied:

• Odra River;
• Labe River;
• Saala River;
• middle Danube.

According to the latest data, it can be judged that the Slavs reached modern Bavaria and even entered into military conflicts with ancient Germanic tribes. It is interesting that today more than a hundred tribes are classified as Slavic, of which approximately fifty ethnic groups are Western, bringing their traditions to new lands.

Historians, studying the language and culture of peoples who trace their history back to the West Slavic group, have noted that the latter have much in common with their ancestors. This can be seen in the etymology of names and, first of all, in religious beliefs, which played a very important role important role up to the adoption of Christianity.

By the way, many scientists consider the fact that the Slavs, who mastered the western territories, adopted the Christian religion like Catholicism, as another nuance that divided the once fraternal peoples. However, even during the times of the ancient Western Slavs, a religious split between them was already observed and subsequently only changed its form and scale.

Religious Beliefs

Before the adoption of Christianity, the people described were pagans who worshiped not only certain deities, but also nature spirits, as well as animals. A distinctive feature of Slavic religious cults is the fact that they often did not single out individual gods, but worshiped spirits as a whole. For example, in the forest, according to the beliefs of ancient tribes, there lived huge amount deities Therefore, when going hunting or collecting forest gifts, our ancestors turned to everyone at once, asking for their mercy and protection.

It is noteworthy that the Slavs also believed in demons. However, in their minds they were not evil entities. Ancient peoples believed that demons were just the souls of animals, plants and stones. They can live in certain objects, but if necessary, they leave them and travel around the world.

Totemism, or the veneration of the animal progenitor, was also widespread among tribes. This cult was especially important for the Western Slavs. Each tribe chose its own totem animal and worshiped it, but killing a sacred animal was not considered something criminal. This fact is a significant difference between Slavic totemism and the form that it later took, for example, in Egypt. It is interesting that some historians consider the legends about werewolves, so widespread in Europe, to be the result of the influence of such cults. Many Slavic communities revered wolves and wore their skins during ritual events. Sometimes the ritual required movement in such a way across the terrain, which, naturally, looked wild and even terrifying for random travelers.

In the paganism of the Western Slavs, it was customary to serve the gods in specially constructed places where idols were installed. The temples, as they were called, were built mainly on hills, which were clearly visible from all sides. Nearby there was a place for sacrifices or a breviary. Pagan cults always involve the sacrifice of animals during ritual service.

The Western Slavs, after their final formation into a separate community, slightly modified the temples. They began to build them closed and placed all the idols inside at the same time. It is noteworthy that only the Magi could enter this semblance of a temple. Ordinary members of the tribe had the opportunity to attend some rituals near the temple, but most of the rituals were hidden from prying eyes.

The gods of the Western Slavs were not much different from the deities of their eastern and southern counterparts. And this is quite natural, because all the Slavs had a common pantheon of gods. Although each tribe separately revered its own idol, which was considered the patron saint of this particular community. If we turn to the classification of deities, we can say that they are divided into three groups:

• higher;
• average;
• inferior.

Such a division corresponded to the understanding of the world order, according to which our world consists of three levels: Reality, Rule and Nav.

Slavic deities

In the religion of the ancient Slavs, the highest group of gods included representatives of the celestial sphere such as Perun, Svarog, Dazhdbog and others. For most tribes, Perun was the supreme deity, as he was responsible for thunder and lightning. A little later, he began to be considered the patron of the princely squad and remained in this status until the adoption of Christianity. However, the Western Slavs revered him as an ordinary deity of the highest level. Among them he was known as Perkūnas.

It is interesting that the described group revered Svarog above other spirits and gods. Once upon a time, for all tribes he was the highest power, as he mastered fire and metal. Our ancestors believed that he not only gave the people fire and taught them how to smelt metal, but also sent down from above a certain set of rules and regulations relating to all aspects of life. For example, it was Svarog who ordered a man to have only one woman and take her as his wife until the end of his days.

The Western Slavs called him Sventovit, and over time he turned into the god of war. To glorify him, sanctuaries were built where absolutely everything, including the walls and roof, was red. The deity itself was depicted with four heads turned in all directions. Usually he held a hunting horn in his hands, which the priests filled with wine once a year. After this period, they looked at how much wine remained at the bottom of the vessel and made assumptions about the future harvest.

Gods middle group were close to the earth, human needs and fears. Among them, Lada, the goddess of fertility, was very revered. The lower group included various spirits and entities: mermaids, goblins, brownies.

To summarize, we can say that the religion of the ancient Slavs practically did not change as a result of the settlement of tribes in different territories. Before the adoption of Christianity, it had common recognizable features.

A few words about tribes

The article already briefly mentioned which nationalities can be classified as Western Slavs. However, this information does not reveal the full diversity of these groups, which have common roots. I would like to note that at the first stage of their settlement into new territories, the Slavs actively created military-tribal alliances. Such communities had clear advantages, as they made it possible to quickly develop land, establish trade, build fortified settlements, and even gradually move from defense to the seizure of new territories.

