Russian History Research Articles

The Russian Movement of the 1960–1980s

This article is dedicated to the phenomenon of the Russian movement in the second half of the 20th century — the successors of the political programs of pre‑revolutionary conservatives and post‑revolutionary emigrant conservative thinkers that emerged in the 1960s in the USSR. In this sense, the Russian movement, mainly consisting of dissidents and having an anti‑communist orientation, is contrasted with the so‑called legal Russian party, which attempted to connect the values of pre‑revolutionary Russia with the Soviet period and see it as an organic continuation and embodiment of the former. The history and activities of the All‑Russian Society of Cultural and Historical Heritage and its members I. V. Ogurtsov, V. N. Osipov, and their self‑published journal “Veche”, as well as A.I. Solzhenitsyn and I. R. Shafarevich, are examined. The ideology of the All‑Russian Society of Cultural and Historical Heritage is analyzed, including its attitude towards revolution, economic positions, critique of Marxism‑Leninism, foundations of the desired Christian‑social corporative system, and program of Christianizing society. The key milestones in the history of the journal “Veche” and the almanac “Moscow Collection” are presented. The role of priest Dmitry Dudko in the development of the Russian movement is reviewed. Special attention in the article is given to A.I. Solzhenitsyn, whom the author considers the most influential and key figure in the Russian conservative movement of the second half of the 20th century. The ideological content of the collection “From Under the Rubble” is examined, with Solzhenitsyn and Shafarevich being the central authors. The author concludes that the organizational destruction of the Russian movement in the Soviet Union in the late 1970s and early 1980s predetermined the course of Russian history, paving the way for liberal‑Western forces preparing for the restructuring and radical reforms of the 1990s. As a result, during the critical period for the country from 1987 to 1993, the Russian movement did not produce any universally recognized leaders who could offer an alternative to the liberal course of the country. Nevertheless, the intellectual developments of the Russian movement in subsequent decades have been in demand within the conservative political camp and continue to be so to this day.

Representation of the Historical Role of the Russian Orthodox Church in the Context of Teaching Russian History (2013–2023)

The article discusses the policy of the Russian Orthodox Church aimed at including elements of confessional history in secular educational and methodological narratives. As the content of the Russian history course was standardized for schools, and then the regulatory requirements for the results of studying the compulsory Russian history course at universities were established, the importance of these channels for the formation of collective memory has increased significantly. The analysis revealed three main strategies of the Russian Orthodox Church to influence the content of these courses: focusing on episodes of participation of hurch hierarchs in rucial events that changed the course of the history of Russian statehood, a gradual expansion of the range of mentioned personalities related to the history of the Church and, finally, an appeal to a civilizational approach that focuses on the value foundations of political history, which gives the Russian Orthodox Church a symbolic advantage as a “state-forming” denomination.

«Рассказы из русской истории» А.Н. Майкова: от идеи к реализации

The article analyses the formation and development of the idea of the unfinished prose cycle Tales from Russian History by Apollon Maykov. The most important source of information about this part of the poet’s creative biography is considered his correspondence with Fyodor Dostoevsky, where the prerequisites for the origin of the cycle idea and the stages of its formation are revealed. One of the most expressive novelist’s letters to his friend is devoted to the discussion of the general idea of the cycle and its plots. It contains a conceptual reflection on the poem “as a precious stone, a diamond, in the poet’s soul” and highlights the most significant events in Russian history, according to the writer’s understanding. The plots of individual stories expressively described there by Dostoevsky originated the assumption that the writer was the author of the cycle concept and inspired Maykov to create it. However, a chronological analysis of the correspondence between Maykov and Dostoevsky in 1867–1869 allows us to gather and sequentially arrange facts reflecting the process of gradual development and final formation of the idea in the poet’s creative consciousness. It leads to the conclusion that the idea was formed in Maykov’s creative consciousness during an in-depth study of Russian history, prompted by his work on the translation of The Tale of Igor’s Campaign. Dostoevsky took some part in shaping the key features of the content and the principles of the artistic form of the tales. He was not directly involved as the ideological inspirer. He participated as a friend, an interlocutor, and like-minded person, with whom Maykov shared the details of his own creative search and thoughts on pressing issues of Russian social life at that time, among which questions about the originality and identity of Russian history, and the relations between Russia and Europe were some of the most important.

