The first Russian traveler: why he went to India from many troubles

Contacts between Asian countries and Russia have been around for a long time. But almost nothing is known about the merchants or travelers who reached the fabulous countries of the East until the 15th century. The first Russian person who not only reached India, but also described his stay in other countries (the famous "Walking Over Three Seas"), was Athanasius Nikitin.

Why go

Athanasius Nikitin was a Tver merchant. In the second half of the 15th century, Tver flourished, it was a shopping center: many merchants from different countries flocked here. These merchants carried news of the unprecedented and richest eastern countries. Having decided to try his luck, Athanasius Nikitin in the mid-1460s. went on a trade expedition to the Caucasian principality of Shirvan.

Which countries visited

In the Astrakhan region, the Russian merchant and his companions were robbed by the army of Khan Kashima. They had no property left, and each went to where his eyes "carried" him. Nikitin himself did not turn home, but went further: to the Caucasus (Derbent, Baku), then he crossed the Caspian Sea and wandered into the Persian countries, and then went to India. After longing for homeland, he set off on the return journey. However, he was not destined to reach his native Tver. In 1475, he died in the Smolensk region.

Why did he go so far

Despite the fact that Nikitin left behind detailed notes about his walk, a lot of things remain unclear. For example, why, after the attack of Khan Kashim, he did not want to return home, like some other merchants, but continued on his way? And why did he decide to go to India itself?

Some researchers note that the reason is very simple: having lost almost all of his belongings, Nikitin was afraid that at home he would fall into a debt hole. And returning empty-handed would be a shame. Therefore, he decided to go further through the trading cities, reselling goods. Each time, he decided to go through a little more, to get to another market in order to try his luck there. However, this journey did not bring him any trade successes. His only operation - the sale of a stallion - and she went at a loss. And throughout all his notes, the merchant laments that Muslim traders deceived him. The fact is that there were no special goods in the eastern countries, in his opinion, only pepper and paint. But there are a lot of robbers and high duties.

Another question, why Athanasius Nikitin went this way, also gets a very simple answer. Being a cautious merchant, he goes only along the cities of the Volga trade route known to him, connecting Russia with the southern countries. And having reached Iran, he went along the then famous trade route to India.

Why is his trip so unusual

What distinguished Nikitin’s travels from the rest was the length of his trade route. He moved from one shopping center to another and as a result reached places that had not been visited by Russian merchants before.

And since the Russian merchant had no final destination, he traveled slowly, peering into other cultures, peoples. Afanasy Nikitin wrote down his vivid and accurate observations (though it’s not entirely clear when: while traveling or already on the way back) and was the first of all Russians to leave an impression of the cultural features, morals, political structure of other countries. His notes are the first example of such works. He marveled at black people, their “half-naked” outfits, complained that there were many pregnant women who walk without covering their “shame”. And besides, foreigners have bad food: they don’t eat any meat, but only rice, different herbs, butter and milk. He was also surprised by the existence of as many as 82 religions among the Indians! The descriptions of Athanasius Nikitin are so interesting that, based on his materials, the history of the Bahmanids state can be restored.

Did Athanasius Nikitin become an apostate

Some researchers are sure that the Russian merchant converted to Islam. However, others say (for example, Lurie) that Athanasius Nikitin only pretended to accept Islam, and in foreign words tried to hide some stories that would bring him trouble in Russia.

However, only the Russian merchant himself could answer this question. In addition, so far nothing can be said precisely about the social status of the merchant, or about his education. And therefore, often Athanasius Nikitin, the first Russian man to cross the three seas, is called a "mysterious figure."

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