VESTNIK 4 (28) 2021
- Title:
- VESTNIK 4 (28) 2021
- Number:
- 4
- Year:
- 2021
- Date publication on the site:
- 2022-01-24 12:23:30
- Full journal in PDF:
-
Content all 12
“IMMRAM SNÉDGUSA OCUS MAIC RÍAGLA” AND THE IRISH ANNALS
UDC: УДК 94
Section: HISTORY
Authors: Anastasiya A. Bogdanova;
Concerning “Immram Snédgusa ocus Maic Ríagla” T. Ó Canann argued that the fabula of the so named Poetic version of the scél has been constructed within the historical context of eighth century Ireland. The purpose of this article is to make some theoretical contribution to that thesis by conducting a detailed comparative analysis of the poem’s entries and the Irish annals. Comparative and plot-comparative analysis was mainly used as well as the comparative methodology widely accepted among the specialists in Irish annals (G. Mac Niocaill). Here we have elaborated the annals dated within the 11th – 15th centuries, among which the Annals of Ulster provide us the most complete information. In the center of our attention is the chronological framework of the reign of Domnall and his son Donnchad, kings of Mide and the Uí Néill (AU 743–797). It should be admitted that the T. Ó Canann’s suggestion related to the Poetic version has no strict and clear evidence. There are no direct factual links between the historical data of Ireland during the Domnall and Donnchad’s reign and the “Immram”, ac-cording to the annals. Quite obscure parallels may be drawn between the death of Follaman son of Con Congalt and the murder of mythical Fiachu; as well as the mention of Donnchad’s support for the providing St. Colum Cille law (AU) or the chronological coincidence between introducing the Norsemen first raids in the annals and the eschatological ending of the tale also could be noted. However, there are also obvious factual contradic-tions. The only strong evidence had come down to us in the genealogy of Rig Uisnig (Book of Leinster).
REPRESSIVE MEASURES OF THE IRAQI AND TURKISH GOVERNMENTS AGAINST THE KURDISH NATIONALIST MOVEMENT: FACTOR OF COORDINATION (1950–1970)
UDC: УДК 327.58
Section: HISTORY
Authors: Ilia N. Vedeneev;
The article analyses the activities of the Turkish and Iraqi governments to suppress the Kurdish movement in the 1950–70s. The main emphasis is placed on the consideration of the national movement led by M. Barzani in Iraq (1961–1975). The processes that took place in Turkey (coup in 1960 and 1971, the position of the Turkish leadership on the Kurdish issue) are also considered. Despite the presence of close coope-ration between Iraq and Turkey in regional security, the Turkish leadership refrained from direct military intervention in 1963 (de-spite the development of relevant plans). It should also be noted that no evidence was found in favor of the di-rect Turkish military presence in Iraq, despite military exercises on the closed border with Iraq. The only thing that was really undertaken by the Turkish leadership was the closure of the border with Iraq in order to prevent the transit of weapons, food and medicines for the rebels. In general, cooperation between Iraq and Turkey in the issue can be divided into three stages: (1) the period of bilateral agreements and membership in the Baghdad Pact (until 1958); (2) lack of contacts during the period when the revolutionary government (headed by A. Qasem) was in power in Iraq (until 1963); (3) the restoration of tacit cooperation with the Iraqi government rep-resented by the Baath Party (starting in 1963). Until the end of the armed struggle in Iraq (1975), the Turkish leadership refrained from any actions that could be regarded as a violation of Iraqi borders – despite the fact that, according to the concluded military treaties, the Turkish aviation had the right to enter the airspace of Iraq.