In memory of Tamara Fyodorovna Izmestyeva (16.10.1941 – 02/19/2024)

This article is dedicated to the memory of Tamara Fedorovna Izmestyeva, a well-known specialist in the field of economic history and historical information science. A graduate of the Faculty of Economics of Moscow State University, she began her scientific and teaching work at the Faculty of History in 1969 at the Department of Source Studies, then as a researcher and senior researcher at the interdepartmental Laboratory of Historical Information Science, transformed into the Department of the same name. Tamara Fyodorovna's research interests lay in the mainstream of both economic history and historical information science. In 1991, the publishing house of Moscow State University published a monograph based on her dissertation "Russia in the European market system, late XIX – early XX century". T.F.Izmestyeva became one of the founders of the Association "History and Computer" (AIK), she was a member of the organizing committees of many AIK conferences, participated in the organization of schools for young scholars. The article uses publications by T.F. Izmestyeva in the journals "Russian History", "Economic History. Review", "Historical Information Scince", "AIK Newsletter", her presentations at Russian and international conferences, memoirs of colleagues and students. The article gives a high assessment of T.F. Izmestyeva's research and teaching work. Publications on economic history reflected her interests in the field of studying the foreign market of the Russian Empire, analyzing mass statistical sources. Tamara Fyodorovna introduced "economic tools" into research on economic history. In the field of historical information science, she paid much attention to the creation of historically oriented databases, source studies and methodological problems of working with mass statistical data. She has co-authored a number of textbooks, including "Quantitative Methods in Historical Research", "Historical Information Science", "Computerized Statistical Analysis for Historians", "Inforfmation Science for Humanities", "Information Technology for Historians".

State family policy in the Russian Federation: socio-economic situation of families and trends in their life

The year 2024 has been declared by the head of state, President of Russia Vladimir Putin, the Year of the Family. As stated in the presidential decree, the decision was made in order to popularize state policy in the field of family protection and traditional values. It should be noted that in the XXI century in Russia, the Year of the Family was announced twice — in 2008 and in 2024. This indicates the special attention paid by the country’s leadership, political and State institutions and civil society institutions to this topic. In the Russian Federation, many government programs aimed at strengthening the institution of the family have been developed, created and implemented recently. And there are many reasons for this, including those that, unfortunately, are far from optimistic. Russia as a state and Russian society is faced with a number of social problems that threaten many of the established foundations, values, and the future of the country. As never before in the modern history of Russia, issues of social security are coming to the fore. Real threats loomed over the most important social institution — the family. In our state, the family is protected at the highest constitutional level. Article 38 of the basic law of our country establishes a direct norm — the protection of the family, motherhood and childhood by the State. At the government level, a whole system of indicators has been developed that are subject to constant monitoring in order to ensure the relevance of state policy in the social sphere and its continuous improvement. The article presents an analysis of the main problems of state family policy in Russia through the prism of the main socio-economic indicators. Official statistics data were used.

The Concept of “Pseudomorphosis” in the Book by G. V. Florovsky “Ways of Russian Theology”

