Promyshlenniki

Promyshlenniki were people who lived in Russia during the 17th to 19th centuries. They were like businessmen or entrepreneurs who made a living by trading furs and other goods with other countries, especially China.

Imagine you have a toy that your friend really likes, but they don't have any toys to trade with you. So you decide to trade the toy with someone else who has something your friend wants, like stickers or candy. This is similar to what promyshlenniki did, but on a much larger scale.

Promyshlenniki would travel to remote areas in Russia and hunt for animals like beavers and sables. They would then trade the furs with other countries for tea, silk, and other valuable goods. They had to be very skilled hunters and traders to make a profit.

Sometimes, promyshlenniki would form groups called "ostrogs" and live together in small towns. They would work together to hunt and trade, and even protect each other from dangerous animals and other groups who wanted to steal their furs.

Promyshlenniki played an important role in Russia's economy and helped to establish trade routes with other countries. They were brave, resourceful, and hard-working, like the superheroes of their time!