VOLOST EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE KOMI AUTONOMOUS REGION AND THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE RURAL SETTLEMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF KOMI AT THE PRESENT STAGE: SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (ON THE EXAMPLE OF THE SETTLEMENT VOMYN)
UDC: УДК 94(47.13)"1920/29"
Section: HISTORY
Authors: Vladislav N. Karakchiev;
The socio-economic development of individual lower administrative-territorial units (in the 1920s - volosts, at the present stage - rural settlements) is of interest to researchers as a process influencing the dynamics of trans-formations in the region. In connection with the 100th anniversary of the Komi Republic, it is advisable to carry out a comparative analysis of the aspects of the development of the economy, education, health care, and the cultural sphere, implemented both by the Volost Executive Committee (Volispolkom) of the Komi Autonomous Region and the administration of the municipality of the rural settlement Vomyn. The purpose of the article is to conduct a comparative study of the activities of the local authority on the socio-economic development of the settlement Vomyn in the 1920s and 2020s. The work used archival materials, scientific literature and data from the official electronic resource of the administration of the rural settlement Vomyn, allowing to consider the spheres of economy, education, health care and culture in a particular settlement. The article uses general scientific research methods: analysis, comparison, description. Volispolkom of the 1920s and the administration of a rural settlement in the 2020s applied similar foundations of activity. Both, one and the other government bodies carried out work with the budget, taking into account the population and economic facilities. The most important direction of the functioning of the administrative apparatus was the organization of cooperation with institutions, including with the leadership of educational, medical, cultural institutions for the purpose of socio-economic development of the settlement. Direct work with the population has been and remains the leading way for local authorities to interact with residents. Thus, the socio-economic policy of the Volost Executive Committee of the 1920s and the administration of a rural settlement in the 2020s of the settlement Vomyn has many similar foundations of work: the adoption and implementation of the budget, accounting for the number of residents and economic facilities, interaction with organizations and the local population.
FORMATION OF SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE XIX CENTURY
UDC: УДК 9.94
Section: HISTORY
Authors: Ekaterina A. Kozub; Ilyas A. Manakhov;
The article examines the process of opening special educational institutions in the Ottoman Empire in the sec-ond half of the 19th and early 20th centuries. Particular attention is paid to the analysis of the goals of the opening of educational institutions and the identification of key figures who played a significant role in the crea-tion of schools. The purpose of the article is to study the process of formation of special educational institutions in the Ottoman Empire in the second half of the XIX century. The methodological basis of the work is based on historicism, objectivity and consistency, as well as the chronological method of research. The specific historical method of analyzing archival sources made it possible to effectively introduce new data into scientific circula-tion, fill the work with factual content, and enrich it with important details. The materials for the research were both Ottoman primary sources and the works of Ottoman, Turkish and Russian historians. The process of open-ing special educational institutions was studied. The role and influence on this process of both politicians and in-telligentsia were considered. In addition, the problems that hindered the opening of special educational institu-tions were analyzed, among which the most significant were the influence of political and ideological factors and lack of funding. Having considered the process of formation of special educational institutions in the Otto-man Empire the authors came to the conclusion that it was the period of the Tanzimat that served as an impe-tus for the development of education in the Ottoman Empire and the opening of special educational institutions of various directions. The authorities realized that society required changes and therefore responded to these re-quests. In addition, representatives of the intelligentsia played an important role in this process, they contributed to the opening of educational institutions and sometimes were engaged in teaching themselves.
TEACHER OF MARI TEACHERS: THROUGH THE PAGES OF THE BIOGRAPHY OF PROFESSOR P. A. APAKAEV
UDC: УДК 37.011.31(470.343)
Section: HISTORY
Authors: Elena V. Kondratenko; Lyudmila V. Kurochkina; Elena V. Maltseva;
The article analyzes the scientific and pedagogical heritage of the Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences, Professor, one of the prominent figures of Mari culture and education, the author of more than four hundred scientific publications, thirty textbooks and teaching aids on the history of pedagogy, methods of teaching the Mari lan-guage and literature Petr Andreevich Apakaev. The purpose of the study is to identify and to generally
characterize the main directions of research and pedagogical activity of P. A. Apakaev. The main research methods are theoretical analysis, biographical method, bibliographic method, comparative historical analysis. A brief biography of the outstanding Mari scientist-teacher is presented, his main scientific works are analyzed, his contribution to the study of the history of Mari education and the ethnopedagogy of the Mari people is evaluat-ed. The analysis of the works allows us to assert that the main directions of scientific and pedagogical activity of P. A. Apakaev are research in the field of the history of the formation and development of the national educa-tion system in the Mari Region, ethnopedagogy, methods of teaching the Mari language and literature. The arti-cle discusses the features of P. A. Apakaev's application of the biographical method in research on the history of
education of the Mari Region. The contribution of P. A. Apakaev to the development of the concept of
ethnopedagogical training of teachers and methodological aspects of its application in the practical training of a modern teacher is determined.