The concept of pseudomorphosis is used by G. V. Florovsky as such a borrowing, which is of an instrumental-technological and formal-scholastic nature and, therefore, does not meet the deep interests of the Church of Christian peoples and the creative development of theological thought. He emphasizes the positive, stimulating significance of theology in the history of Russian not only of Patristics, which is usually paid attention to, but also of Western theological thought, especially since the sixteenth century, which is often overlooked. From the point of view of G. V. Florovsky, theological pseudomorphoses are overcome on the basis of multilateral historical ties: Patristics and the ‘comprehending growth’ of theological thought, theology and church life, theology and secular philosophy, theology and culture of the people, Orthodox theology and the theological thought of other Christian confessions. According to G. V. Florovsky, the ‘Catholic’ synthesis of the Church means that universal, communal force, which manifests itself in theological thought on the historical basis. The transformation of external borrowed forms into pseudomorphoses is explained by G. V. Florovsky with specific historical reasons: the lag of Orthodox thought from Western religious and philosophical thought, the political interests of the warring countries, the separation of the clergy from the needs of laic believers, their historical experience and culture. The Russian theologian considers as pseudomorphic those theological borrowings that formally and dogmatically, and not organically and synthetically, enter the autochthonous cultural-historical context. It is here that the source of uncreative imitation and scholastic tendencies in Russian theology manifest themselves. G. V. Florovsky shows, that borrowings alien to the interests and needs of the believers turn into clericalism and political servility of Church hierarchs. This statement by G.V. Florovsky is relevant till nowadays; it is combined with another, equally relevant conclusion by him: a dialogue with Western theology has a positive, stimulating value for Russian Orthodoxy as well.

Издание об истории организации, управления и поддержки науки в СССР

The review by a Russian historian examines the collective monograph "Science of a Big Country: Soviet Management Experience", which was published in November 2023 in the publishing house of the Russian State University for the Humanities under the editorship of Doctor of Historical Sciences E. A. Dolgova. The authors (7 people) are specialists in the history of science, industry, technology and education, economics of science, sociology of science and its legal regulation. The book examines the process of formation and development of science and technology policy of the USSR for the entire period of its existence, as well as its transformation in the first decade after the collapse of the "big country" in a multidimensional manner. Particular attention is paid to the consideration of such features of the "socialist model" of science organization as its ideologization, state support of "big science", creation of the "cult of science" in the society, organization of breakthrough programs, scientific and technological independence, merger of science and technology, isolation of academic, university, industry and factory sectors of science. The book emphasizes that science in the USSR functioned in fact as a subsystem of the state, that its management was concentrated in state structures that sought to prove to the whole world "the superiority of the socialist economy over the capitalist economy". The authors did not set themselves the task of examining such important topics as the relationship between science and the authorities, between scientists and the political regime, and the impact of scientific and technological development on the Soviet society. They left out the repressions of the 1930s and the campaign to "fight cosmopolitanism and dissent" in the postwar period. Such an important sector of the field of knowledge as "military" science, which worked to ensure the state defense order, was also peripherally considered. As a source base for the study, the author makes extensive use of act material, office records of state and party authorities of different levels, sources of personal origin, journalism, and periodicals. The monograph introduces into scientific circulation a set of documents and materials identified in a number of Russian federal and departmental archives. The book consists of 9 chapters, conclusion, list of figures and tables, list of abbreviations, selected bibliography, name index and information about the authors. The monograph is an interdisciplinary study. It will be of interest to specialists engaged in the history, sociology and economics of Russian science, industry, technology and education, as well as to a wide range of readers interested in the history of Russia.

The Evolution of the Concept of “Patriotism” in Historical Retrospect: Cultural and Philosophical Analysis

