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When an English expedition, undertaken in
the middle of the 16th century, found how to reach Russia around Scandinavia
and through the White Sea, and then down the rivers Dvina and Volga to Asia,
the importance of Yaroslavl as a commercial transit center grew rapidly. It was
at this time that two important kingdoms, Kazan and Astrakhan, were annexed to
Russia, linking her directly to Persia and the other Asian states. By 1631
Yaroslavl already had 18 foreign trading posts and its citizens quickly earned
a reputation as very capable merchants, and were sometimes sarcastically called
"Cuckoo's children." They prospered, and to show their wealth they
built churches, as did boyars and church prelates in other parts of the
country. Many of Yaroslav's citizens were of Novgorodian origin, but were moved
there forcefully by Ivan the Terrible; their influence on the arts should not
be neglected. Having enough money, quickly earned they were able to afford the
best builders and painters. Unable to ignore completely Moscow's directives and
taste, they showed their independence by erecting larger and more richly
decorated churches. In the monumental forms of ancient churches, crowned with
five )scaly) cupolas, which they adapted for their churches, were decorated
with extensive brickwork and varicolored tiles, added galleries and porches and
magnificent portals. There were several details that made them original and
different from hose built in Moscow. For the geneology of the princes of the
house of Yaroslavl please go to Russian rulers. For many views of the city today please
go to Yaroslavl.
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