编号 8 (2025)
Articles
Pilgrimage as a phenomenon in the religious life of individuals and society in Western Europe during the Middle Ages (based on materials from foreign historiography)
摘要
The article analyzes pilgrimage as a phenomenon in the religious life of individuals and society in Western Europe during the Middle Ages. The author deliberately resorts to such geographical localization because the primacy in the process of Christianization in Western Europe was indisputable, and this part of the continent was almost half a millennium ahead of the European barbarians in the East and North. The experience of the Western European pilgrim has a greater chronological span and richer material for study. The research represents a comparative approach based on the study of foreign scientific experience. The author refers to the experience of English-speaking publications, attempting to study pilgrimage as a European phenomenon through the main stages of historical development in the region. According to the researcher’s intention, the article is part of a future trilogy of historical works dedicated to this issue. Using historical-genetic, comparative-historical, and interdisciplinary approaches, the author conducts a systematic study of pilgrimage in the everyday life of people in medieval Europe. The methodology of the research takes its specificity into account. The author works more with historiographical facts than with historical ones, which shifts the focus towards historiography, transforming each studied unit into a source. The author of the article makes the first attempt in Russian historiography to study and summarize the Western Christian experience of pilgrimage, including in works that indirectly touch on this issue. Such an approach undoubtedly adds novelty to the research, considering the introduction into the domestic historiographical discourse and historical information field of information from studies that are not always accessible due to language barriers and publishing policies. The author concludes that pilgrimage as a phenomenon is exclusively connected with Abrahamic religions. In terms of logistics, it includes primary - Palestinian - and secondary - local - routes. Western European pilgrims after the Great Schism of 1054 did not exclude Eastern Christian shrines from their points of visit. The Crusades have a genetic affinity with individual pilgrimages. Pilgrimage led to a partial Easternization of Western Europe in a socio-cultural dimension. The work may be useful for all those interested in the history of Christianity and pilgrimage, having a practical focus that can benefit people engaged in travel and the formation of logistics for routes in religious tourism.
Genesis: Historical Research. 2025;(8):1-16
1-16
Crimean Regional Branch of IPPO: 125th Anniversary of the Taurida Department and the First Decade of Its Reestablishment
摘要
The article analyzes the activities of the recreated Crimean Regional Branch of the international public organization "Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society" (hereinafter - MOO IPPO, or IPPO) over a ten-year period in comparison with the activities of the pre-revolutionary Tauride Department of IPPO. The subject area of the research includes the study of all areas of activity, both modern and pre-revolutionary representation in Crimea and the nearby Northern Black Sea region. The research is based on a wide and diverse source base, consisting of a corpus of modern sources generated by the regional branch, and pre-revolutionary documents - statistical reports (IPPO Reports), periodicals, and foundational documents. The literature, on the contrary, has a small nomenclature due to the narrowness of the particular dimension of the study and is represented by a small group of researchers in national historiography. Using a comparative method and a diachronic approach, the author draws parallels in the formation of the pre-revolutionary Tauride Department and the Crimean Regional Branch, as well as analyzes the activities of the representations in modern and pre-revolutionary Crimea based on the main areas of operation: educational, pilgrimage, historical and cultural. The author of the article makes the first attempt in modern historiography to summarize the ten-year experience of the recreated Crimean Regional Branch, which undoubtedly gives it absolute novelty, complemented by compositional originality, consisting of the first comparison of representations in a diachronic context. This work may be useful for all those interested in the history of IPPO, its regional branches, Crimean studies, the history of pilgrimage, and the Holy Land. In the course of the conducted research, the author confirms the hypothesis that the modern Crimean Regional Branch is a direct continuation of the traditions and legal successor of the pre-revolutionary Tauride Department. The objective set and the tasks solved allowed finding similarities in the main areas of activity of the two representations of the Society that existed in different epochs. The comparative analysis concludes that the Crimean Regional Branch at the present stage has a stronger scientific component, with its popularization activities aimed at studying the pages of domestic history, while the pre-revolutionary Tauride Department was more knowledgeable in matters of pilgrimage activities.