The article examines the features and stages of the formation of the concept of “patriotism” in the history of Russia. The study analyzes the initial period of the formation of a sense of belonging to the key value elements of the ancient Russian worldview; the stage of formation of the concept of “our state”, reflecting a change in attitude to it at the level of identity; the period of the appearance of the first patriots and “patriotism” in Russian history of the time of Peter I; reflection on the patriotic formula “Orthodoxy — Autocracy — Nationality” by S. S. Uvarova; the pre- and post-revolutionary period in the history of Russia; the Great Patriotic War and its impact on patriotic sentiments in society; the decline of the USSR and the period of ideological turbulence in Russia in the 1990s; as well as the modern stage, which marked the paramount importance of patriotism as a national idea. Having traced the history of the formation of the concept and value content of patriotism in Russia from the ancient Russian period to the present day, despite the change in the form of expression of this feeling, it has a single nature in its content. Just as children and grandchildren differ from their parents, but have a common blood relationship, so the various stages of the formation of patriotic feelings have a single basis. As a result of the cultural and philosophical analysis, the genetic link between identity and patriotism is emphasized. Love for the “father's house”, the father's land, the city, the shrine, the state, the country, the people, as well as a sense of responsibility for the preservation of these values and a willingness to sacrifice for them, constitute the ideological core of patriotism. Separately, the work notes the complexity of the artificial formation or upbringing of patriotic feeling, since the key factors of its occurrence are: a sense of care on the part of the structure uniting people of a particular historical period, joint events, connection with the history of this community, a sense of pride in “their own”, as well as the presence of a connection with a specific location, a sense of the boundaries of “one's own”, “our”.

Профессиональный преступный мир в первые годы утверждения советской власти: особенности детерминации и условия развития

At turning points in the history of the development of any state, the underworld is noticeably transformed. During periods of political destabilization, crisis phenomena in the socio-economic, cultural spheres of society, the crime situation in the country, as a rule, worsens. At the same time, during the collapse of the statehood foundations, the criminal world not only transforms, but changes the vector of its development. Such a period in the history of Russia was the revolutionary events of 1917 and the civil war – a time of radical breakdown of all state institutions, socio-economic and spiritual-moral foundations, which became the starting point for the formation and development of a monolithic and well-organized professional Soviet underworld. The purpose of the study is to analyze the features of determination and conditions for the development of professional crime in the first years of the establishment of Soviet power. To achieve this goal, the following tasks are being solved: to study the features of the development of the domestic professional underworld in the conditions of political instability of the 1917–1920s; determine the essence of the ideological confrontation between representatives of the “tsarist” criminal world and the “new” Soviet one in the first years of the establishment of Soviet power; identify the determinants of the development of professional crime in Russia during the period under study. In the process of work, the method of synthesis, analysis, generalization, and comparative legal method are used. It is proven that against the backdrop of pronounced political instability of the 1917–1920s, which led to a crisis of traditional legal consciousness, erosion of spiritual, moral and religious values, deterioration of the socio-economic situation of the majority of the population, there was a sharp aggravation of the crime situation and, as a result, especially the active development of professional crime, which during the period under study created a real threat not only to society, but also to the national security of the state.

FEATURE FILMS IN RUSSIAN FOR FUTURE CHINESE PHILOLOGISTS: LINGUOCULTURAL ASPECT

The article discusses issues related to the use of feature films as a means of teaching Russian as a foreign language. It is noted that cinema is a valuable source for introducing Chinese students to the cultural realities of Russian life, the history of Russia and the characters of Russian people. It is proposed to organize the use of feature films in Russian language classes as a film lesson. There are three stages in the structure of a film lesson: preliminary (preparatory), main (watching the film) and final (postfilm). At each of these stages, it is necessary to organize linguoculturological work in the form of conversation, discussion, debate, and performing various tasks. The significant linguistic and cultural potential of Soviet and Russian feature films is illustrated by elements of educational work on the film “Moscow Doesn't Believe in Tears”.

От теоретика к мыслителю: знакомство с Ю.М. Лотманом под руководством Б.Ф. Егорова

In this paper, which is largely personal and retrospective, the author shares his memories of his encounters with the works of Yuri Lotman and takes the opportunity for a reconside­ration of his semiotics as a specific reflection on the history of Russia. Beginning with me­mories of the first encounter with Lotman's work more than thirty years ago in Korea, the author describes his experiences studying Lotman in Russia under the supervision of Pro­fessor Boris Fedorovich Egorov and, after returning to his native country, intensively explor­ing Lotman's last years (the so-called ‘Lotmanian explosion’). In particular, the author at­tempts to reconceptualize the intriguing concept of the ‘mechanism of Smuta’ that Lotman developed in his later years in terms of the "unpredictability of the past" and to highlight its profound implications for Lotman, who, the author argues, should be seen not only as a theo­rist but also as a (Russian) thinker.