SOVIET YOUTH IN THE 1980S: IDEOLOGICAL, POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC ACTIVITY (BASED ON THE MATERIALS OF THE ULYANOVSK REGION)
UDC: УДК 93/94 (470)
Section: HISTORY
Authors: Rashit A. Mukhamedov ; Natalia S. Boyko;
Issues and problems of youth education have always been and will remain relevant. With the collapse of the USSR, the rejection of the current ideology, without replacing it with another system of education, the entire structure of the ideological and political education of the younger generation was violated. The number of young people who were united in the Komsomol on 01.01.1988 reached almost 157 thousand boys and girls in the Ulyanovsk region. This youth organization, with its vibrant energy, fiery friendship, daring dreams and huge deeds, has become not only a bright page in the fate of its members, but has also made an invaluable contribu-tion to the development of our Motherland. Recently, only rare and isolated attention has been paid to the topic of scientific research "Ideological and political education of youth" in the regions, due to the fact that the rele-vance is also enhanced by the insufficiency of the development of problems in the modern domestic research field. The history of the youth organization about bygone times will become a kind of lessons for modern youth, who have something to adopt from the experience of their predecessors. It was these considerations that moti-vated the preparation of this article. The purpose of this study is to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the ac-tivities of the Komsomol public youth organization, its organizational and guiding abilities. In the course of the research, the documents of the State Archive of the Modern History of the Ulyanovsk region (SAMH UR) were used, which were introduced into scientific circulation for the first time. The research methodology was based on the principles of historicism, scientific objectivity and consistency. In the scientific article, historical-genetic, his-torical-systemic, and comparative-historical methods were applied, based on those adopted in modern historical science. Multidimensional activity has become the content of this article, and for the first time it is shown on unique and convincing documents. In the process of writing an article, you feel the spirit and peculiarities of by-gone eras, you come into contact with interesting beginnings, deeds, bright destinies, thoughts and affairs of the youth of the Soviet era. The forms and methods of work of the Komsomol are very visibly and concretely shown, and not only the advantages, but also the disadvantages and mistakes are shown. The conclusion corre-sponding to the content of the article is made that the Soviet youth, united in such an organization as the Kom-somol, loved their Homeland, all deeds were aimed at its prosperity.
INSTITUTIONAL MECHANISMS FOR THE FORMATION OF “POLITICAL” MEMORY IN SLOVAKIA IN THE CONTEXT OF THE APPROVAL OF THE “EASTERN EUROPEAN MODEL” OF MEMORY
UDC: УДК 32.019.51
Section: HISTORY
Authors: Larisa P. Nelina; Alexander S. Tsyganov;
This article analyzes the main activities of the Nation’s Memory Institute in Bratislava as a tool for the for-mation of the configuration of “political” memory given by the Eastern European narrative. The main mecha-nisms for the implementation of the politics of memory in Slovakia are considered. The purpose of the publica-tion is to characterize the main mechanisms of constructing the “political” memory of the Slovak society “from above” in the context of the approaches set by the Eastern European narrative to the history of the Central Eastern European region in the XX century. Methodologically, this study is based on the concept of “political” memory of A. Assman. The empirical basis of this study is the legislative acts of Slovakia of the 1990s−2020s, regulating the interpretation of events in national history, and annual reports on the activities of the Slovak Na-tion’s Memory Institute for 2003−2019. The study examines the mechanisms of legislative regulation of inter-pretations of Slovak history in the context of the common European trend towards the approval of the “Eastern European model” of memory. A detailed analysis of the templates introduced by these legislative acts is carried out, primarily the “period of non-freedom” of 1939−1989, and the activities of the Nation’s Memory Institute to consolidate them in the collective memory of the population. The authors come to the conclusion that the key mechanisms of influencing the Slovak public are the holding of exhibitions of archival documents, focusing on the repressive component, first of all, of the communist regime, the creation of an archive of video interviews of repressed and documentary films of the same content, the implementation of educational projects.