Historians divide all Western Slavs into several groups. The most numerous of them were the Polabian Slavs. Several tribes and military-tribal alliances are united under this name. The largest unions were considered to be the Bodrichi, the Lusatians and the Luticians. The latter, by the way, worshiped wolves and inspired real terror in their neighbors. Their military-tribal union united fifteen tribes.

Scientists also distinguish Polish (Kujaws, Lubushans, Goplians), Silesian (Opolans, Slupians, Dedoshans) and Czech tribes (Hods, Dudlebs, Hanaks). In addition to those listed, there were also Pomeranians (Slovinians, Kashubians, and so on).

If we mention settlement, then the Obodrites were located to the west of all. They established their settlements, starting from Kiel Bay and further along the rivers. Their southern and eastern neighbors were the Lutichi. Since they were a large tribe, they actively populated the Baltic coast. Almost very close to them was the island of Rügen. It belonged entirely to the Ruyans. And the vast territory from the Odra to the Vistula was occupied by the Pomeranians. Their settlements were also often found near the Notech River. The neighbors of the Western Slavs of this group were Polish tribes, who settled in small communities on fertile lands suitable for agriculture.

It is interesting that despite the common roots and large number identical cultural traditions, the Slavic tribes were scattered. No connections were established between them, and the unification occurred only under the influence of a common threat. Scientists believe that it was the reluctance of the tribes to pursue a policy of unification and develop in this direction that hampered the transition to statehood, despite the abundance of prerequisites for the emergence of a single centralized power.

Emergence and assimilation of the Western group

Scientists are looking for the origins of the Slavic ethnic group around the 1st century BC. It was during this period that small pro-Slavic tribes united with the Wends, who lived east of the German lands. By the 2nd century, other tribes joined this group, which began to form a single cultural layer with a similar linguistic base.

From the 3rd to the 6th centuries, the Slavs began their settlement in various territories, occupying the Baltic coast, the Elbe, Vistula, Oder and Danube basins. Byzantine chroniclers noted that they constantly met numerous tribes of Slavs, as the Slavs were then called. They confidently moved through the Danube territories and in the process established contacts with the indigenous local population - the Germans.

Their main occupation until the 8th century was agriculture. Cattle breeding was after it in second place, since cattle were used for arable land. By the 6th century Western Slavs managed to master two types of agriculture:

• slash-and-burn;
• arable.

The latter was more advanced and required the use of iron tools. Each tribe produced them independently and did it very skillfully.

It is interesting that, having moved to new lands, the Slavs began to be in close contact not with their brothers, but with their neighbors, gradually adopting their cultural traditions. The Western Slavs, depending on their place of residence, came under the influence of the Germans, Greeks, Thracians and other peoples. As a result, they literally assimilated, acquiring more and more traits from more developed cultures.

The first Slavic states

By the 7th century, the Western Slavs began to form the first states. They arose in the Danube and Laba basin. The reason for their formation was class stratification and constant wars with German tribes. The first Slavic state was formed by Czech and Slovenian tribes, as well as Polabs. They all united under the rule of one single prince, who ruled until the middle of the 7th century.

The capital of the Western Slavs during the reign of Prince Samo was located not far from today's Bratislava and was a fairly fortified settlement. The young state very quickly established trade relations with neighboring tribes, which caused discontent among the Germans. The war with them turned out to be successful for Samo, but his state did not last long. The death of the prince led to its disintegration. There's no time to be there single center Several small associations arose, created on the principles of statehood.

From the 7th to the 9th centuries, more than thirty such centers already existed on the Moravian Plain. They were fortified settlements that provided a roof over their heads and protection for an entire community. Its head was the prince, and inside settlements Crafts, shipbuilding, ore mining, agriculture and cattle breeding actively developed.

The beginning of the 8th century was marked by the formation of the Great Moravian Power, which became the second West Slavic state in history. It was based on the lands of several tribes:

• Moravians;
• Czechs;
• Slovenes;
• Serbs;
• Polabian Slavs;
• Polish Slavs.

The territory of the state was quite vast and bordered on Bavaria, Bulgaria and Khorutania. From the 9th century, the principality began to strengthen, which was facilitated by the wise policy of its ruler, Moimir. Over the next century, the state expanded due to the seizure of neighboring lands and according to the political course of the princes, who advocated strengthening the state and its ties with the Orthodox world.

For these purposes, even the well-known Cyril and Methodius were invited to the principality, who conducted services according to the Orthodox model, which did not suit the Catholic priests, who dreamed of taking such rich lands under their power.

Over time, they managed to cause discord between the Moravian princes and at the end of the 9th century. Small appanage principalities gradually began to emerge from a single power. The Czech Slavs were the first to separate, creating two independent principalities that sought to improve relations with Russia.

