Misplaced Pages

Gusli

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.

varies

#435564

74-873: The gusli (Russian: гусли , IPA: [ˈɡuslʲɪ] ) is the oldest East Slavic multi-string plucked instrument, belonging to the zither family, due to its strings being parallel to its resonance board. Its roots lie in Veliky Novgorod in Novgorodian Republic . It has its relatives in Europe and throughout the world: kantele in Finland, kannel in Estonia, kanklės in Lithuania, kokles in Latvia, Zither in Germany, citera in

148-550: A custom, the elder son and heir of the ruling Kievan monarch was sent to rule Novgorod even as a minor. When the ruling monarch had no such son, Novgorod was governed by posadniks , such as the legendary Gostomysl , Dobrynya , Konstantin , and Ostromir . Yaroslav the Wise was Prince of Novgorod from 1010 to 1019, while his father, Vladimir the Great , was a prince in Kiev. Yaroslav promulgated

222-406: A distinctive bell-like sound. The Finnish kantele generally has a diatonic tuning, though small kanteles with between 5 and 15 strings are often tuned to a gapped mode , missing a seventh and with the lowest pitched strings tuned to a fourth below the tonic, as a drone. Players hold the kantele in their laps or on a small table. There are two main playing techniques, either plucking the strings with

296-413: A five-string kantele is a switch between F ♯ and F , which allows most folk music to be played without retuning. Larger versions of the small kantele often have additional semitone levers, allowing a more varied selection of music to be played without retuning. A modern concert kantele can have up to 40 strings. The playing positions of the concert kantele and the small kantele are reversed: for

370-420: A larger city the other side of Moscow which, between 1932 and 1990, had been renamed Gorky, in honour of Maxim Gorky . Veliky Novgorod is the administrative center of the oblast and, within the framework of administrative divisions , it also serves as the administrative center of Novgorodsky District , even though it is not a part of it. As an administrative division, it is incorporated separately as

444-524: A major centre of crafts which employed the majority of its population. There were more than 200 distinct professions in 16th century. Bells, cannons and other arms were produced in Novgorod; its silversmiths were famous for the skan' technique used for religious items and jewellery. Novgorod chests were in widespread use all across Russia, including the Tsar's household and the northern monasteries. In 1727, Novgorod

518-567: A military commander, legislator and jurist. The exact composition of the Veche , too, is uncertain, with some historians, such as Vasily Klyuchevsky , claiming it was democratic in nature, while later scholars, such as Marxists Valentin Ianin and Aleksandr Khoroshev, see it as a "sham democracy" controlled by the ruling elite. In the 13th century, Novgorod, while not a member of the Hanseatic League ,

592-597: A museum of wooden architecture was established in 1964. Over twenty wooden buildings (churches, houses and mills) dating from the 14th to the 19th century were transported there from all around the Novgorod region. 11,400 graves of the German 1st Luftwaffe Field Division are found at the war cemetery in Novgorod, and 1,900 soldiers of the Spanish Blue Division are buried there. Novgorod has connections to Moscow (531 km) and St. Petersburg (189 km) by

666-664: A network of buses and trolleybuses . The trolleybus network, which currently consists of five routes, started operating in 1995 and is the first trolley system opened in Russia after the fall of the Soviet Union . A minor planet , 3799 Novgorod , discovered by the Soviet astronomer Nikolai Stepanovich Chernykh in 1979, is named after the city. Veliky Novgorod is twinned with: Kantele A kantele ( Finnish: [ˈkɑntele] ) or kannel ( Finnish: [ˈkɑnːel] )

740-543: A population of 224,286 ( 2021 Census ) . At its peak during the 14th century, the city was the capital of the Novgorod Republic and was one of Europe's largest cities. The "Великий" part was added to the city's name in 1999. Veliky Novgorod has a humid continental climate ( Köppen Dfb ). The city has warm summers with temperatures reaching over 30 °C (86 °F) and relatively cold winters with frequent snowfall. The lowest air temperature ever recorded

814-545: A result of its inability to feed its large population, making it dependent on the Vladimir-Suzdal region for grain. The main cities in the area, Moscow and Tver , used this dependence to gain control over Novgorod. Eventually Ivan III forcibly annexed the city to the Grand Duchy of Moscow in 1478. The Veche was dissolved and a significant part of Novgorod's aristocracy, merchants and smaller landholding families

