Afanasy Nikitin and his campaign. “Sunny Russian”, traveler Afanasy Nikitin. Persia and India

) - a description by a 15th-century Russian of his journey to distant India.

Afanasy Nikitin was a Tver merchant. In 1466, he joined the embassy of Grand Duke Ivan III, traveling to Azerbaijani Shamakhi. Nikitin went to Shamakhi for trading purposes, but on the way he was robbed by the Tatars, who took everything from him, even the Bible, which, as a very religious person, he never parted with. Then he decided to try his luck and go on to trade: he did not want to return home empty-handed. So he made his journey “across three seas” (Caspian, Black and Indian), and reached India by land before the famous navigator Vasco da Gama.

Over three seas. Travel of Afanasy Nikitin. Cartoon for children

Afanasy Nikitin was one of the first Europeans whom the Indians saw: “I go wherever I go, but there are many people behind me, they are amazed at the white man,” he writes.

In the city of Chuner, on the way to India, Afanasy Nikitin was arrested by the local khan, who, having learned that he was not a Mohammedan, took his horse from him and threatened to execute him if he did not accept the Muslim faith. Nikitin was firm in his faith. He says that the Lord had mercy on him, did not allow him to die and performed a miracle: Athanasius was pardoned and released on the very day of the Transfiguration of the Lord; the horse was returned to him.

It was difficult to remain a Christian in the “besermen” land, but Nikitin was a deeply religious man. Having no sacred books, he calculated the days of the year, holidays, and observed fasts by the sun; During Lent, I allowed myself to eat only bread and drink water twice a day. He spent more than five years in India. “Four Great Days (4 Easters) have already passed in the Besermen land,” he writes, “but I have not left Christianity.”

Afanasy talks in detail about the Hindu religion. “There are 84 of all faiths,” he says, “in India.” He probably mistook for different “faiths” the castes, of which there are many in India and which live very separately from each other; “Faith and faith neither eat nor drink, nor marry one another.” He naively says that “everyone believes in Adam, but his name is But (Buddha).”

In the city of Pervota, he saw a temple of Buddha “half the size of Tver.” Describing the idol of Buddha, Nikitin says: “The butte is carved out of stone, great, and he has a tail through it, and he raised his right hand high, and stretched out, like Ustyan (Justinian), the king of Constantinople, and in his left hand he has a spear,” - “and the vision (face) is of a monkey.” - “And in front of But stands a great ox, carved from black stone, and all gilded, and they kiss his hoof, and they sprinkle flowers on him, and they sprinkle flowers on But.”

Map of the travel route of Afanasy Nikitin

Observing the prayer of the Hindus, Nikitin noticed that they always pray to the east and bow, like our monks, touching the ground with their hands: “they bow in Chernesh style, both hands reach to the ground.” Nikitin describes a funeral ritual in India: the bodies of the dead are burned and the ashes are poured into water.

He was struck by the nature of India, but his stories contain some fantastic information: for example, he talks about the Guguk bird, which, if someone wants to kill it, fire comes out of its mouth; if Guguk sits on the roof of the house, then there will be a dead person in this house.

Nikitin saw snakes two fathoms long. He describes how the Hindus use elephants in war. He was struck by monkeys - “mamons”. He assures that they have their own “monkey prince”, who has his own “army” - “whoever occupies them (the monkeys), they complain to their prince, and he sends his army against him; and they will come to the city and destroy the courtyards and beat the people. And their armies say a lot, and their language is their own.”

Afanasy Nikitin spent more than five years in India, but did not make any fortune for himself. “The Besermen dogs lied to me, but they said there was a lot of all our goods, but there is nothing for our land, all the white goods for the Besermen land, pepper and paint, are cheap; Others carry it by sea, and they don’t give duties, but we pay high taxes.”

In the end, he became homesick and decided to go back. Nikitin’s writing reveals a deep love for Russia. “May God save the Russian land,” he says in one place: “God save! There is no land like it in this world. Let the Russian land settle down! Oh, God, God!” He repeats the word “God” five times, in Arabic, Persian, Tatar and twice in Russian.

