Ivan Zabelin - The history of Russian life since ancient times. Gift book bound in leather

Russian people through dwellings, clothing, rituals, and beliefs since ancient times

Russian Russian historian, archaeologist, and collector Ivan Egorovich Zabelin's "History of Russian Life since Ancient Times" captivates the reader with brilliant and vivid descriptions of the everyday culture of the Russian people. What does the history of Russian life mean? The author believed that the roles of princes, leaders, and kings have been studied enough. And who undertook to describe the creator of history - the people? According to Zabelin, the people are "the first creator of their being, their life." And his spirit was expressed not so much in heroic deeds and the creation of social institutions, as in household arrangements, dwellings, clothing, rituals and beliefs.

At the same time, Zabelin's book is also a reflection on the history of the Fatherland, which the author presents as a single continuous process with many parallels and connections. "The Khazar power over Kiev during the decline of Khazaria was similar to the Tatar power over Moscow at the end of the XV century." The Byzantine Emperor Michael was having fun in the company of buffoons. "Wasn't our Peter imitating him?" "The history of Russian life since ancient times" will not save the reader from a critical look at everyday life, but will make you think about the historical coherence of different epochs, and maybe about your place in them.