SECTION 10

#1733085785436

888-421: A small kantele, the longest, low-pitched strings are farthest away from the musician's body, whilst for a concert kantele this side of the instrument is nearest, and the short, high-pitched strings are the farthest away. Concert versions have a switch mechanism (similar to semitone levers on a modern folk harp ) for making sharps and flats, an innovation introduced by Paul Salminen in the 1920s. The kantele has

962-512: A yet earlier stage, but the correlation of this reference with the actual city is uncertain. Originally, Holmgård referred to the stronghold, now only 2 km (1.2 miles) to the south of the center of the present-day city, Rurikovo Gorodische (named in comparatively modern times after the Varangian chieftain Rurik , who supposedly made it his "capital" around 860). Archaeological data suggests that

1036-538: Is -45 °C (-49 °F). The warmest month is July with a daily mean of 18.7 °C (65 °F), the coldest month is February with a daily mean of -6 °C (21 °F). The highest amount of precipitation is on average in June with 73 mm (2.9 inches) of precipitation, the driest is March with 30 mm (1.2 inches) of precipitation. The annual amount of precipitation is 603 mm (23.7 inches) . The Sofia First Chronicle makes initial mention of it in 859, while

1110-450: Is a heavily strung 19th-century variant with an iron frame, supported on a stand or with table legs. It has a one-octave piano-type chromatic keyboard. Pressing a key raises the dampers on all strings of that note. Pressing the keys for a chord enables its arpeggiated execution. A number of Slavic folk music instruments have names which are related to Gusli such as the Czech violin housle and

1184-500: Is a traditional Finnish and Karelian plucked string instrument ( chordophone ) belonging to the south east Baltic box zither family known as the Baltic psaltery along with Estonian kannel , Latvian kokles , Lithuanian kanklės and Russian gusli . Modern instruments with 15 or fewer strings are generally more closely modeled on traditional shapes, and form a category of instrument known as small kantele , in contrast to

1258-402: Is a variety of Gusli held by the musician on his knees, so that the strings are horizontal, the resonator body under them. He uses his left hand to mute unnecessary strings and thus form chords, while strumming all the strings with his right hand. The instrument was spread in southern and western regions of Kievan Rus' . Krylovidnye gusli ("wing-shaped gusli"; Russian : Крыловидные гусли )

1332-464: Is much smaller, and has more resemblance to Baltic psaltery such as the kankles , kokles , kannel and kantele . They are held much more like modern guitars (although the strings are still muted by the left hand through a special opening in the instrument's body). This modification was more prevalent in northern parts of Russia, especially Novgorod and Pskov . The Keyboard Gusli ["Claviroobraznie Gusli" | ( Russian : Клавирообразные гусли )]

1406-640: Is one of the oldest musical instruments that have played an important role in the Russian music culture. Vertkov states that the first mentions of the gusli date back to 591 AD to a treatise by the Greek historian Theophylact Simocatta which describes the instrument being used by Slavs from the area of the later Kievan Rus' kingdom. However, it is not exactly clear what instrument was meant by that word, because in Old Church Slavonic or Old East Slavic "gusli"

1480-536: Is part of the distinctive sound of the instrument. The most typical and traditional tuning of the five-string small kantele is just intonation arrived at via five-limit tuning , often in Dmajor or Dminor. This occurs especially if a kantele is played as a solo instrument or as a part of a folk music ensemble. The major triad is then formed by D –F ♯ –A . In modern variants of small kantele, there are often semitone levers for some strings. The most typical lever for

1554-687: Is the Savior church at Nereditsa (1198). In the 13th century, tiny churches of the three-paddled design were in vogue. These are represented by a small chapel at the Peryn Monastery (1230s) and St. Nicholas' on the Lipnya Islet (1292, also notable for its 14th-century frescoes). The next century saw the development of two original church designs, one of them culminating in St Theodor's church (1360–1361, fine frescoes from 1380s), and another one leading to