Formation of Polish states

Polish Slavic tribes went through their own development path. The initial stage of their unification dates back to the 9th century. Initially, this process took place around several centers, but soon two independent states were formed: Lesser Poland and Greater Poland. The first was captured by Moravian rulers at the end of the 9th century, and the second became the only Old Polish state.

Its formation occurred at the beginning of the 11th century, when the system of public administration was finally formed. It was based on cities and their rulers. They simultaneously performed a lot of functions, among which were, for example, military and judicial.

It’s interesting that Greater Poland’s relations with its neighbors have always been difficult. Often military conflicts arose between them, which were not resolved in favor of Polish state. It is worth noting that his position was rather weak, therefore, from approximately the middle of the 11th century. it periodically fell into vassalage from stronger neighbors.

Western Slavic culture

The cultural traditions of the West Slavic group were formed under the influence of more developed states. On the one hand, they contributed to the rapid cultural growth of the tribes, but deprived the Slavs of the opportunity to go their own way and preserve their identity. Since the adoption of Christianity, the influence of the West has only intensified; now it was reinforced by priests who implanted their own rituals and even language. The Western Slavs were forced to speak and write in Latin for many years. Only by the 13th century did some states begin to develop their own written language.

The cultural traditions of different West Slavic tribes differed markedly, so it is quite difficult to talk about all of them in one article. It is enough to cite a few characteristic features cultural development of this group using the example of a comparison of two states - the Czech principalities and Greater Poland.

In the Czech state, chronicles were kept in the native language from the 12th century, which allowed the development of literary and theatrical art two centuries later. Interestingly, satirical works were often staged on stage. This was very rare for that time. But Polish literature began to take shape only in the 13th century. Moreover, for a long time, teaching was conducted only in Latin, which significantly hampered the development of the literary direction.

Czech architecture is distinguished by a certain symbiosis of Romanesque and Gothic styles. This art reached its greatest flowering in XIV century, while Polish architecture reached its peak only in the 15th century. In Greater Poland, the Gothic style prevailed, to which most of the monuments of West Slavic architecture belong.

In general, we can say that by the 15th century. in many West Slavic states there was a rise in painting, architecture, sculpture and science. The cultural achievements of this period are today the real heritage of modern states.

Instead of a conclusion

The history of the Slavs is more interesting and eventful than it might seem at first glance. However, it has not yet been fully studied and keeps many secrets.

According to 2013 data cited by Analytical Newspaper, today the Slavic world numbers about 300-350 million people, and the same number have been assimilated with other peoples. In other words, assimilation literally divided the Slavic world into two halves and caused more harm than all the wars - primarily liberation ones - that the Slavs waged. The Slavs were “melted” into all neighboring peoples: Germans, Hungarians, Romanians, Turks, Albanians, Swedes, Finns, Lithuanians, and also assimilated with each other. Most often, the Slavs of the Roman Catholic faith “absorbed” the Orthodox Slavs (Poles - Russians, Croats - Serbs), or the bearers of “distorted Orthodoxy” (Romanians) assimilated the Orthodox Slavs (Serbs and Russians).

Complex processes that led to extinction different parts Slavic peoples, began in the distant past, but continue to this day, but Slavic scientists have never taken up this phenomenon. It is clear that the Slavs are being attacked, and that many of them died in different wars. At the same time, the Slavs themselves did not cause the disappearance of any of their peoples - this was facilitated by (forced) assimilation, which changed their identity. In some cases, assimilation continued for a long time and affected a larger or smaller group of the Slavic people, while in other cases, under the influence of third-party centers of power, a new Slavic people was formed. True, he had a new ideology and value system, and such a people had their own, completely different from others, culture, political guidelines and character.

According to the Russian portal kramola.info, with which Serbian supporters of autochthonism also agree, the earliest example of the assimilation of a large part of the Slavic population is the process that took place on the territory of modern Greece, that is, in the Peloponnese. Assimilation ended in the 11th century, and only in the north of this region did the Slavs manage to maintain their identity. Probably the most dramatic situation developed in Aegean Macedonia. According to the Turkish census of 1904, Serbs made up 85% of the population of Aegean Macedonia (896,494). But the next, Greek, census of 1912 brought data that 326,426 Orthodox and 41 thousand Islamized Serbs live in this region, along with 295 thousand Turks, 234 thousand Greeks, 60 thousand Jews, 50 thousand Orthodox Vlachs, plus 25,302 Gypsies and 15,108 Albanians. According to the next census, which was carried out by Greece in 1920, there were 500 thousand Serbs, and in 1949 - 195,395. Today there are no Serbs in Aegean Macedonia, but there are Greeks who speak a Slavic language (ten thousand of them).

