From
the 14th century, the Volga region became
increasingly settled by Russians, who populated the land on the banks of the Oka and Volga.
Because
of this, Nizhny Novgorod became less of an
outpost and more of an economic centre of the state. Trade became the focus of the town. Metalworking was especially important. Local blacksmiths knew how to work copper,
bronze, silver, and gold in moulds, which was unheard of elsewhere. The famous Matryoshka
dolls, with their unexpected combinations of bright colours and depictions of
traditional Russian dress began to appear, and are still made in the Semenovsky region of the province. Carving and painting became important arts,
with whole generations of craftsmen dedicating their lives to them.
After
Ivan the Terrible conquered Kazan’, Nizhny
Novgorod ceased to be a frontier fortress,
but it continued to grow as an economic centre of Russia. Trade from the ship traffic on the Volga and local crafts were
central to its rise. Other towns in the
region also became important in their own right, especially Balakhna,
which was a major centre of the salt industry, and Pavlovo
and Borsma.
|