FEATURES OF THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE CHEBOKSARY HYDROELECTRIC POWER STATION
UDC: УДК 621.311.21:626(470.344-25)
Section: HISTORY
Authors: Nadezhda G. Rusinova ;
The author attempts to consider the issue of features of the design and construction of the station, in the anni-versary year of the first start of the unit of the Cheboksary hydroelectric power station. The relevance of the re-search lies in the fact that domestic publications have fragmentally considered this topic. The purpose of this study is to consider the features of the design and construction of the Cheboksary hydroelectric power station, to identify its uniqueness in comparison with other hydraulic structures. The authors used archival documents, journalistic literature and articles in scientific journals to work on the topic. The research methods were compar-ative-historical and the method of systematic analysis, which allows summarizing the data of the sources and grouping dissimilar judgments and assessments. The hydroelectric complex is located not on rock grounds, but on “soft” soils, therefore engineering solutions were made to shore on the foundation of the construction to en-sure strength and stability. The power site has a considerable unit cost. Neither of the hydroelectric power sta-tions of the Volga river has such unit costs. It puts the spillway dike first among domestic and foreign hydroe-lectric complexes, built on “soft” soils. The main concrete constructions are located on the right bank, so it be-came necessary to clear the left bank. The river was moved to a new course under an unfortified earth dike cof-ferdam. It was the first time in the history of the Volga construction projects. The hydroelectric power station building is combined with a spillway, so it partially takes over the function of a spillway dike. Advanced, at that point, construction technology, used for the construction of the facility, provided an opportunity to reduce the erection time. These are for example, pouring of concrete with the use of vibrating blocks and reusable form, and concrete delivery to hard-to-reach areas of the facilities using concrete placer pump. Such technologies are currently widely used in construction. Industrial filter drain pipes were used to filter the soil under the facilities, which in turn led to a significant reduction in the volume of filter materials. Thus, the Cheboksary hydroelectric power station is a unique hydraulic structure. Design choices distinguish it from other stations. There are mod-ern technologies in construction that are currently widely used in industrial and urban construction. The paper is of interest, in terms of the history of hydraulic construction, to the use of further research of the topic.
THE COLLECTIVIZATION OF AGRICULTURE IN 1928–1930 (BASED ON MATERIALS FROM THE ULYANOVSK DISTRICT)
UDC: УДК 93(470.43)338.43
Section: HISTORY
Authors: Alexander V. Stolyarov ;
The relevance of the problem lies in the fact that at the present time, when the government of the Russian Fed-eration is forced, in the realities of systematically increasing sanctions pressure from a number of European states, to make efforts and develop a programmatic course of reforms that can give an intensive impetus to the development of the agricultural sector, it is undoubtedly important to analyze the accumulated experience of the Soviet government in the implementation of the agrarian course of reforms during the collectivization peri-od. In addition, the relevance is enhanced by the inadequacy of the development of problems in the modern domestic research field. The purpose of the article is to carry out a comprehensive analysis of the events and problems of collectivization on the territory of the Ulyanovsk district of the Middle Volga region. The study uses archival documents from the State Archive of Contemporary History of the Ulyanovsk Region (SACH UR), the State Archives of the Ulyanovsk Region (SAUR), as well as literature and scientific publications of researchers on this topic. The article was formed on the basis of principles and methods accepted in modern historical sci-ence. The principles of objectivity and historicism became fundamental. When writing the work, specific meth-ods were also applied: problem-chronological, historical-comparative, historical-systemic, statistical. The pro-cess of organizing collective farms in the period of collectivization, the role of local party structures in building collective farms and eliminating the kulaks as a class are shown. Along with this, the methods of socializing land ownership were studied, the categories of peasants who participated in the creation of the collective farm system were identified: the poor, middle peasants and wealthy peasants. It is concluded that as a result of collec-tivization through the socialization of the property of individual farms and the enlargement of collective farms, local power structures managed to achieve in the period from 1928 to 1930 significant successes: firstly, the multiple expansion of sown areas; secondly, an increase in the rate of development of cattle breeding; and third-ly, the implementation of a large-scale inventory. However, at the same time, due to the implementation of the collectivization campaign by tough measures, as well as the mass dispossession of kulaks, the peasants lost the motivation to work.
