The main periods and types of “urbanization” in Ancient Rus in VIII-XII century

This article deals with the problem of processes of city formation and the formation of urban networks in the Ancient Rus’ in VIII-XII centuries. The Author makes an attempt to systematize the main types of urban settlements within a specified period according to the following criteria: the presence or absence of fortifications, the size of settlements, their main functions, the relationship with the processes of state formation, the presence or absence of coherent urban networks, planning or spontaneity of the appearance, relationship with the agricultural community and others. Based on the characteristics identified, five basic types of urban settlements are described and analyzed - as such can be considered tribal grads, open trade and craft settlements (protocities), prince pogosts, castles of a later time, not associated with the pogosts, the ancient city of XI-XII centuries. All mentioned types, which are small and large systems (networks), succeeded each other throughout the specified period and engaged in various interactions, forming a unified urban network of Ancient Russia.