Genesis: Historical Research. 2025;(8):17-36
17-36
Africans in contemporary demography of the United Kingdom
摘要
The article is dedicated to the study of African diasporas in contemporary Britain concerning the demographic situation in the country. The object of the research is Africans in the United Kingdom. The subject of the study is the demographic indicators of communities of African origin. The chronological framework of the work primarily covers the early decades of the 21st century. The lower boundary of the indicated period is, due to the logic of scientific inquiry and as necessary, extended to earlier events. A detailed analysis has been carried out on the history of migration from Africa, the dynamics of the absolute and relative number of British Africans, the birth rate, and fertility indicators within their communities in the second half of the 20th century and the early 21st century. The author pays special attention to the study of settlement patterns and the age and gender structure of migrants from Africa, the role and place of parents of African descent in the reproductive component of the country. Related issues faced by British Africans in the fields of education, employment, crime, and social welfare are also addressed. The author relies on a problem-historical approach, combined with the analytical method, principles of historicism, and objectivism, which form the methodological basis of the work. Quantitative analysis was used to process statistical materials. Since the mid-20th century, the number of British Africans has increased approximately one and a half to two times every ten years. This process was primarily driven by migration from former colonies between the 1950s and 1990s, and since the 2000s, it has been maintained by a high birth rate significantly exceeding what can be observed among the indigenous population. The African diaspora is primarily represented by newcomers and their descendants from Nigeria, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Uganda, and Somalia. Traditions, knowledge of the languages of their countries of origin, socio-religious features, self-perception, obvious external differences, and a consistent increase in number and share within the country's population position Africans as significant actors rapidly changing the local culture. By the end of this century, it is likely that the dominance of the British population on the British Isles will cease, and a conglomerate of Afro-Asian and European communities of various origins, religions, cultures, and levels of organization will reside.
Genesis: Historical Research. 2025;(8):37-51
37-51
The formation and development of the chemical industry in the Urals provinces of the Russian Empire in the context of the modernization of Witte-Stolypin (1879-1912)
摘要
The object of the study is the socio-economic development of the Russian Empire in the era of modernization of Witte-Stolypin. The subject of the study is the formation and development of the chemical industry sector in four Ural provinces (according to P. Semenov's classification used by contemporaries, among others) – Vyatka, Orenburg, Perm and Ufa – in the context of modernization processes in the last third of the XIX – early XX centuries through the prism of three basic indicators – the number of factories, the amount of annual output and the number of employed workers, from which a proxy indicator of labor productivity is also derived. The corpus of sources of work is based on indexes of factories and plants of the Russian Empire and industrial censuses, supplemented by appendices to the governor's reports on the analyzed provinces and a number of other materials. The research is based on historical-genetic, comparative (synchronous and diachronic) and quantitative methods, including those using computer technology. The main conclusions of the study are the impossibility of applying the economic zoning of P. Semenov to the chemical industry and, accordingly, the impossibility of combining the four provinces under consideration into a single Ural group. In two provinces – Orenburg and Ufa – the chemical industry is poorly represented, unlike the other two – Vyatka and Perm provinces, which are proposed to be merged into the Kama group, due to the location of key enterprises on this river, with the possibility of further inclusion of the Kazan province. The dynamics of the development of the chemical industry in the Kama provinces was largely determined by the dynamics of specific institutions – Lyubimov-Solvay and Ushkov, who play a decisive role in the formation of the industry in the region; therefore, it turns out to be problematic to talk about the correspondence of the dynamics of the development of the chemical industry in the declared period to the models used, assuming less dependence on factors that can influence the activities of individual institutions.
Genesis: Historical Research. 2025;(8):52-73
52-73
The perceptions of a ruler-patron in the dedications of German writers of the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648) to Prince Ludwig of Anhalt-Köthen
摘要
The article examines the ideas about the figure of a ruler-patron of the arts, attested to in dedications – a special historical source, widespread in the 16th-17th centuries. For the study, dedications from German writers to Prince Ludwig (1579–1650), the ruler of the German principality of Anhalt-Köthen, were selected. The framework of the study is connected with the Thirty Years' War, the time of the work of the prince in the first German academy – the «Fruitbearing Society». The nature of the sources and the purpose of the study, related to the analysis of the perception of Prince Ludwig by his contemporaries, determine the approach to the stated topic: the work is based on the methodology of «intellectual history» developed by L. P. Repina and social history. The historiography covers the activities of Ludwig as a ruler and head of the Fruitbearing Society, and special literature studying his perception as a patron of the arts actually does not exist. Book dedications are a rather specific source in which the prince appears as an ideal patron of the arts, and therefore, judging his personality by them can only be conditional. Nevertheless, such addresses contain important information about the social status of Prince Ludwig. The article concludes that, thanks to the continuity in the tradition of writing dedications, which began with the first text of this type to Prince Ludwig – from the poet Martin Opitz in 1625, the image of the ideal patron began to form in the circle of German intellectuals: a highly educated monarch who was able to appreciate the work of writers and provide support in publishing and finding other wealthy patrons. In return, the writers promised the prince-patron their service and the opportunity to grant his deeds true immortality – to capture them in their work and, thus, preserve their eternal memory.
