Before it was widely known as Russia, the territory and people were primarily referred to by the oldest endonyms, Rus' (in Russian: Русь) and the Rus' land, also known as the Russian land (in Russian: Русская земля).
The Original Endonyms: Rus' and Rus' Land
The terms Rus' and Rus' land represent the earliest native names for the region and its inhabitants that would eventually evolve into modern Russia. These names were deeply rooted in the history and identity of the East Slavic peoples.
- Rus': This term was a fundamental identifier for the people and the nascent state formations in the East Slavic territories. It is the historical root from which the modern name "Russia" is derived.
- Rus' Land / Russian Land: This term specifically referred to the geographical area itself, indicating the land inhabited or governed by the Rus' people.
These traditional names were prevalent for centuries. The emergence of "Rusia" or "Russia" as a new form of the name began to appear around the 15th century and gradually became more common thereafter, eventually leading to the widespread adoption of "Russia" as the standard designation for the country.
For more information on the historical evolution of these names, you can explore the Names of Rus', Russia, and Ruthenia.
