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Early History of Moscow, Russia - Encircle Photos

1 Early History of Moscow, Russia

Welcome to the capital city of Moscow. With an urban population of about 17 million people, Moskva (or Москва́) is the largest city in Russia and Europe. Its origin dates back to the Lyalovo culture around 4000 B.C. during the Neolithic period (end of the Stone Age). The Fatyanovo and Dyakovo cultures also lived here centuries before Christ. The Moskva River in the foreground was first used by East Slavic tribes as early as the 9th century. Then the Vyatichs and the Krivichs formed settlements during the 10th and 11th centuries. In the mid-12th century, Rurikid prince Yuri I Vladimirovich founded Moscow. By the 14th century, it grew into a prosperous city ruled by the Mongols and protected by a fortification called the Grad of Moscow. When Tatar control ended during the rule of Ivan III (1440-1505), the Grand Prince of Moscow began rebuilding the fortress into the Moscow Kremlin. This southwestern view of the famous landmark is from the Bolshoy Kamenny Bridge spanning the Moskva River. Among the prominent features are the Water Pump (Vodovzvodnaya) Tower (left) and the Annunciation ((Blagoveschenskaya) Tower along the Kremlin Wall with the Grand Kremlin Palace (middle) and the gilded onion domes at Cathedral Square.

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Early History of Moscow, Russia

Bolshoy Kamennyy Bridge, Bol'shoy Kamennyy Most, Moskva, 119072, Russia

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