THE ROLE OF MTS IN THE SOCIALIST RECONSTRUCTION OF AGRICULTURE DURING THE FIRST FIVE-YEAR PLAN IN THE ULYANOVSK DISTRICT
UDC: УДК 93/94
Section: HISTORY
Authors: Andrey A. Shadyshkov;
At the end of the 1920s, the Russian village fell into the whirlpool of the largest modernization processes car-ried out by the Council of People's Commissars and on behalf of the CPSU(b). The government demanded in 1928–1929 to increase the cultivated area, to solve the problems of livestock breeding and to carry out an in-ventory. It was decided to do these processes by enlarging collective farms, rapidly increasing the entry of indi-vidual farms into collective farms. The peasantry, regardless of whether it wanted or not, participated in a close-ly interrelated process in two forms: some were forcibly “driven” to a collective farm, while others were deku-lakized in order to provide the first (collective farmers) with a material base. The authorities skillfully arranged contradictions in the village during dekulakization – many fellow villagers hated their wealthy neighbors and willingly helped with dekulakization. The process of collectivization determined the further development of agriculture. The purpose of the article is a comprehensive, from the standpoint of objectivity and historicism, retrospective analysis of the agricultural reconstruction of the Russian countryside in the second half of the 1920s – early 30s, which went down in history as collectivization. The study uses archival documents from the State Archive of the Russian Federation (SARF), the Russian State Archive of Contemporary History, the State Archive of Contemporary History of the Ulyanovsk Region (SACH UR), the State Archives of the Ulyanovsk Region (SAUR), as well as literature and scientific publications of researchers on this topic. The article was formed on the basis of general scientific and general historical approaches. In the course of the work, the funda-mental principles of research in the study of problems became the principles of scientific nature, complexity, comprehensiveness, historicism and objectivity. Along with this, the following research methods were applied in the article: periodization, statistical problem-chronological, historical-comparative, historical-systemic and classification. The course of collectivization, the formation of collective farms, measures taken by local party structures to eliminate the kulaks are considered, the features of the construction of the first machine and tractor stations and their activities are highlighted. In addition, attention is paid to the contradictory nature of the agrarian program course implemented in the period under consideration, associated with measures to increase the rate of collective farm construction in the absence of objective prerequisites for this and support from the ru-ral population. The period of the first five-year plan is the time of the formation and strengthening of the materi-al and technical base of the agricultural economic industry, in which the leading role was assigned to machine and tractor stations (MTS). In the Ulyanovsk District, the activities of MTS and the events implemented by local party structures contributed to the organization of the supply of the agricultural sector with units of agricultural machinery, livestock equipment and new qualified personnel.
REVOLUTIONS AND NAPOLEONIC WARS IN THE ASSESSMENT OF R. SOUTHEY
UDC: УДК 94(410)+94(44)
Section: HISTORY
Authors: Ekaterina A. Yazykova;
The article focuses on Robert Southey (1774–1843), an influential poet, thinker and historian, who appears to be a dominant and controversial figure in British culture. The author of the article, on the basis of R. Southey’s letters, analyzes the change in his views on the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars. The purpose of this article is to show the change in R. Southey’s views on the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars. The main source of this article was the personal correspondence of R. Southey. The article is written on the basis of the principles of historicism and objectivity using methods of analysis, comparison, description. The author of the article proceedes from the fact that R. Southey’s attitude to the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars became, like for many other British (and not only) thinkers, in a certain sense, the cornerstone of the formation and evolution of his philosophical and historical views, the foundations of his worldview. R. Southey’s views changed in such a way that as the realities of the French Revolution, which he praised, became more and more unpleasant, he retreated from it, regretting his “unbridled and extravagant ideas about freedom”. At the end of the article, it is concluded that R. Southey belonged to that part of English intellectuals who enthusiastically welcomed the beginning of the French Revolution as a struggle for the cause of Freedom. R. Southey later ad-mitted, like many others, he was enthusiastic about the beginning of the French Revolution, but later he was grateful that it was over. In his opinion, neither the Revolution nor the Napoleonic Wars brought anything but a mass of humiliation, poverty and ruin.
REVIEW OF THE MONOGRAPH: STEPANOVA L. G. NATURE AND WELFARE: THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT BY THE RUSSIAN PEASANT IN THE MIDDLE AGES AND EARLY MODERN TIMES. SPB., ALTEYA PUBL., 2021, 632 P.: IL. ISBN 978-5-00165-273-1
UDC:
Section: REVIEWS
Authors: Anany G. Ivanov; Aleksey A. Ivanov;
Российское крестьяноведение пополнилось фундаментальным исследованием признанного специалиста в области аграрной истории – Ли-лии Геннадьевны Степановой, кандидата исто-рических наук, доцента кафедры истории Рос-сии Кубанского государственного университе-та, посвященным памяти нашего учителя – академика РАН, профессора Московского гос-ударственного университета им. М. В. Ломо-носова Леонида Васильевича Милова.