История для народа в «Ермаке» Л.Н. Толстого: Строгановский сюжет

The article attempts to contextualize Leo Tolstoy’s short story “Ermak,” to study the range of sources that were in the author’s field of view, and, finally, to correlate the story with the long-standing debate on the role of the Stroganov merchant family in the acquisition of Siberia. The article shows how this short story, adapted for the common people, inherits the historiosophical program formulated by the writer in the novel “War and Peace.” The article analyzes the discussion on the degree of reliability of the Stroganov chronicle, initiated by prominent historians such as G.I. Spassky, P.A. Slovtsov, N.G. Ustryalov, P.I. Nebolsin, etc. It also shows that the basis of Tolstoy’s plot was the creatively rethought idea of migration of peoples posed by S.M. Solovyov in his work “The History of Russia Since Ancient Times.” In the course of the analysis, the prime attention was directed on Tolstoy’s views on the driving forces of history, the evolution of “Ermak” initial concept regarding its dependence on the story “The Cossacks,” motif-plot and imagological links with several stories of the “The Second Russian Book for Reading” and other Tolstoy’s 1860s–1870s works.

Cудебно-правовые реформы Фридриха II прусского и Павла I

Introduction. The topicality of the study is related to clarifying the degree of influence of the ideas and practices of Frederick II the Great on Paul I in public policy, in particular in carrying out a number of reforms. Such research contributes to rethinking of the history of the Russian autocracy not only in the XVIII century, but also in the general history of Russia. Materials and Methods. The research was conducted on the basis of a systematic approach, objectivity and historicism principles, and. In addition, general scientific methods of information analysis and synthesis, methods of deduction and induction, as well as the historical and comparative method were used. Analysis. The influence of the Prussian King Frederick II is commonly associated with the military reform of Paul I and the introduction of Prussian orders into the Russian army. However, it seems that the experience of Prussia during the time of Frederick the Great was used in other transformations of Paul I, including judicial and legal reforms, since the Russian emperor considered the Prussian model of government relevant for Russia. Building a Prussian-style state required innovations in various fields; the worldview and political discourse of the XVIII century played an important role in their implementation. To identify the ideas and practices of Frederick II of Prussia in the judicial and legal field, original works in German were used, demonstrating the key provisions of the reform of the Prussian king. The judicial and legal reform of Paul I are reflected in a number of works by Russian historians, but they do not provide a detailed comparison of the aspects of reform in Prussia and Russia. The facts demonstrating the similarity of the ongoing transformations include the abolition of torture and corporal punishment, the restructuring and centralization of judicial administration, unification and the creation of new legislation. Results. According to the results of the conducted research, it can be concluded that judicial and legal reforms were conditioned by the influence of Enlightened absolutism and were aimed at overcoming judicial arbitrariness and the implementation of humanistic ideas.

Ofensiva Brusilov: catalizator al negocierilor şi al intrării României în război? Câteva ipoteze istoriografice

General Alexei Brusilov’s offensive was one of the outstanding operations of the Russian Army in the First World War. Through the novelty elements and the proposed strategic operations, this operation provided study material for the following generations and stood out with its innovative techniques. Its impact and results have brought positive opinions but also criticism. From a fast and favorable start, it would lose its intensity and lead to massive losses on the part of the Russians that would mark the Russian Army and bring a new wave of criticism towards Tsar Nicholas II, who took over its leadership in the summer of 1915. Among the discussions regarding the impact and effects of the Brusilov offensive were also discussions related to its progress and Romania's entry into the war. Romanian, Western, and Russian historians have come up with different hypotheses, and opinions are divided. Some historians believe that the Brusilov offensive was a direct catalyst for the negotiations and Bucharest’s final decision to enter the war. While other historians believe that it played an insignificant role. In fact, Bucharest’s decision to submit the declaration of war in Vienna was caused by multiple factors. But the two years of neutrality and negotiations with the Entente Powers and the situation in August 1916 were much more complex than the Brusilov offensive, which had already lost its intensity. In fact, in the general context, the allies had yielded and were prone to yield to the Romanian cause. The situation at the front, the fear of the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian army, and a separate peace with Vienna as a result of the Brusilov offensive, which would have led to the loss of a reason for Romania’s intervention, determined Romania's entry into the war.