Another example of complete assimilation is the “absorption” by the Germans of numerous tribes of Polabian Slavs, who from the 12th century found themselves under German rule (secular and ecclesiastical). As a result of this assimilation, the Slavs in the east of modern Germany simply disappeared. And only the Lusatian Serbs, who lived far from large trade routes in dense and inaccessible forests, managed to preserve themselves (today there are about 46 thousand of them). The same fate befell the Slavs in the Eastern Alps: their territory there was reduced by two-thirds.

Ethnocide in Romania

Particularly noticeable was the disappearance (ethnocide) of the Slavs, mainly Serbs and Russians, in the territory of modern Transylvania, Wallachia and Moldova. The Roman Catholic Church engaged in social engineering there: within the framework of the so-called Ardelean school (led by the Jesuits), the ideology of “Romanianism” was created. According to it, the inhabitants of these three provinces, which once even formed an independent state - the Danube Principality, are descendants of citizens of the Roman Empire. For them, a corresponding Romance language was created, in which at first there were up to 50% of Slavic words, and then, after various campaigns to “struggle for the purity of the Romanian language,” no more than 25% remained. Therefore, the name of their state (in translation) is more like a joke than an ethnic reality: Romania is the state of Roman soldiers! Today millions believe this lie, but only the most knowledgeable understand that the people of this state are assimilated Slavs.

Direct Romanization of the population in the territory of modern Romania began with popular education - primarily in Transylvania under the control of the Habsburgs. Negotiations began on the union of the Orthodox diocese with the Roman Catholic Church, and then Romanization was carried out within the framework of universal school education. Later, Greek Catholic teachers spread the ideas of Romanian nationalism in Transylvania, and after the liberation of Wallachia and Moldavia from the Ottomans, these teachers continued the same work in the literary field. The ideas of Romanian nationalism were spread by educated people who, paradoxically, were mostly foreigners by birth. They were supported by the Habsburg Empire, and then the French. They influenced the people's consciousness through education, schooling, printing and literature.

First, the Jesuit Ladislav Barnyai, on behalf of the Roman Catholic Church, negotiated the union of Rome with the Metropolitan of Transylvanian Belgrade (Alba Iulia) Theophilus Seremi (metropolitan in 1692-1697), who was ready to violate the unity of the Orthodox Church. Metropolitan Theophilus convened a Metropolitan Council in 1697 to agree to a union with Rome. After his death, the new candidate for the position of metropolitan, Atanasy Angel, arriving in Constantinople for his ordination, was forced to swear that he would not agree to a union with Rome. Athanasius Angel was the son Orthodox priest from Bobiaina. However, after arriving in Alba Iulia, it turned out that the oath meant nothing to the new metropolitan. Favorable conditions for concluding a union arose when all the hierarchs of the Habsburg Empire, led by Athanasius Angelos (died 1713), officially agreed to a union with Rome at a new council in Alba Iulia in 1698. Then, in 1700, the union with Rome was approved by the rest of the Orthodox hierarchs of Transylvania at a council. All surviving documents from this cathedral are written in Slavic (today Romanians hide this fact by calling the Slavic language “ancient Romanian”). True, there are also scientists, such as Ilia Barbulescu, who call this period of Romanian history “Slavic”. But the Jesuits and Uniates discovered educational institution to spread their own ideology. Later this school received the name Ardelyanskaya. It was her students who created the Ardelean School movement, thanks to which a political petition of the Romanized Vlachs of Transylvania appeared in 1791. The petition demanded the unification of the Wallachian, Transylvanian and Moldavian nations on the ideological basis of revolutionary France. Then, for the first time, a political demand was made to unite the peoples who today constitute the Romanian political nation. Participants in the Ardelean School movement became the real creators of the Romanian language and Romanian nationalism and the destroyers of the Slavic heritage in these lands. Unfortunately, neither the Serbs nor the Russians fully studied the Union as a method of the Roman Catholic Church for converting Orthodox Christians to Catholicism and did not draw the necessary conclusions.

The fate of the Slavs, especially the Serbs and Russians, in Moldova was tragic. It is known that Moldavia was founded by Voivode Dragosh. The second ruler of Moldova was Voivode Bogdan, who defended the independence of Moldova in the fight against the Ugrians. In 1512, Russian (now Belarusian) Francis Skaryna visited Moldova with Tsarina Elena Brankovich, who gave him money to fight the union and Roman Catholics. Romanian Ilia Barbulescu, who, however, was also our academician in the interwar period, argued that until the 17th century, Moldova was inhabited mainly by Serbs, and there was an authoritative theological school. Theologians came to it even from the Baltic states and modern Western Ukraine (from Lvov) to “study the Serbian language and church singing" Not to mention the fact that Wallachia and Moldavia were part of the Serbian Orthodox Church (Archbishopric of Ohrid, and then Patriarchate of Pec), priests were ordained in this church, and it was the Serbian Orthodox Church that created many handwritten books used in liturgy and education! The Romanian Church became independent, like the so-called Macedonian Orthodox Church, by decision of the state and only when it came under the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Constantinople in 1924 under a tomos that granted it autocephalous status. Of course, the new autocephalous church switched to the Latin and Romanian languages, as well as the Gregorian calendar.