SECTION 20

#1733085785436

1628-522: Is the largest city and administrative centre of Novgorod Oblast , Russia . It is one of the oldest cities in Russia, being first mentioned in the 9th century. The city lies along the Volkhov River just downstream from its outflow from Lake Ilmen and is situated on the M10 federal highway connecting Moscow and Saint Petersburg . UNESCO recognized Novgorod as a World Heritage Site in 1992. The city has

1702-404: The Veche can be drawn up, the city-state's exact political constitution remains unknown. The boyars and the archbishop ruled the city together, although where one official's power ended and another's began is uncertain. The prince, although his power was reduced from around the middle of the 12th century, was represented by his namestnik , or lieutenant, and still played important roles as

1776-480: The city of oblast significance of Veliky Novgorod —an administrative unit with status equal to that of the districts . As a municipal division , the city of oblast significance of Veliky Novgorod is incorporated as Veliky Novgorod Urban Okrug . The city is known for the variety and age of its medieval monuments. The foremost among these is the Saint Sophia Cathedral , built between 1045 and 1050 under

1850-629: The Baltic region since the late 12th century. Novgorod went to war 26 times with Sweden and 11 times with the Livonian Brothers of the Sword . The German knights , along with Danish and Swedish feudal lords, launched a series of uncoordinated attacks between 1240 and 1242. Novgorodian sources mention that a Swedish army was defeated in the Battle of the Neva in 1240. The Baltic German campaigns ended in failure after

1924-617: The Battle on the Ice in 1242. After the foundation of the castle of Viborg in 1293 the Swedes gained a foothold in Karelia . On 12 August 1323, Sweden and Novgorod signed the Treaty of Nöteborg , regulating their border for the first time. In the 15th century, Novgorod faced significant struggles with food scarcity , which lasted for a decade in the mid-15th century. This scarcity had profound implications for

1998-649: The Novgorod First Chronicle first mentions it in 862, when it was purportedly already a major Baltic -to- Byzantium station on the trade route from the Varangians to the Greeks . The Charter of Veliky Novgorod recognizes 859 as the year when the city was first mentioned. Novgorod is traditionally considered to be a cradle of Russian statehood. The oldest archaeological excavations in the middle to late 20th century, however, have found cultural layers dating back to

2072-577: The Savior church on Ilyina street (1374, painted in 1378 by Feofan Grek ). The Savior' church in Kovalevo (1345) was originally frescoed by Serbian masters, but the church was destroyed during the war. While the church has since been rebuilt, the frescoes have not been restored. During the last century of the republican government, some new churches were consecrated to Saints Peter and Paul (on Slavna, 1367; in Kozhevniki, 1406), to Christ's Nativity (at

2146-600: The Sibelius Academy , the only music university in Finland and the site of significant doctoral research into traditional, western classical and electronic music. A Finnish luthiery , Koistinen Kantele , has also developed an electric kantele, employing pickups similar to those on electric guitars , which has gained popularity amongst Finnish heavy metal musicians such as Amorphis . American harpist Sylvan Grey has recorded two albums of Kantele music featuring her own compositions. In Finland's national epic, Kalevala ,

2220-657: The Treaty of Stolbovo . The conflict led to further depopulation: the number of homesteads in the city decreased from 1158 in 1607 to only 493 in 1617, with the Sofia side described as 'deserted'. Novgorod only regained a measure of its former prosperity towards the end of the century, when such ambitious buildings as the Cathedral of the Sign and the Vyazhischi Monastery were constructed. The most famous of Muscovite patriarchs, Nikon ,

2294-567: The Ural Mountains , making it one of the largest states in medieval Europe, although much of the territory north and east of Lakes Ladoga and Onega was sparsely populated and never organized politically. One of the most important local figures in Novgorod was the posadnik , or mayor, an official elected by the public assembly (called the Veche ) from among the city's boyars , or aristocracy. The tysyatsky , or "thousandman", originally

Gusli - Misplaced Pages Continue

2368-443: The federal highway M10 . There are public buses to Saint Petersburg and other destinations. The city has direct railway passenger connections with Moscow ( Leningradsky Rail Terminal , by night trains), St. Petersburg ( Moscow Rail Terminal and Vitebsk Rail Terminal , by suburban trains ), Minsk ( Belarus ) ( Minsk Passazhirsky railway station , by night trains) and Murmansk . The city's former commercial airport Yurievo

