Invasions of aggressors and natural disasters ruined lots of precious works of architecture, painting, applied arts and literature. The names of common people who created masterpieces of murals and stone carving, fine silver embossing and monumental architecture for secular and religious feudal lords have been forgotten.

Very few of the Old Russian masters are mentioned in the chronicles that have come down to us. These are “stone architects”: Ivan from Polotsk, Pyotr and Korova Yakovlevich from Novgorod, Pyotr Miloneg, Oleksa, and Avdey. There is a record about the Kiev artist Alimpiy, who painted the Kyiv Pechersk Monastery. Other known names are those of the Novgorod calkers Kosta and Bratila who created fine chased silver vessels, as well as the founder Avraamiy whose sculptural self-portrait has remained till date.

 It was the work of peasants and handicraftsmen that served as the basis for further development of Russia.

Russian language and culture were enriched thanks to interaction with cultures of a number of other peoples. Fruits of such cooperation were embodied in Suzdal architecture (that includes traces of Georgian and Armenian architecture), Novgorod painting (with general motives of Armenian frescoes), and in Russian folklore and literature that repeatedly mentions other peoples with their culture and way of life.