Afanasy Nikitin did not reach his Tver: he died on the way (in 1472) in Smolensk. His notes were delivered by merchants to Moscow.

Nikitin was undoubtedly an outstanding personality; he is a deeply religious, intelligent, observant and enterprising person who passionately loves his homeland. His work, firstly, is very interesting, and secondly, it is remarkable because he talks about India a quarter of a century earlier than Vasco da Gama, who made his sea voyage to India in 1498. The name of Vasco da Gama is known throughout Europe, but few people there know our Afanasy Nikitin and his interesting “Walking”.

Nikitin Afanasy (died in 1475) - Tver merchant, traveler, the first European to visit India (a quarter of a century before the opening of the route to this country by Vasco da Gama), author of Walking the Three Seas.

The year of birth of A. Nikitin is unknown. Information about what forced this merchant to undertake a risky and long journey to the East, towards three seas: the Caspian, Arabian and Black, in the late 1460s is also extremely scarce. He described it in his notes entitled Walking across the Three Seas.

And I went to Derbent, and from Derbent to Baku... The Busurman dogs lied to me, they said that there was a lot of all our goods there, but it turned out that there was nothing for our land, all the goods were white for the Busurman land, pepper and paints were cheap, but the duties are high and there are a lot of robbers on the sea.

Nikitin Afanasy

The exact start date of the journey is also unknown. In the 19th century I.I. Sreznevsky dated it 1466-1472, modern Russian historians (V.B. Perkhavko, L.S. Semenov) believe the exact date is 1468-1474. According to their data, a caravan of several ships, uniting Russian traders, set off from Tver along the Volga in the summer of 1468. The experienced merchant Nikitin had previously visited distant countries more than once - Byzantium, Moldova, Lithuania, Crimea - and returned home safely with overseas goods. This journey also began smoothly: Afanasy received a letter from the Grand Duke of Tver, Mikhail Borisovich, intending to expand wide trade in the area of ​​​​modern Astrakhan (this message gave some historians reason to see the Tver merchant as a secret diplomat, a spy for the Tver prince, but there is no documentary evidence of this).

In Nizhny Novgorod, Nikitin was supposed to join the Russian embassy of Vasily Papin for safety reasons, but he had already gone south and the trade caravan did not find him. Having waited for the Tatar ambassador Shirvan Hasan-bek to return from Moscow, Nikitin set off with him and other merchants two weeks later than planned. Near Astrakhan itself, a caravan of embassy and merchant ships was robbed by local robbers - the Astrakhan Tatars, without taking into account that one of the ships was sailing “one of their own” and, moreover, an ambassador. They took away from the merchants all the goods purchased on credit: returning to Rus' without goods and without money threatened a debt trap. Afanasy’s comrades and himself, in his words, “buried and dispersed: whoever had anything in Rus' went to Rus'; and whoever should, but he went where his eyes took him.”

The desire to improve matters through intermediary trade drove Nikitin further south. Through Derbent and Baku he entered Persia, crossed it from Chapakur on the southern coast of the Caspian Sea to Hormuz on the shores of the Persian Gulf and sailed along the Indian Ocean to India by 1471. There he spent three whole years, visiting Bidar, Junkar, Chaul, Dabhol and other cities. He didn’t make any money, but he was enriched with indelible impressions.

On the way back in 1474, Nikitin had a chance to visit the coast of East Africa, the “land of Ethiopia,” reach Trebizond, then end up in Arabia. Through Iran and Turkey he reached the Black Sea. Arriving in Kafa (Feodosia, Crimea) in November, Nikitin did not dare to go further to his native Tver, deciding to wait for the spring merchant caravan. His health was undermined by the long journey.

Perhaps he acquired some kind of chronic disease in India. In Kaffa, Afanasy Nikitin apparently met and became close friends with wealthy Moscow “guests” (merchants) Stepan Vasiliev and Grigory Zhuk. When their joint caravan set off (most likely in March 1475), it was warm in Crimea, but as they moved north the weather became colder. A. Nikitin’s poor health made itself felt and he died unexpectedly. Smolensk is conventionally considered the place of his burial.