2442-634: The 10th century. The gusli are thought to have been the instrument used by the legendary Boyan (a singer of tales) described in the Lay of Igor's campaign . The instruments were used by the wandering Skomorokh musicians and entertainers. Preserved instruments discovered by archaeologists in various digs have between five and nine strings with one example having twelve strings. Folk Gusli have from eleven to thirty-six gut or metal strings, tuned diatonically . There were two main forms: Shlemovidnye gusli (Helmet-shaped gusli; Russian : Шлемовидные гусли )

2516-564: The 12th century originally on the orders of Bishop Nikita (died 1108) (the "porches" or side chapels were painted in 1144 under Archbishop Nifont ) and renovated several times over the centuries, most recently in the nineteenth century. The cathedral features famous bronze gates, which now hang in the west entrance, allegedly made in Magdeburg in 1156 (other sources see them originating from Płock in Poland ) and reportedly snatched by Novgorodians from

2590-537: The 12th century. Later German merchantmen also established tradinghouses in Novgorod. Scandinavian royalty would intermarry with Russian princes and princesses. After the great schism , Novgorod struggled from the beginning of the 13th century against Swedish , Danish , and German crusaders. During the Swedish-Novgorodian Wars , the Swedes invaded lands where some of the population had earlier paid tribute to Novgorod. The Germans had been trying to conquer

2664-734: The Balkan one-stringed fiddle gusle . In western Ukraine and Belarus, husli can also refer to a fiddle or even a ducted flute. The violin-like variant of the instrument is also related to the South Slavic gusle. The psaltery variant is related to the zither . It is also related to the Lithuanian kanklės , the Latvian kokles , the Estonian kannel and the Finnish kantele . Together these instruments make up

2738-614: The Cathedral of the Mother of God of the Sign (1688), the St. Nicholas Cathedral of Vyaschizhy Monastery (1685). Nevertheless, the styles of some parochial churches were still in keeping with local traditions: e.g., the churches of Myrrh-bearing Women (1510) and of Saints  Boris and Gleb (1586). In Vitoslavlitsy, along the Volkhov River and the Myachino Lake , close to the Yuriev Monastery ,

2812-619: The Cemetery, 1387), to St. John the Apostle's (1384), to the Twelve Apostles (1455), to St Demetrius (1467), to St. Simeon (1462), and other saints. Generally, they are not thought to be as innovative as the churches from the previous period. Several shrines from the 12th century (i.e., in Opoki) were demolished brick by brick and then reconstructed exactly as they used to be, several of them in

2886-675: The Czech Republic, and psalterium in France. Furthermore, the kanun has been found in Arabic countries , and the autoharp , in the United States. It is also related to such ancient instruments as Chinese gu zheng , which has a thousand-year history, and its Japanese relative koto . A stringed musical instrument called guslim is listed as one of the Me in ancient Sumer . The term gusli derives from

2960-551: The Gorodishche, the residence of the knyaz (prince), dates from the mid-9th century, whereas the town itself dates only from the end of the 10th century; hence the name Novgorod, "new city", from Old East Slavic новъ and городъ ( nov and gorod ); the Old Norse term Nýgarðr is a calque of an Old Russian word. First mention of this Norse etymology to the name of the city of Novgorod (and that of other cities within

3034-633: The Grand Duchy of Moscow. During the era of Old Rus' State , Novgorod was a major trade hub at the northern end of both the Volga trade route and the " route from the Varangians to the Greeks " along the Dnieper river system. A vast array of goods were transported along these routes and exchanged with local Novgorod merchants and other traders. The farmers of Gotland retained the Saint Olof trading house well into

Gusli - Misplaced Pages Continue

3108-521: The Massacre, Ivan the Terrible sacked the city, slaughtered thousands of its inhabitants, and deported the city's merchant elite and nobility to Moscow, Yaroslavl and elsewhere. The last decade of the 16th century was a comparatively favourable period for the city as Boris Godunov restored trade privileges and raised the status of Novgorod bishop. The German trading post was reestablished in 1603. Even after

