When you study our textbooks, you often get the impression that Russian history began somehow unexpectedly. There was nothing and suddenly it was. In 862 the Rurikovichs were summoned, and they organized a state for us. This point of view is most likely due to the fact that Russian history was written mainly by foreigners. If we take the numerical strength of the Russian Academy of Sciences, then in its entire history there were only three Russian academicians. One of them is Lomonosov. He was the first to question the Norman theory. Karamzin wrote that before the vocation of the Varangians, the territory was inhabited by ignorant peoples.
Some modern historians believe that the beginning of Russian statehood took place at least 200 years earlier than it is generally believed. Historian Sergei Chernyakhovsky refers to the Joachim Chronicle. He makes the following logical assumptions. If we assume that the Varangians were "drafted", then from this we can conclude that this territory was no longer a disunited society, but a fully formed people with their own political will and ability to choose which socio-political system is most preferable. That is, there were some ideas about how the state should look like.
"The vocation of the Vikings". V. Vasnetsov.
Historian Boris Rybakov argued that Rurik reigned, but not after calling, but conquering Novgorod, subjugating the people to himself.
Other sources of the 9th century indicate that the Slavs had not only Kiev and Novgorod, but also several dozen large cities: Lyubich, Murom, Ladoga, Izborsk, Smolensk … There were about four thousand cities in total.
Another sign of a civilized society is writing. Its presence is confirmed by Byzantine sources. They call it a "letter". The Arab traveler Ibn Fadlan, who was the secretary of the al-Muktadir embassy, left this observation: the Rus on the grave monuments wrote the name of the deceased and the name of the prince he served.
Modern historians argue that Rurik most likely overthrew the previous dynasty. Perhaps she was related to the Scythian or Sarmatian culture.
Monument "Millennium of Russia".
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Another interesting source, "The Legend of Slovenia and Rus," tells how the Scythian princes Slovens and Rus, in search of new lands, climbed up from the shores of the Black Sea and founded cities. The legend indicates that Slovens built Slovensk (now Novgorod the Great), and Rus built the city of Rusu (now Staraya Rusa). The same source mentions the meetings of the Russian princes with Alexander the Great, the visits of the Apostle Andrew the First-Called.
The Arab and Persian sources of the 12th century confirm the reliability of the facts stated. They are also called Rusa and Slovena. The Greeks called this part of the land "Scythia".
The Scythian dynasty ruled Russia up to Rurik. The last of them was Gostomysl. His four sons died, and the son of his daughter Umila from the Varangian prince Godoslav began to rule. So, it seems like he is the same Rurik, called to Novgorod. In this case, the story takes on a completely different shade. It turns out that at some point the dynasty was interrupted in a straight line, but a relative related to the dynasty continued to rule anyway. Many historians are controversial about this source and doubt the very fact of the existence of Gostomysl.
Gardarika - this is how the Normans called Russia from the 12th century. In the Scandinavian sagas, we figure as the "land of cities". The very term "Gardarika" implies the presence of fortified fortresses.
The rulers of Gardariki bore the title of king. The Scandinavians included 24 cities in this fabulous power. Among them are Beloozero, Vyshgorod, Staraya Ladoga. Most of the cities were located along the Volkhov River. This once again confirms that cities existed on our land even before the arrival of Rurik. Roman sources indicate that on the territory of our country in the 4-5 centuries there was an empire of the Huns, which reached its highest flowering under King Attila (434-453 AD).
"Attila". E. Delacroix.
According to the composition of the population, the state included the Sarmatians, Huns, Slavic and Germanic tribes. It was founded in 374 and occupied the territory of the modern Moscow region and the Volga region. After the death of Attila, development gradually began to decline.
One way or another, we can conclude that Russian history did not arise suddenly. Unfortunately, many sources and historical evidence have been lost or destroyed. But the more interesting it is for historians to work.
Pavel Romanutenko