Wanting to tell others what he saw himself, A. Nikitin kept travel notes, which he gave literary form and gave the title Voyage across Three Seas. Judging by them, he carefully studied the life, way of life and occupations of the peoples of Persia and India, drew attention to the political system, governance, religion (described the worship of Buddha in the sacred city of Parvata), spoke about diamond mines, trade, weapons, mentioned exotic animals - snakes and monkeys, the mysterious bird “gukuk”, which supposedly foreshadowed death, etc. His notes testify to the breadth of the author’s horizons, his friendly attitude towards foreign peoples and the customs of the countries where he visited. A businesslike, energetic merchant and traveler not only looked for goods needed by the Russian land, but carefully observed and accurately described life and customs.

I met many Indians and told them about my faith, that I was not a busurman, but a Christian, and they did not hide from me either about their food, or about trade, or about prayers, and they did not hide their wives from me; I asked everyone about their faith, and they say: we believe in Adam, and But is Adam and his entire family. There are 84 faiths in India, and everyone believes in Buta, but faith with faith does not drink, does not eat, does not marry.” India occupied a special place in his notes: “And here there is Indian country, and people all walk naked, and their heads are not covered, and their breasts are bare, and their hair is braided in one braid, and everyone walks with their bellies, and children are born every year, and they have many children. And the men and women are all naked, and all are black. Wherever I go, there are many people behind me, and they marvel at the white man...

Afanasy Nikitin can be considered one of the most famous Russian travelers, who visited many Arab and Asian countries.

A. Nikitin was born into a peasant family in 1442. His father’s name was Nikita, so the traveler’s surname, in fact, is his patronymic, since peasants at that time did not have their own surnames. He began traveling and trading quite early, for which he traveled to the Byzantine Empire, Lithuania, Crimea and many other regions. Trading expeditions brought him good profits, which allowed him to direct his efforts to explore new territories.

In 1468, from Klyazma by water, he went south, where, in the area of ​​​​modern Kazan, his caravan was robbed by the Tatars. And returning home without profit and goods would lead to a debt trap for the merchants, so they went to Persia. This was the beginning of Nikitin’s great journey, which he described in the book “Walking across Three Seas.” Then, in 1469, Nikitin went to India, which struck him with its uniqueness and traditions. There he visited the depths of the country and wrote down the features of local customs and the way of life of the population he saw. In addition, he explored the local order of cultivating and sowing land, preparing food and alcoholic beverages. Until 1473, the merchant traveled around India, but he failed to establish full-fledged trade relations.

After India, Nikitin went to east Africa, where he was almost robbed again. Trying to return home, he walked all over Iran and was arrested by the Turks, who robbed him completely. They left the traveler only his diary with records of his adventures. Nikitin was able to get to the city of Kafa (modern Feodosia) in 1474, from where he already went to Russia. He intended to get to his hometown of Tver, but died on the way there - in Smolensk. Nikitin's diaries were taken to Moscow and handed over to the adviser to the Russian Tsar.

The Russian merchant A. Nikitin visited India before the Europeans who arrived there through the African continent. His travels provided the first real descriptions of India and the Arab countries. Nikitin very eloquently outlined the customs of the Indians, their religious beliefs, everyday characteristics and habits. In addition, the Tver merchant described various types of exotic animals, which was new in Tsarist Russia.

“Walking across Three Seas” by A. Nikitin became the first Russian work describing travel to other lands and the characteristics of the nationalities living there.

Option 2

Afanasy Nikitin is a Russian traveler. There is practically no information about his life. It is known that he was born into a peasant family. In his youth he visited Lithuania and Byzantium on trade visits.

He became famous for his travels to Persia, India and the Turkish state. He wrote the book "Walking across the Three Seas." It describes the journey from a commercial point of view. The political systems of states are described. Their economy. Culture.