3182-546: The Novgorodians dismissed their prince Vsevolod Mstislavich . The year is seen as the traditional beginning of the Novgorod Republic . The city was able to invite and dismiss a number of princes over the next two centuries, but the princely office was never abolished and powerful princes, such as Alexander Nevsky , could assert their will in the city regardless of what Novgorodians said. The city state controlled most of Europe's northeast, from lands east of today's Estonia to

3256-578: The Swedish town of Sigtuna in 1187. More recent scholarship has determined that the gates were most likely purchased in the mid-15th century, apparently at the behest of Archbishop Euthymius II (1429–1458), a lover of Western art and architectural styles. The Novgorod Kremlin , traditionally known as the Detinets , also contains the oldest palace in Russia (the so-called Chamber of the Facets, 1433), which served as

3330-536: The UNESCO World Heritage Site list as the Historic Monuments of Novgorod and Surroundings . As of 2020, regular archeological rescue work continues across the site. In 1999, the city was officially renamed Veliky Novgorod (literally 'Great Novgorod'), thus partly reverting to its medieval title "Lord Novgorod the Great". This reduced the temptation to confuse Veliky Novgorod with Nizhny Novgorod ,

3404-538: The chief square of Novgorod). The Yuriev Monastery (one of the oldest in Russia, 1030) contains a tall, three-domed cathedral from 1119 (built by Mstislav's son, Vsevolod , and Kyurik, the head of the monastery). A similar three-domed cathedral (1117), probably designed by the same masters, stands in the Antoniev Monastery , built on the orders of Antony , the founder of that monastery. There are now some fifty medieval and early modern churches scattered throughout

3478-578: The city and its surrounding areas. Some of them were blown up by the Nazis and subsequently restored. The most ancient pattern is represented by those dedicated to Saints Pyotr and Pavel (on the Swallow's Hill, 1185–1192), to Annunciation (in Myachino, 1179), to Assumption (on Volotovo Field , 1180s) and to St. Paraskeva-Piatnitsa (at Yaroslav's Court , 1207). The greatest masterpiece of early Novgorod architecture

3552-465: The city is mentioned as the capital of Gardariki . Many Viking kings and yarls came to Novgorod seeking refuge or employment, including Olaf I of Norway , Olaf II of Norway , Magnus I of Norway , and Harald Hardrada . No more than a few decades after the 1030 death and subsequent canonization of Olaf II of Norway, the city's community had erected in his memory Saint Olaf's Church in Novgorod . The Gotland town of Visby functioned as

3626-414: The city was occupied by the German Army . Its historic monuments were systematically obliterated. The Red Army liberated the city on 19 January 1944. Out of 2,536 stone buildings, fewer than forty remained standing. After the war, thanks to plans laid down by Alexey Shchusev , the central part was gradually restored. In 1992, the chief monuments of the city and the surrounding area were inscribed on

3700-409: The city, leading to political disturbances and forcing Alexander Nevsky to punish a number of town officials (he cut off their noses ) for defying him as Grand Prince of Vladimir (soon to be the khan's tax-collector in Russia) and his Mongol overlords. In the 14th century, raids by Novgorod pirates , or ushkuiniki , sowed fear as far as Kazan and Astrakhan , assisting Novgorod in wars with

3774-577: The family known as Baltic psalteries . A related instrument is the tsymbaly , a hammered dulcimer . In Ukraine , it is thought that the gusli may have influenced the development of the multi-stringed bandura , which largely replaced it in the nineteenth century. Veliky Novgorod Veliky Novgorod ( / v ə ˈ l iː k i ˈ n ɒ v ɡ ə r ɒ d / və-LEE-kee NOV-gə-rod ; Russian : Великий Новгород , IPA: [vʲɪˈlʲikʲɪj ˈnovɡərət] ; lit.   ' Great Newtown ' ), also known simply as Novgorod ( Новгород ),

SECTION 50

#1733085785436

3848-445: The fingers or strumming unstopped strings (sometimes with a matchstick ). Small kanteles and concert kanteles have different, though related, repertoires. There have been strong developments for the kantele in Finland since the mid-20th century, starting with the efforts of modern players such as Martti Pokela in the 1950s and 1960s. Education for playing the instrument starts in schools and music institutes up to conservatories and