В рецензируемой монографии представле-ны результаты многолетних изысканий автора по изучению актуальной проблемы освоения окружающей среды русским крестьянином в эпоху Средневековья и раннее Новое время. В качестве основных источников исследования выступают первые русские земельные кадаст-ры: новгородские писцовые и приправочные книги XVI в. и материалы Генерального меже-вания земель конца XVIII в., проведен сравни-тельный анализ сведений, характеризующих природную среду, в которой на протяжении веков функционировало крестьянское хозяй-ство Новгородской земли; изучено природно-жизненное пространство крестьянского хозяй-ства и его производственный потенциал, зе-мельное обеспечение крестьян; рассмотрены качество земли и изменяющиеся параметры ее плодородия, видовой состав деревьев и ку-старников, наиболее распространенные в ре-гионе виды животных, птиц и рыб; дана оценка крестьянского бюджета и благосостояния кре-стьянских хозяйств; выявлены компенсацион-ные механизмы выживаемости крестьянского хозяйства в сложных природных условиях.
Интерес нашего коллеги Л. Г. Степановой к заявленной теме возник под влиянием Л. В. Милова, долгие годы заведовавшего кафедрой истории России до начала XIX века историче-ского факультета МГУ им. М. В. Ломоносова, одного из основоположников использования количественных методов исследования, разра-ботавшего концепцию отечественной истории как общества с минимальным прибавочным продуктом, предложившего по-новому взгля-нуть на роль природно-климатичес-кого факто-ра в человеческом обществе.
Вышеназванные основополагающие прин-ципы и подходы во многом предопределили характер и последовательность изложения со-держания данной темы. Изданию книги пред-шествовал большой объем проделанной авто-ром работы. В разные годы вопросы, связан-ные с освещением разработки данной темы, обсуждались в ходе проведения симпозиумов по аграрной истории Восточной Европы, чте-ний, посвященных памяти Л. В. Милова, на международных и всероссийских конференци-ях. Автор делал доклады по теме своего иссле-дования на мировых конгрессах ICCEES VIII World Congress 2010 в Стокгольме, ICCEES IX World Congress 2015 в Макухари (Япония), на конференции BASEES-2011 в Кембриджском университете, организованной Британской ас-социацией славянских и восточноевропейских исследований.
Актуальность монографии Л. Г. Степано-вой в первую очередь определяется новым комплексным ретроспективным подходом к изучению крестьянского хозяйства, функцио-нирующего в качестве самодостаточного эко-социального организма на определенной ис-торической территории, которая, с одной сто-роны, предоставляет возможности для разви-тия, и, с другой стороны, ограничивает его рост. Исследование проблем жизни крестьян-ского хозяйства проводится в рамках изучения истории окружающей среды («Еnvironmental history») – нового направления в исторической науке, позволяющего не только выявить и оценить влияние природной среды на условия функционирования крестьянского хозяйства, но и влияние самих крестьян на окружающую среду. В связи с этим изучение агрикультуры и землепользования крестьян является важным с точки зрения расширения наших знаний о по-этапном преобразовании природной среды че-ловеком на протяжении целого ряда столетий. Автор справедливо подчеркивает, что деятель-ность крестьянского хозяйства по преобразо-ванию окружающей среды неразрывно связана с культурой сельского хозяйства и определен-ным развитием производительных сил, орудий труда.
Исходя из заявленной проблематики, структура монографии включает следующие составные части: предисловие, введение, шесть глав, заключение, библиографию, спи-сок принятых сокращений и приложение.
Первая глава посвящена характеристике проблемы взаимодействия природы и человека в российской историографии, в которой Л. Г. Степанова обнаружила глубокое знание различных подходов, точек зрения и оценок по теме исследования. Можно согласиться с тем, что при оценке благосостояния населения, ис-следователи применяли различные методы и источники. Однако многие вопросы остава-лись нерешенными. Среди них важнейшим был вопрос о том, каким образом удавалось выжи-вать крестьянским семьям при дефицитном зерновом бюджете и каким образом компенси-ровался недостаток хлеба в неурожайные и го-лодные годы. Механизм выживаемости кре-стьянского хозяйства в сложных жизненных и природных условиях стал лейтмотивом данной книги.
Во второй главе дан подробнейший анализ исторических источников и охарактеризованы методы исследования. Автором использованы в первую очередь массовые источники, позво-лившие оценить хозяйственную деятельность людей, демографические процессы, сведения о природных ресурсах и степени их вовлеченно-сти в хозяйственный оборот под воздействием человека. Для этого мобилизованы материалы первых русских кадастров – писцовых и при-правочных книг XV–XVI вв. и экономических примечаний к планам Генерального межевания конца XVIII века. Для характеристики природ-ных явлений широко использованы сведения русских летописей, хронографов, записок ино-странцев, а для описания среды обитания – ак-товый материал. Привлеченные массовые ис-точники позволили использовать как традици-онные, так и современные методы, связанные с применением информационных технологий и количественного анализа, что очень важно для комплексного рассмотрения крестьянского хо-зяйства, функционировавшего в определенной природной среде Новгородской земли на про-тяжении XVI–XVIII веков.