The discrimination against the Slavs, especially the Serbs and Bulgarians, who came under the rule of the Ottomans, which began in the 15th century, led to their Islamization. Official Istanbul turned it into state policy and remained faithful to it until the last day. Today, according to Turkish data, about ten million Serbs who converted to Islam and two million Bulgarians live in the Republic of Turkey itself. Their number in Albania, Macedonia, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina remains to be seen. The main consequence of the Islamization of the Serbs in Bosnia and Herzegovina was the emergence of Bosniaks, who thus “fell out” of the Serbian nation, while maintaining a very weak Slavic identity. Their cultural and political pattern is permeated with Islam and adherence to everything Turkish, so they do not feel that they belong to the Slavic peoples. The same position is occupied by the Muslim Serbs, the Muslims of the Raska region, as well as the Torbeshi in Macedonia and the Pomaks in Bulgaria. All of them are rather enemies of the people from which they came, rather than its allies.

Austro-Hungarian Germanization

The Austro-Hungarian Monarchy pursued a policy of Germanization, although Germans made up only 25% of the population and various Slavic peoples 60%. Assimilation was carried out in different ways: with the help of schools, church union and a system of legislation, according to which, for example, Orthodox Christians could not become officers without accepting the Roman Catholic faith. Of course, Vienna also adopted the ideology that helped Germanization. Hence, for example, the pseudoscientific theories that the ancient Czechs were Germans who assimilated with the Slavs, and the Slovenians were “ancient Germans” who should return to their roots. Austria-Hungary achieved great success in assimilating the Serbs in Transylvania, whom it persuaded, by increasing taxes 18 times, to Magyarization, and in secular Croatia, Slavonia and Dalmatia it formed a new Croatian nation from Uniate Serbs and Catholics, which became the “shock fist” of the Vatican and Vienna against the Orthodox Serbs. The ideology of the Ustasha Croats and their hatred of Serbs and Russians is not even worth talking about.

The Hungarians captured the original Slavic lands of the Serbs, Rusyns and Slovaks, who soon assimilated. The main method of assimilation in Hungary was the imposition of the Hungarian language. The structure of the Hungarian nation is best illustrated by the origin of the famous Hungarian poet and national leader Sándor Petőfi (Alexander Petrovich) - he was a Serb on his father’s side, and a Slovak on his mother’s side. There are still Greek Catholics (Orthodox Serbs and Rusyns) in Hungary, however, only in the liturgical sense, since they have forgotten their native language.

The situation did not improve in the 20th century. During the Second World War, the process of assimilation of the Slavic population of Europe acquired a simply threatening character. The Third Reich wanted to “finally resolve the Czech question,” that is, to Germanize all Western Slavs. The ideology was promoted that Czechs were “Germans who speak a Slavic language.” The Germans made similar plans for the Poles, Slovaks, Slovenes, Russians, Serbs and other peoples. Hitler was going to flood Moscow and build a lake in its place, and send all Russians to Siberia. Pavelic, with the help of genocide, resolved the Serbian question on the territory of the Independent State of Croatia, while Serbia itself was divided and handed over to different occupiers.

Since the end of World War II, the Albanization of Kosovo and Metohija has been carried out, and this project began with the last two letters (“ich”) being dropped from surnames, since such names were clearly of Slavic origin. The Muslim Serbs were the first to come under attack, and then the Orthodox Serbs began to be persecuted and killed. The best example of the Albanization of Kosovo and Metohija is the Serbian community of Rafčana (Orahovac and surroundings). Its complete Albanization has not yet been completed, since its representatives, although they associate themselves with the national Albanian identity, consider Serbian their native language (though they call it “Rafchan” and “our” language). After Kosovo “gained independence,” members of the community pushed out this part of their identity. According to available data, today the “state” of Kosovo is carrying out the most severe Albanization of the remaining Serbian population.

They themselves took care that the tragedy of the Slavs would be even greater. Thus, some states even organized a process of inter-Slavic assimilation, which was successful due to the proximity of the peoples. Poland Polonized the Russians in Belarus and Ruthenia (now Ukraine) and came up with the ideology of Ukrainianism, which led to the creation of a new Slavic nation consisting mainly of ethnic Russians. Nowadays, the situation has taken a tragic turn. The baton of “derusification” of Belarus and Ukraine was then taken up by different centers of power, including Austria-Hungary, the Germans (Nazis and neo-Nazis), the Bolsheviks, the EU, the USA...