3922-471: The first written code of laws (later incorporated into Russkaya Pravda ) among the Eastern Slavs and is said to have granted the city a number of freedoms or privileges, which they often referred to in later centuries as precedents in their relations with other princes. His son, Vladimir of Novgorod , sponsored construction of the great Saint Sophia Cathedral , more accurately translated as the Cathedral of Holy Wisdom, which stands to this day. In Norse sagas

3996-413: The head of the town militia but later a commercial and judicial official, was also elected by the Veche . Another important local official was the Archbishop of Novgorod who shared power with the boyars. Archbishops were elected by the Veche or by the drawing of lots , and after their election, were sent to the metropolitan for consecration. While a basic outline of the various officials and

4070-431: The incorporation into the Russian state Novgorod land retained its distinct identity and institutions, including the customs policy and administrative division. Certain elective offices were quickly restored after having been abolished by Ivan III. During the Time of Troubles , Novgorodians submitted to Swedish troops led by Jacob De la Gardie in the summer of 1611. The city was restituted to Muscovy six years later by

4144-436: The late 10th century, the time of the Christianization of Rus' and a century after it was allegedly founded. Archaeological dating is fairly easy and accurate to within 15–25 years, as the streets were paved with wood, and most of the houses made of wood, allowing tree ring dating . The Varangian name of the city Holmgård or Holmgard ( Holmgarðr or Holmgarðir ) is mentioned in Norse Sagas as existing at

4218-490: The leading trading center in the Baltic before the Hansa League . At Novgorod in 1080, Visby merchants established a trading post which they named Gutagard (also known as Gotenhof). Later, in the first half of the 13th century, merchants from northern Germany also established their own trading station in Novgorod, known as the Peterhof . At about the same time, in 1229, German merchants at Novgorod were granted certain privileges, which made their position more secure. In 1136,

4292-425: The mage Väinämöinen makes the first kantele from the jawbone of a giant pike and a few hairs from Hiisi 's stallion ( sung excerpt , excerpt lyrics ). The music it makes draws all the forest creatures near to wonder at its beauty. Later, after grieving at the loss of his kantele, Väinämöinen makes another one from birch , strung with the hair of a willing maiden, and its magic proves equally profound. It

4366-419: The main meeting hall of the archbishops; the oldest Russian bell tower (mid-15th century), and the oldest Russian clock tower (1673). The Palace of Facets, the bell tower, and the clock tower were originally built on the orders of Archbishop Euphimius II, although the clock tower collapsed in the 17th century and had to be rebuilt and much of the palace of Euphimius II is no longer standing. Among later structures,

4440-434: The mid-fifteenth century, again under Archbishop Yevfimy II (Euthymius II), perhaps one of the greatest patrons of architecture in medieval Novgorod. Novgorod's conquest by Ivan III in 1478 decisively changed the character of local architecture. Large commissions were thenceforth executed by Muscovite masters and patterned after cathedrals of Moscow Kremlin : e.g., the Savior Cathedral of Khutyn Monastery (1515),

4514-438: The modern concert kantele. The oldest forms of kantele have five or six horsehair strings and a wooden body carved from one piece; more modern instruments have metal strings and often a body made from several pieces. The traditional kantele has neither bridge nor nut , the strings run directly from the tuning pegs to a metal bar ( varras ) set into wooden brackets ( ponsi ). Though not acoustically efficient, this construction

SECTION 60

#1733085785436

4588-420: The most remarkable are a royal palace (1771) and a bronze monument to the Millennium of Russia , representing the most important figures from the country's history (unveiled in 1862). Outside the Kremlin walls, there are three large churches constructed during the reign of Mstislav the Great . St. Nicholas Cathedral (1113–1123), containing frescoes of Mstislav's family, graces Yaroslav's Court (formerly

4662-420: The oldest Slavic book written north of Bulgaria, and the oldest inscription in a Finnic language ( Birch bark letter no. 292 ) were unearthed. Some of the most ancient Russian chronicles ( Novgorod First Chronicle ) were written in the scriptorium of the archbishops who also promoted iconography and patronized church construction. The Novgorod merchant Sadko became a popular hero of Russian folklore . Novgorod