Genesis: Historical Research. 2025;(8):74-87
74-87
Historiography of military operations in the territory of Karelia from June to October 1941.
摘要
The subject of the study is a comprehensive historiographical review dedicated to one of the lesser-studied aspects of the Great Patriotic War — the defense of Petrozavodsk. The systematization and analysis of the sources reveal that this topic remains a "blank spot" in domestic military history due to the absence of fundamental monographic studies. The article aims to fill this gap, bringing together disparate information and outlining paths for further research. The key focus of the article is the analysis of archival funds, as well as modern digital technologies and foreign sources. The work analyzes both Soviet and contemporary Russian and foreign historiography. The article emphasizes the particular value of memoir literature, art-documentary works, and photographs in the context of a lack of official documents. The article positions itself as an important methodological resource for historians, local historians, and anyone interested in the history of the Karelian front. A comprehensive approach that combines working with Russian and Finnish archives, memoirs, scientific works, digital resources, and search efforts allows for the reconstruction of the tragic events of September 1941. A significant contribution of the author to the research on the topic is the exhaustive overview of sources, which has been compiled for the first time on the defense of Petrozavodsk in 1941. The article underscores the importance of studying the city's defense, draws attention to the "blank spots" in the historical coverage of events, and suggests directions for further research. The material highlights the importance of an interdisciplinary approach that includes the analysis of archival documents, field research by searchers, and visual sources to recreate a complete picture of the battles around Petrozavodsk. Despite the substantial amount of gathered information, the author notes that the historiography of the defense of Petrozavodsk requires further study and expansion, making this work relevant for researchers of the Great Patriotic War and the history of Karelia.
Genesis: Historical Research. 2025;(8):88-97
88-97
Pilgrimage activities in the territory of the Taurida Diocese before the establishment of the Taurida Department of the Imperial Orthodox Palestinian Society: based on materials from regional church periodicals (1869-1899)
摘要
The subject of this study is the internal and external pilgrimage activity in the territory of the Taurida diocese during the period leading up to the opening of the Taurida department of the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society, which took place on April 2/15, 1900. The main source used is materials from regional church-related periodicals – the Tauride diocesan statements from 1869 to 1899. The author pays special attention to identifying and localizing the main pilgrimage sites in the Crimea peninsula and the adjacent Northern Taurida, recreating logistical schemes for external pilgrimages from the Taurida province beyond the borders of the Russian Empire, and determining the regional features of pilgrimage to the saints of Palestine and Mount Athos in the second half of the 19th century, including clergy and monastics of the Taurida diocese. The primary method of the research is a systematic approach that reveals the features of pilgrimage activity at both the particular (local) level and the macro level, wherein the territory of the Taurida province becomes a unique transshipment base on the way to the centers of world Christian pilgrimage. The comparison of the two levels necessitates the use of a comparative method, which allows for assessments of their autonomy and interrelation. The novelty of the research lies in the fact that the author provides the first historical overview of the main centers of internal pilgrimage that were established based on male and female monasteries of the Crimea peninsula and Northern Taurida. It has been found that most monasteries faced difficulties in accommodating pilgrims, particularly during the eve and days of patronal feasts. The life of pilgrims who were unable to find lodging in hotels is described. The article reports on the interaction between the Palestine Commission, and later the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society, with the episcopate of the Taurida diocese. The names of clergy and nuns from the Taurida diocese who visited Palestine and Athos in the 19th century are mentioned. The main routes of external pilgrimage – via Sevastopol and Odessa – are discussed. The main conclusion of the study is that the internal and external pilgrimage activities in the Taurida diocese are independent phenomena, as neither the local diocesan leadership nor the clergy and monastics in the second half of the 19th century, apart from conducting the annual Palm Sunday gathering, participated in organizing or accompanying pilgrimages to the Holy Land and Athos.
