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The invasion of Russia by Tatars (actualy
Mongols), that began in 1238 was often combined with arson and pillage. It
interrupted for over two centuries the cultural development of the country; the
development of architecture suffered the most. Politically disinterested Tatars
soon left the Russians to themselves and gave them full freedom of action in
local matters and government, with princes they confirmed. However, internecine
wars among Russian princes, heavy tribute that the people were obliged to pay
to the Tatars and the fact that Russia was occupied by barbarous foreigners,
whom they indeed hated very much, prevented the Russian civilization from
advancing. Tatars sacked whole provinces and burned many cities to the ground.
Production and trade were reduced to a minimum, and after paying heavy tribute,
very little money was left to be spent on nonessentials. Novgorod and Pskov
were exceptions because they were too far north, or possibly because Tatars
never cared much to occupy their lands and contented themselves with exacting
tribute from the Novgorodians. Thus in the 13th and the 14th centuries Novgorod
continued to trade and have some cultural contact with the West, and enjoyed a
relatively prosperous life. At the same time, the close presence of the Tatars
and the fact that all other Russian lands were under their yoke cast a shadow
over Novgorod's cultural activity. The result was that until the last decade of
the 13th century there was not a single known stone church built in Novgorod.
The renewal of architectural activity came at the end of the 13th century and
lasted until Moscow turned Novgorod into a simple provincial town at the end of
the 15th century.
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