4736-425: The patronage of Vladimir Yaroslavich, the son of Yaroslav the Wise ; Vladimir and his mother, Anna Porphyrogenita , are buried in the cathedral. It is one of the best preserved churches from the 11th century. It is also probably the oldest structure still in use in Russia and the first one to represent original features of Russian architecture (austere stone walls, five helmet-like domes). Its frescoes were painted in

4810-528: The population and the city's stability during that time, including its downfall. Novgorod was a hub for trade, attracting German merchants in substantial numbers, around 200 German merchants resided in the trade city in the 1430s, comprising about 1% of the total population of Novgorod at that time. The interactions between these merchants and the local population contributed to the nature of Novgorod during that time, influencing its economic prosperity and cultural diversity. The city's downfall occurred partially as

4884-405: The territory of the then Kievan Rus' ) occurs in the 10th-century policy manual De Administrando Imperio by Byzantine emperor Constantine VII . In 882, Rurik's successor, Oleg of Novgorod , conquered Kiev and founded the state of Kievan Rus' . Novgorod's size as well as its political, economic, and cultural influence made it the second most important city in Kievan Rus'. According to

4958-433: The verb *gǫsti (make sound, howl, play music) with the suffix *slь (from Proto-Indo-European *-trom). In the times of the Kievan Rus' , the term gusli is believed to have simply referred to any generic stringed instrument. The root of the term comes from a word meaning "make sound in the wind." The term was eventually associated with the trapezoidal gusli- psaltyry (which may have originated in Byzantium ). The gusli

5032-412: Was active in Novgorod between 1648 and 1652. The Novgorod Land became one of the Old Believers ' strongholds after the Schism . The city remained an important trade centre even though it was now eclipsed by Archangelsk , Novgorodian merchants were trading in the Baltic cities and Stockholm while Swedish merchants came to Novgorod where they had their own trading post since 1627. Novgorod continued to be

5106-435: Was decommissioned in 2006, and the area has now been redeveloped into a residential neighbourhood. The still existing Krechevitsy Airport does not serve any regular flights since mid-1990s although there is a plan to turn Krechevitsy into a new operational airport by 2025. The nearest international airport is St. Petersburg's Pulkovo , some 180 kilometres (112 miles) north of the city. Local transportation consists of

5180-420: Was deported to central Russia. The Hanseatic League kontor was closed in 1494 and the goods stored there were seized by Muscovite forces. At the time of annexation, Novgorod became the third largest city under Muscovy and then the Tsardom of Russia (with 5,300 homesteads and 25–30 thousand inhabitants in the 1550s) and remained so until the famine of the 1560s and the Massacre of Novgorod in 1570. In

5254-443: Was made the administrative center of Novgorod Governorate of the Russian Empire , which was detached from Saint Petersburg Governorate (see Administrative divisions of Russia in 1727–1728 ). This administrative division existed until 1927. Between 1927 and 1944, the city was a part of Leningrad Oblast , and then became the administrative center of the newly formed Novgorod Oblast . On 15 August 1941, during World War II ,

5328-764: Was never conquered by the Mongols during the Mongol invasion of Rus . The Mongol army turned back about 200 kilometers (120 mi) from the city, not because of the city's strength, but probably because the Mongol commanders did not want to get bogged down in the marshlands surrounding the city. However, the grand princes of Moscow, who acted as tax collectors for the khans of the Golden Horde, did collect tribute in Novgorod, most notably Yury Danilovich and his brother, Ivan Kalita . In 1259, Mongol tax-collectors and census-takers arrived in

5402-515: Was the easternmost kontor , or entrepôt , of the league, being the source of enormous quantities of luxury ( sable , ermine , fox , marmot ) and non-luxury furs (squirrel pelts). Throughout the Middle Ages, the city thrived culturally. A large number of birch bark letters have been unearthed in excavations, perhaps suggesting widespread literacy. It was in Novgorod that the Novgorod Codex ,

5476-465: Was used to refer to any stringed instrument. The first documented gusli were recorded in 1170 in Veliky Novgorod in Novgorod Republic . The Greek historian Theophan also mentioned the gusli . During the war at the end of the 6th century, the Greeks took Slavonic prisoners and found a musical instrument named the Gusli . This corresponds to what the Arabic authors Al-Masudi and Ibn-Dasta mentioned in

#435564