Genesis: Historical Research. 2025;(8):98-112
98-112
The murder of O.A. Bazhenova: an unknown page in the family history of the famous architect V.I. Bazhenov
摘要
Despite the large number of works devoted to the biography of the great Russian architect, painter and thinker Vasily Ivanovich Bazhenov (1738–1799), the personal history of his descendants has been little studied. Meanwhile, they were landowners of Arzamassky Uyezd of Nizhny Novgorod Governorate, in which Emperor Paul I in 1796 granted the architect the villages of Kardavil (also Nikolskoye), Korino and Ponetayevka. Many pages of the history of the Bazhenov family, nobles of Nizhny Novgorod Governorate, remain unknown to the general public. One of them is the murder of Olga Alexandrovna Bazhenova (1820–1855), nee Strunina and the wife of Major Vasily Vsevolodovich Bazhenov (1803–1846), the grandson of the famous architect. Personal history (history in biographies) is one of the most relevant areas in modern historical science, which is currently experiencing a "cultural turn", during which there is a shift from macrohistory to microhistory. Historians conducting research in line with the resurgent biographical method focus on the destiny of individual people, whose reconstructed personal histories are necessary to recreate the events of the past and understand the studied historical epoch. This study involves a wide range of sources and also uses such methods of historical research as historical-genetic, historical-comparative, historical-systemic, etc., cross-analysis (cross-checking of several sources). Biographical method and auxiliary historical disciplines (for example, genealogy) are also widely used. Thus, the article attempts to reconstruct O. A. Bazhenova's personal history in the context of the historical epoch in which the landowner lived, presenting a variety of previously unknown information from the family history of the outstanding architect, found during long and painstaking research in archives of Nizhny Novgorod, Arzamas, Saint Petersburg, Moscow and etc. In addition, the article provides reconstructions of the biographies of some of the Bazhenovs' entourage, which significantly expands the context of the study and illustrates the use of prosopography (creation of collective biographies): not only the biographies of key figures are reconstructed, but also their surroundings, revealing the extensive social ties of the Bazhenov family.
Genesis: Historical Research. 2025;(8):113-142
113-142
On the question of the authority of Old Believer Pomor mentors in the Southern Urals in the 19th and early 20th centuries
摘要
The article examines the problem of the spiritual authority of priestless mentors among Old Believers in the Southern Urals in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The subject of the study is the Old Believers of the Pomor Confession in the Southern Urals. Based on hectographic and handwritten works of Old Believers, as well as archival and investigative files from the Chelyabinsk and Russian State Historical Archives, the article examines the nuances of the conclusion and dissolution of non-sacramental marriages, the religious framework of taboos, and types of disciplinary punishments for members of Old Believer communities as direct manifestations of the spiritual authority of mentors. The methodological toolkit is based on the concept of a formational-staged approach, on the basis of which the stages of transformation of the spiritual authority of mentors are identified in the study. In addition, the historical-genetic method was used, the essence of which is the sequential disclosure of the properties and functions in the subject area we are analyzing in the process of its historical development. As a result of the study, the following stages of transformation of the spiritual authority of mentors were identified: 1) the stage of mentors-prosteci, 2) the transitional period, 3) the time of the “prostech priesthood.” It can be stated that by 1909, the spiritual leaders of the Bespopovtsy had transformed into a new, special type of clergy – “unordained spiritual fathers.” These mentors possessed many attributes and spiritual authority comparable to that of Orthodox priests. Meanwhile, the present study is of an applied nature, as it allows us to establish the historical continuity of the views and practices of the Old Believers of the Pomor Agreement in the Southern Urals.