Российская деревня 1905-1907 гг. в исторической памяти поколения «революционного перелома». На материалах Всесоюзного общества политкаторжан и ссыльнопоселенцев

At the beginning of the XXth century, the transformation of the consciousness of the Russian peasantry sharply increased its momentum, and in addition to the traditional factors that influenced this, the generational factor should also be distinguished. The article explores the historical memory of the generation of the «revolutionary turning point» about the revolutionary events of 1905-1907 in the Russian village. The problem of the historical memory of the generation rarely becomes the subject of research by Russian historians. At the same time, the generation of the «revolutionary turning point» undoubtedly accumulated a very significant social experience, the study of the memory of which is a really important historical problem. The purpose of the study is to eliminate the gap in scientific knowledge on the designated topic. The study is built on the principles of historicism and objectivity using historical-comparative, deductive and retrospective methods. The authors rely on the theoretical and methodological approaches of generational research formulated by K. Manheim and P. Nora. The object of the study is the historical memory of the radicals of the generation of the «revolutionary turning point», who was born at the end of the XIX century, and who took an active part in the revolutionary events of 1905-1907 in the Russian village. The source base of the study is the materials of the foundation of the Society of Political Prisoners and Exiled Settlers of the State Archive of the Russian Federation (GARF), including biographical questionnaires, memoirs and other accompanying materials of representatives of the generation of the «revolutionary turning point» involved in the revolutionary process in the village in 1905-1907. Memoirs represent the most valuable material on the study of the historical memory of the generation about the events of the first Russian revolution. Analysis of this material allows you to identify a specific generational style and the sources of its formation. The analysis of the sources suggests that the development of an independent generational style among the youth of the «revolutionary turning point» was reflected in the historical memory of the generation about the revolutionary events in the village in 1905-1907. This is not only about the specific and completely new agitation and propaganda work for the generation to organize cells in the village. but also about the social experience of solidarity between the revolutionaries themselves, as well as about trying to establish contacts within the framework of the principle of joint action between the revolutionary element and the villagers. Representatives of the generation were driven not only by revolutionary ideas, but also by revolutionary emotions, which was reflected in memories.

The American Image of the Helmsman or Who Mister Stalin Is

This article is a response to the recently written, very interesting and innovative, book, by an American historian Jim Curtis. During 20th century, the study of the Russian history was conducted in the opposing to each other American and Soviet historiographies. However, as far as Stalinism is concerned, American scholars obviously surpassed the Soviet Union as this theme was forbidden in the latter. Curtis aims to rise above all “combats” and to study Stalinism with the help of such disciplines as media theory, linguistics, and anthropology — disciplines that scholars in America as well as in Russia have usually ignored. He also excellently knows the Russian literature. To his opinion, religious notions, particularly “monasticism”, “monastic walls”, relationship between the elder and the junior comprise a certain framework of Stalin’s consciousness. It may be true but it is not enough to explain the phenomenon of the cult of Stalin’s personality. Moreover, it is arguable whether literature could adequately reflect the history of a society, particularly, for the need of historians. We also have to be very careful when comparing the USA and Russia/USSR, because such phenomena as slavery, political system, frontier, Protestant ethics may be different in their foundation. It is also very hard to compare Stalin with many other dictators as despite their seeming similarities, their origins differ. The main merit of this book is a conviction that the Russian history is indivisible, that Soviet and post-Soviet “periods” simply continue the previous history. This approach enables to understand more in the “natural laws” of the Russian history.