After the Second World War and the annexation of Subcarpathian Ruthenia to Ukraine, it assimilated the Rusyns, and without trial, all of them were recorded as “Ukrainian” in the “Nationality” column and schools were transferred to teaching in the Ukrainian language. The Croats, Slovenes and Montenegrins, more precisely the Republic of Croatia, the Republic of Slovenia and the Republic of Montenegro after they gained independence, did the same thing by choosing a policy of brutal assimilation of the remaining Serbs.

The current state of identity of Russians and Serbs is very similar. Today national policy Russia is copying the course of the USSR, just as Serbia is copying the policy of the SFRY. This leads to the artificial creation of national minorities and problems. For example, in Russia they claim the existence of some Siberians, Cossacks, and so on, and in Serbia - “voivodinians” and Romanians.

The collapse of the USSR and the SFRY again not only plunged Russians and Serbs into an identity crisis, but also deprived them of their natural protection. Representatives of other peoples, protected by nation states and nationalist ideology, called the Serbs and Russians the main evil of humanity and freely persecuted, evicted, robbed and took away the territories in which they lived. After the collapse of the USSR in 1989, there were 119 million Russians in the Russian Federation, in Ukraine 11.4 million (22% of the population) considered themselves Russian people, in Kazakhstan - three million (37.8 %), in Uzbekistan 1.7 million (eight percent), in Belarus - 1.4 million (13.2%), in Kyrgyzstan - 917 thousand (or 21.5%), in Lithuania - 905.5 thousand (37 .6%), in Moldova - 562 thousand (13%), in Estonia - 475 thousand (30%), in Azerbaijan - 393 thousand (5.5%), in Tajikistan - 389 thousand (7.6%), in Georgia - 342 thousand (6.3%), in Latvia - 344.5 thousand (9.3%), in Turkmenistan - 334 thousand (9.4%), in Armenia - 51.5 thousand (1.5%) . All Russians who remained outside Russia were subjected to persecution and restrictions on their national rights. Moreover, in some new states that have appeared in the post-Soviet space, for example, in Ukraine, this policy continues, and the rights of Russians are still limited (we are talking about the right to language, education, media, and so on). Ethnic Serbs in the former Yugoslavia found themselves in the same situation. Let us only add that 1.4 million Russians live in non-CIS countries, and most of them live in the USA (one million).

The absence of a policy in the sphere of the national issue threatens that the fragmentation of the Slavic peoples, primarily Russians and Serbs, will continue. However, this process will not bypass the Slavic peoples living in the European Union. Under the influence of Brussels, for example, “mixed marriages” are popularized, although for states whose leadership cares about national identity and national integration, such marriages are undesirable, since they lead to national assimilation. In Israel, for example, there is a government program in which Jews are told about the dangers of mixed marriages. But in Russia and Serbia, the media popularizes such marriages.

History proves that the main factors of ethnic consolidation of the Slavic population over the centuries were language and culture, as well as internal public policy. The loss of linguistic and cultural characteristics (and this is precisely the meaning of the fragmentation of the Serbian and Russian languages, the replacement of the Cyrillic alphabet with the Latin alphabet, and so on) has always led to the rapid assimilation of the Slavs with peoples alien to them.

Recent events in Ukraine have sparked a lively debate on relations between the Slavs. Voices are heard from all sides that the Russians will never come to terms with the loss of these territories, since it was in Kyiv that their civilization was born. Calls for Slavic solidarity were also heard during the conflict in the former Yugoslavia. Is it true that common ethnic roots leave an imprint on modern relations between states and peoples?

“God will love the Slavs because they will maintain true faith in the Lord to the end. He will reward them with a huge blessing - the Russian-Slavic kingdom. Russia will merge into a single sea with other Slavic lands and tribes and create a huge ocean of peoples.” Will this early 20th-century Orthodox saint's prediction come true, or does the complex past and strife of the Slavs (who now number 280 million) make it improbable?

Pan-Slavism is not a new phenomenon. This idea was born in the 19th century in the Czech Republic, which was then part of the Habsburg Empire. The Czechs saw in the unification of the Slavs a chance to develop their own culture and traditions, which were stifled by the German elements. The same period also saw the heyday of Illyrianism - the idea of ​​​​unifying the southern Slavs. Since the concept of Pan-Slavism found support in Russia, the Poles resisted it: in Poland, the union of the Slavs under the leadership of the Tsar was perceived as the end of hopes for their own independent state. The hostility of the Poles towards Pan-Slavism was also strengthened by the fear of Orthodoxy.

This, of course, does not mean that Poland did not have its own supporters of Pan-Slavism. For example, Prince Adam Czartoryski considered himself an enthusiast of the unification of the Slavs. Another Pole, Julian Lubliński, headed the Society of United Slavs, the first organization that openly proclaimed the ideas of Pan-Slavism. Conservatives from the patriotic camp, atheists and even neo-pagans spoke out for the Slavic community.