The journey began from the city of Tver. Next, a meeting took place between Ambassador Hasan Bey in the city of Nizhny Novgorod. And they set off together down the Volga. In the Astrakhan lands they fell under the robbery of local Tatars. There was no way to go back. And already on 2 ships we headed towards Derbent. One of the ships crashed, the crew was captured by local residents. Afanasy Nikitin managed to free the team with great difficulty. But a request for additional funding was refused.

Then the journey continued towards Baku. In his book, Nikitin very skillfully describes the beauty of the nature of those places. The wealth of local residents. The luxury of palaces. The book used a lot of Arabic vocabulary. This cast doubt on whether Afanasy Nikitin had converted to Islam. Scientists are more inclined to believe that it is not. Since in this case he would not have returned to his homeland. He could have been executed for changing his faith.

The return route home was laid through Persia along the Black Sea towards India. Unfortunately, he was unable to return to his homeland. On the way home he died. This happened near Smolensk. The exact reason was not known, most likely his health had deteriorated greatly during the years of travel. All the manuscripts were preserved thanks to the Moscow merchants who accompanied him on the way back.

Afanasy Nikitin is one of the few Europeans who shared his knowledge about distant India. In total, his journey lasted about 3 years. He spoke about the customs of the inhabitants, their morals. His work “Walking across Three Seas” is considered a monument of Russian literature. It has been translated into several languages ​​of the world. Such a work was the first in Russian literature. There was no formality or censorship. The fact that absolutely all areas of the traveler’s life were described gave it a unique sound.

In the traveler’s homeland, in the city of Tver, a monument to the brave Afanasy Nikitin was erected. Another one is located in Feodosia. But not only in Russia there are monuments. Most recently it was installed in India. Afanasy Nikitin is honored for his courage and perseverance in exploring new lands.

Trips

Afanasy Nikitin was a Russian merchant and one of the first Europeans to travel to India. He described his journey in a narrative known as “Journey beyond the Three Seas.”

Famous Russian merchant and autobiographer; To date, the exact dates of birth and death have not been established.

Afanasy Nikitin of Russia kept a diary of his travels, particularly to Iran and India, for 4 years between 1466 and 1475. Athanasius's own account remains a mysterious phenomenon of his history and the purpose of his long journey. drive. Under the title "Journey beyond the Three Seas", Athanasius's service record is a document of great interest both to historians studying the interaction of medieval Russians, and generally as one of the first autobiographical accounts in literature. It has been published several times in Russian with annotations and translated into many languages.

From Tver to India

Nikitin spent more than two years in India, traveling to different cities, meeting different people and describing in detail everything he saw around him. The merchant's notes were compiled in the form of a travel diary, which is more like a traveler's journal. This work describes in detail the political situation of India and its traditions, lifestyle and customs.

His writings provide a rare account of India at a time when the only existing chronicles were written by sycophants seeking to impress their Muslim rulers. The Bahmani Sultanate under the leadership of Muhammad III launched unsuccessful campaigns against the Vijayanagara Empire and eventually broke up into smaller kingdoms.

Nikitin's narration also helped create a certain romantic atmosphere in Russia when it came to India. Subsequently, the country developed a rich tradition of Indology, paving the way for excellent relations between governments and peoples.

After some time, the merchant began to feel nostalgic. In 1471 (according to another version - in 1474) Nikitin planned to return home, but it did not work out. Nikitin's health was very weak due to the heavy workload. In 1472 (1475) he died near the city of Smolensk.

It took several years for the works to be transferred to Moscow, where they were preserved and rewritten.

In 1955, in the city of Tver, in the homeland of Afanasy Nikitin, a monument was erected in his honor.

5th, 7th grade Geography

In modern life, with its frantic rhythm and speed, with a huge number of cars and motorcycles, knowledge of the rules of behavior on the roads becomes not only desirable, but also vital.

• Report about Uglich (the city of the Golden Ring of Russia)

  Uglich is one of the oldest Russian cities, which was founded on the banks of the Volga River. The city was founded a long time ago, its roots go back to 937 and is recognized as older than Moscow by about 200 years.

• Wind - message report (grades 2, 3, 5, 6, The world around us, Geography)

  Wind is a consequence of the movement of air masses due to changes in pressure levels in the atmosphere. The air is in constant motion, either up (ascending movement) or down (descending movement).

