Strengthening of the centralized autocratic power, based on the service nobility, led to an increase in exploitation and enslavement of the peasants. The growing economic pressure caused the emergence of mass peasant unrest that resulted in a broad popular movement – a peasant war led by Ivan Bolotnikov. With the death of Tsar Feodor Ivanovich, the dynasty of Ivan Kalita ceases to exist. In the country there is opposition from the boyars, which receives support from outside, from the side of the Polish tycoons. The turbulent events of the beginning of the XVII century – the Troubles were widely reflected in the literature. The literature of this period acquires exclusively topical character, responding promptly to the demands of the time, reflecting the interests of various social groups participating in the struggle. The works of this period, continuing to develop the traditions of historical narrative literature of the 16th century, vividly reflected the growth of national
self-awareness. This manifested itself in a change in the view of the historical process: the course of history is determined not by God’s will, but by human activity. And the stories of the early 17th century can not but speak of the people, of its participation in the struggle for the national independence of their homeland. There is an increased interest in the human personality. For the first time, there is an aspiration to depict the internal contradictions of character and to reveal the reasons that these contradictions are generated. Rectilinear characteristics of the human literature of the 16th century are beginning to be replaced by a deeper depiction of the contradictory properties of the human soul. At the same time, as D. Likhachev points out, the characters of historical figures in the works of the beginning of the century are shown against the backdrop of popular talk about them. Human activity is given in the historical perspective, and for the first time begins to be evaluated in its “social function.” The events of the Time of Troubles were dealt a crushing blow to religious ideology,
to the undivided domination of the church in all spheres of life: it was not God’s will, but the activities of people determine the historical destinies of the country. The role of trade and craft posad population in public, political and cultural life has increased, and this, in turn, entails the democratization of literature. In the book rhetorical style, various forms of business writing are increasingly penetrating, oral folklore is increasingly being used. All this leads to the “secularization” of culture and literature of the 17th century, that is,