Disagreements in the family

The theoretical principles of Pan-Slavism were tested by reality. It all started optimistically: in October 1912, a broad coalition of South Slavs formed against the Ottoman Empire, covering Bulgaria, Montenegro and Serbia with the support of Greece. Lasted less than a year the conflict ended with the expulsion of the Turks from the Balkan Peninsula, but it did not cement Slavic unity. Just a few months later, the Second Balkan War broke out, pitting Bulgaria and Serbia and their allies against each other. Left alone, the Bulgarians quickly asked for peace, giving part of Macedonia to the Serbs.

The Slavs also found themselves on opposite sides of the front in the First World War. The Slavic inhabitants of Austria-Hungary and the German Empire had to fight as their non-Slavic rulers decided for them. There was no agreement in the countries ruled by the Slavs. Russia and Serbia found themselves in the Entente along with Great Britain and France, and Bulgaria chose to enter into an alliance with the Habsburgs and Hohenzollerns.

The rift in the “big Slavic family” became even more noticeable during the Second World War. Soviet Union occupied the eastern territories of the Second Polish Republic under the pretext of ensuring the safety of their Slavic population. Poland itself also occupied the eastern part of Cieszyn Silesia without much hesitation when “brotherly” Czechoslovakia fell victim to Hitler’s policies.

Second World War awakened hidden antipathies between the Slavs. The Volyn genocide remains a thorn in Polish-Ukrainian relations, as it is difficult to be neutral about the murder of tens of thousands of people, including women and children. No less heinous crimes were committed by the Croatian Ustasha, implementing the policy of ethnic cleansing in the Balkans. Their victims were mainly Orthodox Slavs, and the scale and methods of murder shocked even German soldiers.

Ukrainians and Poles, Croats and Serbs are just two examples of how national traumas took precedence over Slavic unity. Nationalism put an end to the idea of ​​Pan-Slavism, as we were able to see not only during the Second World War, but also in the very recent past. In the early 1990s, a spark was enough for the peoples of Yugoslavia to once again become involved in a bloody conflict. The solidarity of the Slavs had by that time become an empty slogan, although all sides referred to it. It is curious that even Polish journalists, who were usually hostile to all references to Slavic roots, wrote about the civil or even fratricidal war in Yugoslavia.

Soft hostility

Disagreements within the Slavic family are not surprising. After all, the last time a common Proto-Slavic language was used was at the turn of the 5th and 6th centuries. As one historian noted, "the Slavs used national languages ​​more to divide than to unite."

The differences between the Slavs are not limited to language or history. “The Slavs are people who call themselves Slavs, but from a biological point of view, the Slavs can be classified as different groups that originally inhabited Southern, Central and Eastern Europe. In terms of genetic and morphological traits, they differ more from neighboring groups than from each other,” explains anthropologist and bioarchaeologist Janusz Piontek.

Fortunately, today's hostility does not take such drastic forms as it did 20 years ago. But this does not mean that we suddenly began to love and respect each other. Every Pole who has visited the Czech Republic has probably felt the arrogance with which its inhabitants treat their northern neighbors. Even living together in communist, authoritarian Czechoslovakia could not erase the idea of ​​enlightened Czechs and backward Slovaks.

The gene for quarrelsomeness is present among the southern Slavs. If someone thinks that it is difficult to find a more pugnacious people than the Serbs, he should take a closer look at little Slovenia. This inconspicuous country, which we associate mainly with the Mediterranean climate and beautiful beaches, has for many years built its identity on a complete rejection of its Yugoslav history. This position is reflected in Slovenia’s relations with other states in the region. Until 2009, Ljubljana vetoed Croatia's bid to become a member of the EU, trying to get it to agree to border changes. But the Serbs and Bosnians have always remained “dark people” for the Slovenes.

Russians and Belarusians show more sympathy for their neighbors. Back in 2012, the attitude of the majority of residents of these countries towards the Poles was positive. The Poles were also in good standing with the residents of Ukraine, despite the fact that a year ago only every fourth of us spoke about their sympathies for the Ukrainians. Recent events have somewhat changed the mutual perception of Poles, Ukrainians, Belarusians and Russians, although official contacts do not always directly translate into interpersonal relations.

Modern Slavic sentiments resonate mainly in Russia. Successive generations are instilled with the idea of ​​​​the superiority of Russians over other Slavic peoples. And although the history of Rus' began in Kyiv, it was able to develop to its full potential thanks to the efforts of the Russian tsars. Their mission was to create the “Third Rome” and impart civilization not only to Ukrainians and Belarusians, but also to all other Slavs.

