M. Hrushevskyi's research theses and publicistic works of Lviv Period: historiography of the problem

Abstract

The article is concerned with M. Hrushevskyi's research theses and publicistic works of Lviv Period as highlighted by the historians of the late 19th - the early 20th century. It was at that time that the activities carried out by M. Hrushevskyi were most rapid, multilateral and multi-purpose. His scientific interests were focused not on history alone. They were also focused on historiography and belles letters, which evoke his contemporaries' great interest. As early as in the late 19th through the early 20th century, historiographers paid attention to the scientific contribution paid by the young professor from Lvov who touched on various debatable issues of the Ukrainian nation's past times as well as on the pain-causing issues of nowadays, thus protecting the Ukrainians' right to their own history, language and culture. The evaluations of the scientist's legacy reveal popularization of opinions formed basically on political grounds. On the one hand, I. Kripyakevich, V. Picheta, S. Efremov and M. Slavinskyi speak very much in favor of the activities carried out by M. Hrushevskyi, emphasizing their importance for the development of the historical science in Ukraine. On the other hand, the chauvinistic Russian as well some Ukrainian scientists, such as A. Volkonskyi, I. Linnichenko, Y. Romanovskyi, A. Savenko, A. Storozhenko and T. Florinskyi are rather opposed to M. Hrushevskyi's historical views and legacy, rejecting his strategy as that contradicting the Russian Empire's development strategy for the three brother nations, such as the Russians, the Ukrainians and the Byelorussians. Analysis of the works by the historians of those times has made it possible to introduce a more comprehensive approach to the highlight of the tribute M. Hrushevskyi paid into science during the most fruitful period of his life.