• Why shouldn't we pollute water? - message report

  Water is the most important source for humans. Without it, the existence of living beings is impossible. Be sure to treat her with care. Since pure fresh water is very difficult to replace

• Animals of the forest - report (2nd, 3rd, 4th grade - the world around us)

  Forests can rightfully be called a miracle of nature. They decorate the earth, help saturate the earth with oxygen and cleanse it of pollution and carbon dioxide.

What you discovered in geography, you will learn from this article.

Afanasy Nikitin opening

If you ask the question of the duration of his expedition, the journey of Afanasy Nikita lasted three years. And during this time he visited many countries and peoples, discovering many wonders and new products for the Russians.

Purpose of travel Afanasy Nikitin– earn money and establish economic ties with Asian merchants, going from the Volga to the Great Silk Road.

The initial goal of Afanasy Nikitin’s journey was the Kingdom of Shirvan

What did Afanasy Nikitin discover?

The Tver merchant discovered a new, unknown India for Russia, describing its customs, morals and foundations in his diaries. Starting his journey in 1458, Nikitin went to the kingdom of Shirvan. Having reached it, he was surprised by the abundance of previously unseen things.

What goods especially attracted the attention of Afanasy Nikitin in the kingdom of Shirvan? From the Shirvan lands in 1466, from their capital - Shamakhi, he brought home spices that gave dishes an incredible taste and aroma. But this was not enough for him. The merchant needed to improve his financial situation, and he decided to go to India to trade with local merchants.

Having achieved it, he, a man of the 15th century, skillfully described trade in the country, the army, exotic animals, local customs and the locals’ ideas about morality. He was the first Russian person to write down Indian legends. His notes contain information about Calcutta, the island of Ceylon, Indochina - and these places were previously unknown to the Russian people.

When was in Tver, then I saw monument to Afanasy Nikitin. I immediately remembered from my school geography course that this was a great traveler from the Middle Ages. It turns out that he was born in Tver. After that, I began to get acquainted with this famous person.

Afanasy Nikitin - great Russian explorer

Do you know that Nikitin lived in the 15th century and then there were no surnames? His father's name was Nikita. The nickname Afoni came from the name of the pope. He was born into the family of an ordinary peasant, so patronymic became surname.

There is no reliable information about the first half of a man’s life. It is known that he became a merchant. To trade, he had to travel far away Byzantium, Lithuania and Crimea. Thanks to his commercial spirit, Nikitin became rich. From each trip he brought goods that were in demand. But this is not his main merit:

• Nikitin first visited India;
• Russian merchant first in detail described India. Europeans first learned from his stories about elephants and monkeys, religion and the way of life of the Hindus;
• in his writings he mentioned new territories: island of Ceylon, a trading city and described in general terms Hindustan Peninsula;
• the result of staying in new lands was work “Walking across Three Seas”.

Travel route of A. Nikitin

The geography of Nikitin's travels is significant. The merchant explored many new territories:

• Nikitin left Tver. Then he came to Persia. Afterwards I went even further south. During the trip, he learned new languages, became acquainted with local culture and practiced the arts;
• it is known for sure that in 1 In 449 he visited the city of Hormuz. It was located at the crossroads of trade routes of India, China and Egypt. Then I went to Indian Chaul city:
• in 1450 visited East Africa, visited Ethiopian highlandse and returned to his homeland;
• in 1468 a new long time has begun exploration of Persia, India and Africa;
• in 1474 he returned back through Turkey, Kafa () and along the Dnieper swam back.

A characteristic feature of all his travels is their duration. He was in no hurry; he lived for months with local residents. Along the way, I bought and resold things that were in demand. There are no clear dates for the study. We can glean information about his journey from his work "Walking across three seas".

Afanasy Nikitin never returned to his homeland. He died in Smolensk. It is unknown what caused his death. Although Nikitin lived only a short time, he left an invaluable contribution to geographical science. A simple merchant from Russia was the first European to visit India, Persia and Africa.