Landscape and Climatic Conditions of the Formation of the Medieval Settlement Structure of the Upper Volga Region

The formation of a settlement structure is a spatial reflection of the life activities (types and methods of farming) of settlers and, accordingly, is completely determined by local landscape and climatic conditions. Therefore, the main goal of the study is to identify the features of the formation of the medieval settlement structure of the Upper Volga region depending on landscape and climatic conditions and the periodization of this process. The most important practical tasks were establishing the landscape resource base and reconstructing the dynamics of environmental management in key areas, as well as fluctuations in climatic conditions of human economic activity. Based on a combined analysis of historical documents and published materials, the following were established: features of climatic conditions and the nature of the manifestation of adverse natural phenomena in the main historical periods. Landscape-historical studies were carried out at the regional (for the entire Upper Volga region) and at the local levels (for key areas). The assessment of the resource base was carried out on the basis of paleo-reconstruction of the landscape structure with subsequent ecological-edaphic analysis. Locational and landscape analysis of archaeological and historical materials in key areas became the basis for a retrospective reconstruction of environmental management and settlement structure of the Upper Volga region. The main periods of medieval settlement in the Upper Volga region are considered. The main attention was paid to the influence of local landscape conditions and climate fluctuations on environmental management and the formation of settlements. During the period of the medieval optimum at the turn of the first and second millennia, with a maximum at the end of the 10th century. The functioning of the Great Volga Route and the intensive Slavic settlement of its Upper Volga section begin. At an early stage, predominantly valley landscape complexes with the most favorable properties for subsistence farming were developed for settlers. During the Little Ice Age, sources increasingly record sharp climate fluctuations with manifestations of extreme negative processes, which leads to the “transfer” of settlements to higher and “warmer” landscape complexes of the interfluves.

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