Tsardom of Moscow

Despite their differences, ancient Russian cities can generally be grouped into several distinctive types, each with its own character and layout.

The first type featured a small fortress surrounded by a relatively simple settlement (posad). In such cases, the city was defined by the contrast between the solid, rounded fortifications at its core and the scattered structures of the adjoining posad. A good example of this type is the reconstructed layout of 13th-century Moscow.

Although the surrounding settlement posad could be vast, while the fortress itself might have occupied a relatively small area, the scale and austere design of its monumental constructions, especially the defensive ones, established its commanding presence within the overall visual ensemble.

The second type included cities with large fortified posads. These were cities like Pereyaslavl Russky, Novgorod, Vladimir, Ryazan in the second half of the 12th century, and 14th-century Pskov. In such cities, most of the posad’s development was enclosed within a continuous belt of walls. These cities typically had a central citadel — the detinets — which stood out due to the height of its walls and churches. This central core created a powerful visual focus, dominating the surrounding wall line of the outer town.

Finally, the third type comprised cities with an extended system of settlements outside the main fortress core. These cities offered a more picturesque, varied and expressive architectural landscape, where forms were freely arranged in harmony with the terrain. Such characteristics could be seen in ancient Kyiv, Smolensk, and, to some extent, in Suzdal, Polotsk, and 14th–15th century Moscow.

The natural landscape played a significant role in shaping the appearance of Ancient Rus’ cities. For cities with well-developed posads and suburban areas, the terrain was especially important, as it helped unify the sprawling urban and suburban complexes into a single architectural and spatial whole.