ЯЗЫК ИСКУССТВА — ЯЗЫК ОБРАЗОВАНИЯ (НА ОСНОВЕ РУССКОЙ ФИЛОСОФИИ И РУССКОГО ИСКУССТВА)

The article substantiates the role and significance of the language of art for the education of human personality. The author relies on the developments of Russian philosophy, Russian pedagogical thought, Russian aesthetics and art history reflected in the works of V.S. Solovyov, N.K. Roerich, E.I. Roerich, N.A. Berdyaev, N.O. Lossky, D.S. Likhachev. Particular attention is paid to artistic and aesthetic experience, artistic discoveries and theoretical works of V.V. Kandinsky, K. Malevich, M. Chagall, N.K. Roerich. The main functions of the language of art are considered — aesthetic, ethical and axiological. The paper emphasizes the need to take them into account in teaching humanities (philosophy, theory and history of culture, theory and history of art, history of Russian culture and art) in the Russian language in order to improve the cultural level of modern youth, both Russian and foreign students. The author comes to a conclusion that a deeper understanding of Russian culture and Russian history and familiarization with the fundamental values of the Russian people through an individual’s personal aesthetic experience is possible precisely in the language of art. Moreover, art helps to change a person’s worldview and his personality in a moral sense, to form his personal ethical principles and cultivate in him the high ideals of Truth-Goodness-Beauty in general.

The Policy of Acculturation of the Indigenous Peoples of the Southeastern and Northwestern Outskirts of the Russian Empire: a Comparative Analysis

One of the most controversial issues in Russian history is the question of the territorial growth of our state. For a long time there were two mutually exclusive approaches in historical science. The first is that the annexation of new territories was the result, for the most part, of their conquests. The second — the entry of “colonies” into the empire was generally peaceful in nature and the driving force behind this process was economic development. The article analyzes the processes of acculturation that took place on two frontiers of the Russian state: in the European North and in Central Asia. The methodological basis of the study is the concept of acculturation. The main results of the study are the comparison of these processes on the example of a comparison of two regions. It is noted that, despite the significant difference in the period of interaction between different cultures in these regions, there are a number of similarities in the processes of acculturation. Also, positive results of acculturation were revealed.

“Highly expressive manual on Russian history”: Branch projects of the Historical and Everyday life Department of the State Russian Museum (1925–1930)

In 1918–1934 the State Russian Museum included the Historical and Everyday life Department. It was a unique example of a museum of everyday life, the researchers studied by purposeful selection, exhibiting and actualization the collection, looking for a conceptual basis for their activities. The success of the work was proved by the network of branches that developed in 1925–1930 around the Department, which made it the largest museum of everyday life in the country. Which included the Sheremetevsky and Menshikovsky palaces, the Summer Palace and the house of Peter I, the estates Maryino and Gruzino, whose history has developed in different ways. There were also several projects supervised by the research staff of the Historical and Everyday life Department. The first project was aimed at creating a historical church museum based on the collections united by the “Old Petersburg” Society and then forming the basis of the Museum of the Obsolescent Cult that existed in 1923–1927. The second project involved the organization department of a military of everyday life in the State Russian Museum based on the collections of the Quartermaster, Suvorov, and regimental museums. There were also plans to organize a unified museum of the time of Peter the Great, which was supposed to be in the Menshikov or Summer Palaces. These projects could only be developed in the 1920s, when museums assumed the possibility of experimentation, and were driven by attempts to protect collections. The First All-Russian Museum Congress in 1930 officially completed the development of museums of everyday life in the country. In 1934, the Department of History and Everyday life became part of the State Museum of the Revolution, in 1937, of the State Museum of Ethnography, and in 1941 became the basis for the creation of the Department of the History of Russian Culture in the State Hermitage.

Russian History by Sergey Solovyov in Fyodor Dostoevsky’s Novel The Idiot

Russian History by Sergey Solovyov in Fyodor Dostoevsky’s Novel The Idiot