Genesis: Historical Research. 2025;(8):143-155
143-155
«Could England and China Form an Alliance?»: Li Hongzhang's Diplomatic Mission in the Coverage of the Newspaper «Moskovskie Vedomosti»
摘要
The article is devoted to a study of Li Hongzhang’s diplomatic mission to England in 1896 and to the coverage of this event in the Russian newspaper «Moskovskie Vedomosti». The aim of the work is to identify and analyze how the newspaper described the event, thereby shaping perceptions of China and its relations with the European powers from a Russian perspective. The subject of the study is Li Hongzhang as a representative of the Chinese elite, whose activity in foreign policy and reformist stance had a significant impact on international relations and domestic transformations in China. Special attention is paid to his image in «Moskovskie Vedomosti» – interpretations of his diplomatic objectives, assessments of the mission’s influence on the balance of power in East Asia, and the ways these narratives constructed the character of relations with the European powers from a Russian vantage point. The main method of this research is content analysis of articles and editorial materials in «Moskovskie Vedomosti» published during 1896, supplemented by historical analysis to contextualize the coverage of the mission within Russo-Chinese relations. The study’s results show that the newspaper presented a multifaceted view of the mission, describing both potential benefits and the risks associated with China’s rapprochement with the West. A pattern was identified in the coverage reflecting a combination of Chinese cautious optimism and wariness regarding Anglo-Chinese cooperation. The findings improve understanding of late-XIXth-century Russian foreign policy, perceptions of China, and the formation of public opinion on international affairs. The conclusions can be used in contemporary research on Russo-Chinese relations, comparative analyses of diplomatic strategies, and courses on the history of international communications. The material includes political notes and headlines that make it possible to reconstruct the media reaction to issues of security, trade interests, and the geopolitical calculations of states in this historical period. The source allows tracing the informational strategy of newspaper publicism and serves as a basis for further interdisciplinary research in the history of diplomacy and journalism.
Genesis: Historical Research. 2025;(8):156-166
156-166
Legal regulation of congresses of representatives of medium and small businesses in the Russian Empire in the early twentieth century
摘要
The article considers the Regulation on the congresses of workers in medium and small industry and trade in 1913 as the main normative act regulating the formation and activities of a public organization of entrepreneurs. The object of this research is the legal relations related to the process of formation, organization and functioning of the congress of small and medium-sized trade and industry figures, as well as local departments of the congress. The subject matter is the Regulation prepared by the Ministry of Trade and Industry, approved by the Council of Ministers of Russia and approved by Emperor Nicholas II on June 5, 1913. The authors consider in detail such aspects of the topic as the composition and typology of congresses, their goals and objectives. Special attention is paid to the composition and responsibilities of the congress council. The ways of financing congresses and the process of forming their training program are considered. To achieve the purpose of the work, the authors used dialectical, historical-genetic, systemic and comparative legal methods combined with the principles of objectivity and historicism. The main conclusion of the study is the recognition of the high level of legal regulation of the formation and activity of congresses of figures of medium and small industry and trade as a public organization representing the interests of small and medium-sized businesses. It had all the signs of a legal entity and, together with its local departments, could actively resolve conflicts between employees and employers, create credit and consumer societies, educational institutions, and publish books, magazines, and newspapers. A special contribution of the authors to the research of the topic is the consideration of the Regulations of 1913 as the fundamental normative act regulating the activities of congresses of small and medium-sized entrepreneurs. The scientific novelty of the research lies both in the very formulation of the task of the work (a legal analysis of the 1913 Regulations, which had not been conducted before) and in the conclusions reached, including the possibility of using this experience in the rulemaking of modern Russia.
Genesis: Historical Research. 2025;(8):167-182
167-182
American diplomat Alfred Will Kliefoth and anti-Sovietism in the US government apparatus in 1920s
摘要
The article is dedicated to studying the participation of a US State Department's employee - Alfred Will Kliefot - in determination of the Soviet-American relations. The topic is relevant due to highlighting how intradepartmental and interdepartmental contradictions and discussions in the state apparatus influenced the transition from a policy of sanctions against the USSR to an economic partnership. The purpose of the article is in reconstructing the influence of subjective and objective factors on U.S. foreign policy in the 1920s. The specifics of the functioning of the Division of Eastern European Affairs of the State Department are revealed in detail, as well as the role of the consulate in Riga in adjusting the directions of Soviet-American cooperation. During the research, the author used not only published documents and memoirs, but also materials from American archives. The research methodology is based on the principles of sociological constructivism. To characterize the processes in the US Department of State, the author of the article used historical-biographical and historical-genetic methods. Although A. W. Kliefot is best known for his diplomatic work in Italy, Austria, and Germany in the 1930s, the author has managed to reconstruct little-known aspects of his work in the Division of Russian Affairs and the Division of Eastern European Affairs in the 1920s. The author came to the conclusion that A. W. Kliefot since 1919 till 1929 not only significantly changed his views on the Soviet system, but also contributed to reducing the level of anti-Soviet sentiment in the State Department. Although the diplomat openly opposed the official recognition of the USSR throughout the period under review, he argued in favour of such a step in official correspondence, and also supported the development of Soviet-American trade.
