The origin of the state system of land surveying in the times of Kievan and Moscow Rus in the X–XV century

Abstract As early as during the reign of Yaroslav the Wise (1019-1054), the main legislative source Russkaya Pravda (1054) was compiled, indicating the types of land ownership, borders and areas of land plots for taxation. This was the first step towards creating the simplest system of accounting and evaluation of land and other natural resources in the state on a legislative basis. Methods of land division depended on the structure of ancient Slavic settlements. The first artificial borders appeared for economic needs. Appearance of the first industries-hunting, fishing, cattle breeding, poultry farming and others, was the reason for the appearance of the first signs indicating places of private use. Drawings of land were made based on the results of inspections, inventories and simple measurements, the length of lines was measured with a measuring rope, and the area of agricultural land and forests was determined.By the beginning of the 15th century, there was a need for state land surveying (determining the location, describing borders, calculating areas, issuing legal documents for ownership, resolving disputes over land), as well as collecting information about state borders and natural resources. In X–XV centuries, not only the first important concepts of surveying were developed, but also the beginnings of the cadastre system of land accounting and division of 16–17 centuries were formed.