Несомненный интерес представляет третья глава, посвященная характеристике природно-жизненного пространства крестьянского хо-зяйства, системы расселения и «вмещающего ландшафта» крестьянского двора, а также структуры земледельческой семьи. Судя по наблюдениям автора, неблагоприятные при-родные явления на протяжении рассматривае-мого времени создавали большие трудности для развития сельского хозяйства и сильно ограничивали его производительность. Освое-ние новых земель, расширение посевных пло-щадей зачастую происходило в неблагоприят-ных условиях, требующих максимального напряжения производительных сил русского хлебопашца. В этих условиях опыт предше-ствующих поколений, эмпирические знания об окружающем микромире позволял земледельцу приспосабливаться к негативным факторам с целью своего жизнеобеспечения. Во многом это было связано и с людностью крестьянского двора на территории Северо-Запада России. Приведенные сведения о преобладании боль-ших неразделенных семей в целом соответ-ствуют общероссийской тенденции, проявив-шейся и в других регионах страны.
Обстоятельностью отличается четвертая глава о качестве земли, как факторе крестьян-ского землепользования и расселения, в кото-рой последовательно прослеживается земель-ное обеспечение крестьян и анализ их хозяй-ственной деятельности в динамике на протя-жении XVI–XVIII веков. Проведенный анализ позволил Л. Г. Степановой сделать обоснован-ный вывод о том, что на сопоставимой терри-тории прослеживается устойчивая преемствен-ность в использовании земельных угодий, с од-ной стороны, и процесс вовлечения новых зе-мель в пашни, во многом связанный с опреде-ленным прогрессом агротехники и агрокульту-ры – с другой. Качество плодородия почвы, безусловно, выступало важнейшим фактором крестьянского землепользования с его чере-сполосицей, мелкополосицей и другими факто-рами. При этом в условиях комплексного кре-стьянского хозяйства земледелие было опреде-ляющим на всем временном протяжении.
Освоение окружающей среды русским зем-ледельцем, окультуривание лесных площадей под пашню и сенокосные угодья, охотничьи и рыбные ресурсы крестьянского хозяйства де-тально рассмотрены в пятой главе.
В шестой главе впервые подробнейшим об-разом проанализированы такие важнейшие ас-пекты, как урожайность зерновых культур и хлебные цены, питание и бюджет крестьян-ской семьи. Автором установлено, что мало-плодородные почвы и неблагоприятные по-годные явления на территории Новгородской земли не позволяли получать высокие урожаи зерновых культур. При урожайности сам-2 и сам-3 хлебный бюджет оставался дефицит-ным, поэтому крестьянская семья рассчитывала не только на выращенный урожай, но и про-дукцию домашнего животноводства и различ-ных промыслов. Недостаток хлеба зачастую компенсировался природными ресурсами, ис-пользуемыми для оптимизации жизнеобеспече-ния натурального крестьянского хозяйства.
Основные выводы проведенного исследова-ния представлены в заключении монографии, в котором убедительно подчеркивается, что бла-госостояние жителей Новгородской земли, их достаток и обеспеченность необходимыми ма-териальными благами и в целом уровень жизни во многом зависели от природы, наличия опре-деленных природных ресурсов и состояния окружающей среды.
Изданная монография отличается обстоя-тельной фундированностью, что нашло отра-жение в обширной библиографии, включаю-щей архивные источники, извлеченные из раз-личных фондов Российского государственного архива древних актов, а также опубликованных документах и богатейшей литературы. Пред-ставленные в приложении таблицы в значи-тельной мере углубляют содержательную часть данного исследования.
Таким образом, рецензируемая монография Л. Г. Степановой имеет важное научно-теоре-тическое, познавательное и практическое зна-чение, вносит весомый вклад в аграрную исто-риографию и российское крестьяноведение и, несомненно, будет востребована как историка-ми, так и экономистами, экологами, специали-стами сельского хозяйства, почвоведами, сту-дентами вузов, а также всеми интересующими-ся историей России.