Genesis: Historical Research. 2025;(8):183-196
183-196
The Secrecy Preservation System in the Manhattan Project
摘要
Nuclear weapons, which have become one of the key pillars of maintaining the so-called “long peace” in the postwar world, were first developed in the United States during World War II. This achievement was the result of a collaborative effort by an international group of scientists, working under American leadership and supported by the USA industrial and technological resources. From the outset, secrecy was a central concern—not only regarding technical details, but the very existence of the program. Even the term “Manhattan Project” was deliberately chosen to obscure the nature of the initiative. This paper examines the methods employed by the Manhattan Project leadership to maintain secrecy throughout the development of the atomic bomb. It also explores how these efforts influenced the pace of the project, the emergence of the unique “secret city” culture, and the safety protocols governing work at various sites. The analysis draws primarily on personal sources, including memoirs and interviews with project participants. While the question of secrecy has occasionally been addressed in broader studies of the Manhattan Project, it has never been the subject of focused academic inquiry. In Russian historiography it is often acknowledged but seldom explored in depth too. This study aims to help fill that gap. In light of ongoing international tensions and continuing efforts by non-nuclear states to obtain nuclear capabilities, research into the history of nuclear development and proliferation remains particularly relevant. The paper concludes that secrecy was not merely an operational necessity, but a formative factor in the very structure and management of the Manhattan Project. This imperative shaped the project’s organization and contributed to a range of scientific, engineering, and administrative challenges. Nonetheless, the project met its objectives within a reasonable timeframe without any major security breaches.
Genesis: Historical Research. 2025;(8):197-205
197-205
The first sculptor and member of the Union of Artists of the USSR from Khakasia: Irina Karachakova and her unrealized project
摘要
The subject of the research is the history of the monumental project "Friendship," created by the first Khakass sculptor and the first member of the Artists' Union of the USSR, Irina Karachakova, which was intended as a monument for the 250th anniversary of the annexation of Khakassia to Russia. The object of the research is the creative work and activities of I.N. Karachakova, her contribution to the development of monumental sculpture in the region and the country, and her role as a pioneer in this field. Attention is drawn to the conception, recognition, and postponement of the implementation of the "Friendship" monument, raising the question of the reasons for the project's non-implementation and the significance of this project for the cultural identity of Khakassia, which remains insufficiently studied. Thus, the research aims to analyze the historical context, artistic value, and cultural significance of monumental art in Khakassia, with a particular emphasis on the unrealized project "Friendship." Historical analysis involves the study of historical documents, archival materials, and epistolary heritage to reconstruct the events associated with the creation and realization of the "Friendship" project. Iconographic analysis examines the symbolism of the "Friendship" monument—its elements and motifs—to understand the author's concept. The "micro-history" method investigates a specific event (the unrealized project) to comprehend broader social and cultural processes. Overall, the scientific novelty lies in the comprehensive study of an unrealized cultural object, its creator, and the context, contributing to a fuller understanding of the history and culture of Khakassia. As a result of the work, we have come to the following conclusions: 1. The artistic appropriation of public space in the USSR was closely related to the tasks of forming state ideology, visualizing political goals (in this case—the friendship of peoples and the assertion of historical narratives). 2. The "Friendship" project received institutional support but faced administrative collisions and a lack of interagency coordination. 3. I.N. Karachakova, being the first Khakass sculptor and the first member of the Artists' Union of the USSR from Khakassia, made a significant contribution to the development of monumental art in Khakassia and throughout the Soviet Union, opening a new path for artists in the region and gaining recognition at the all-Union level.
Genesis: Historical Research. 2025;(8):206-215
206-215