However, in modern Russia Pan-Slavism is popular only in narrow circles, and the elites use it at most as reinforcement for current policies. The weakness of this movement is evidenced, for example, by the fact that the Council of Slavic Peoples, organized in January 2014 in Pereyaslavl-Khmelnitsky, was reported only by niche media. Perhaps because this meeting did not bring any breakthrough decisions. Russian, Belarusian and Ukrainian participants (with minimal participation from representatives of other countries) adopted a statement calling for January 18 to be declared the Day of Unity of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus in these three countries. Not enough to commemorate the 360th anniversary of the Treaty of Pereyaslav, as a result of which Ukraine came under Russian rule.

After the collapse of Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia, Slavic unity can already be called a pipe dream. Since 1989, in Poland and other countries in the region, the emphasis has been rather on connections with Western civilization, which were intended to reinforce our desire to become part of NATO and the EU.

“Slavs and Poles have a lot in common. Poles and Slavs - nothing. They are uncomfortable in their Slavic origins, uncomfortable to realize that they are from the same family as Ukrainians and Russians. The fact that we turned out to be Slavs is an accident,” wrote Mariusz Szczygieł, not without reason. Something similar could certainly be said about the Czechs, Slovaks or Croats.

A blow to Pan-Slavism

Some considered the creation of the Visegrad Triangle (now the Visegrad Group) in 1991 to be an attempt to restore Slavic unity. This was a direct reference to the concepts of the confederation of Poland and Czechoslovakia, which were especially actively discussed during the Second World War. In July 1943, Polish Prime Minister-in-exile Stanisław Mikołajczyk argued that cooperation between the two exile governments “should be the beginning of the organization of the entire territory of Eastern and Central Europe.” Then nothing came of these plans, and there was no unanimity after 1989.

The next blow to the idea of ​​Pan-Slavism was the support of Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary for the NATO intervention in Kosovo in 1999. Being newly minted members of the Alliance, these countries wanted to prove themselves and stood in the forefront of the anti-Serbian coalition, thereby breaking off traditionally friendly relations with Belgrade. Warsaw’s decision was influenced by the opportunity to “wip the nose” of Russia, one of Serbia’s main allies at that time. Poland's recognition of Kosovo's independence in February 2008 (here we were again in the vanguard) only cemented the rift in the already divided Slavic world.

They are trying to replace the lack of agreement in politics with religious unity. The Russian Orthodox Church has been using pan-Slavist slogans for several years now, trying to spread its influence over its historical territories. “Unfortunately, the West does not understand either the Russians or the Slavs in general. He cannot be called a friend of the Slavs. Against their background, the West feels its spiritual bankruptcy and is afraid of Slavic unity,” one Orthodox bishop said in 2008. The Russian Church is already using the Ukrainian crisis to demand (yet unspoken) the subordination of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church to the Moscow Patriarchate.

However, the church is unlikely to achieve greater success in uniting the Slavs than politicians. The reason is prosaic: the secularization of the population, which has reached, among other things, Central and Eastern Europe, as well as the Balkans. Even in traditionally Orthodox countries like Serbia and Bulgaria, the church plays an increasingly less important role. What can we say about one of the most atheistic states in Europe - the Czech Republic.

He is waging his own guerrilla war with Orthodox Church Catholic church. It is characteristic that it was the Vatican that was the first in the world to recognize the independence of Croatia in January 1992, when the fate of Yugoslavia (which is dominated by Orthodoxy) was still quite unclear.

Dead community

According to survey results, we love Czechs and Slovaks most of all (without reciprocity). We have a little less sympathy for the British, Italians and Spaniards. At the opposite pole are the Gypsies, Romanians and Russians. Thus, it is difficult to talk about some kind of Slavic community at the level of interhuman relations. Emigration for work means that Poles feel more in common with people in Britain and Germany than with Bulgarians or Serbs. The first years of transformation also had their influence, when we tried at any cost to become like the West, dissociating ourselves from everything that bore the imprint of the East. So we tried to find theories about common horses with the Germanic peoples or the Vikings, being disgusted by the words of Gallus Anonymous that “Poland is part of the Slavic world.”

Similar processes have occurred and are occurring in other countries of the region. Their intensity is as different as peoples and their cultures are different. Czechs are trying to prove their belonging to Western Europe by becoming more German than the Germans themselves. Croats and Slovenes, despite the rich tradition of Illyrianism, would gladly forget about Yugoslavia - both pre-war and after 1945. The feeling of being part of the Slavic community is common only in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine, although in the case of the latter this is no longer as obvious as it was a few years ago.

Has the unity of the Slavs become a dead concept? Is it really that his only symbol remains the national colors - blue, white and red, which were adopted at the Slavic Congress of 1848? If this is so, then perhaps the only chance for revival remained for him in spurring interest (not only in Poland) in the Slavic heritage, forgotten as a result of the Christianization of the West. But this requires a lot of time and effort, mainly on the part of the elites. Usually a Pole does not need much convincing, as no one will understand him better than his Czech or Russian “brother.” The legend of Lech, Czech and Rus comes to life especially well over a glass.