Abstract: The object of this research is the postcolonial theory, while the subject is its impact upon the historical, and namely, historical-anthropological research of Latin America. The author examines such peculiarities of post-colonialism as the problem of identification, the “oppressed”, the importance of linguistic component of scientific description, as well as the political bias of this direction. Attention is turned to the process of adaptation of postcolonial theory to Latin American scientific foundation; emphasis is placed on the fact that the region has its own tradition of interpretation of the colonial past that results in occurrence of the so-called phenomenon of decolonial turn within the Latin American humanities. Based on the comparative method and qualitative content analysis of the works dedicated to postcolonial theory, the author demonstrates the presence of a wide range of opinions of Latin American researchers on such concepts as “colonialism: and “Latin Americanism”. The conclusion is made that the intense discussion on the theoretical aspects of colonial and decolonial theory may underlie the new vector in the historical studies of Latin America.  At the same time, decolonial turn alongside postcolonial theory, raise a number of questions, the solution of which is vital for the development of accurate methodology for further scientific research. For the Russian Latin American scholars, the new trends turn into a special challenge that should be considered in carrying out historical and anthropological research.

Abstract: The subject of this article is the research activity of Joaquín García Icazbalceta (1825-1894) – a historian, linguist and bibliographer who published a large number of documents on the history of Mexico, namely records on Spanish colonization of the Americas and establishment of the colonial system. Analysis is conducted the formation of scientific views of the Mexican scholar in the context of the impact of external factors, such as the political and socioeconomic situation, as well as public thought. This author reveals the historiographical and methodological foundation of the indicated concept, as well as assesses the degree of influence of the external factors upon the movement of Mexican historical science in late XIX century. Joaquín García Icazbalceta was a persevering scholar, who dedicated most of his life to collecting and publishing of the rare historical writings and documents. He is the author of a number articles, which although are not considered complete research works, are based on reputable sources and shed lights on some aspects of the ancient and colonial history of Mexico. Despite the seeming affinity for Spanish heritage in Mexican culture, Joaquín García Icazbalceta greatly contributed to research on the history of Aztecs, forming and leaving to the future generations of historians a substantial documentary base that allows discovering Mexican history of the XVI century, as well as other periods of history of the country.

Abstract: The subject of this research is scientific activity of the Mexican philologist and historian Ángel María Garibay (1892-1967), who dedicated his life to accumulation, translation and analysis of various types of texts written in the Nahuatl language during the pre-colonial period and Spanish colonization of the Americas. The goal consists in clarification of schoolar’s contribution to the development of Mexican historical science, namely the ancient history of Mexico. The article analyzes the key stages in scientific career of A. M. Garibay, as well as examines his major works. The persona of this scholar and his writings unfortunately did not receive due attention in the Russian Latin American Studies. The conclusion is made that the works of A. M. Garibay predetermined the vector of research in the area of culture of pre-Columbian period of Mexico for decades ahead. His outlook upon the history of pre-Columbian civilizations in a remarkable manner intertwines with the perception of ancient history of the region by Creole historians of the late XVIII century. Garibay alongside Creole historians analogizes the culture of ancient Mexicans with the cultures of European antiquity. This article can be valuable to national researchers dealing with Mexican historiography and Mexican history overall.

Abstract: Francisco Javier Clavijero is a New Spanish historian, philosopher and a member of the Jesuit order. His most famous work became the “Ancient History of Mexico” published in Cesena in 1780-1781. Clavijero wrote it during his stay in Italy after the expulsion of Jesuits from Spain and its overseas colonies in 1767. The article examines Clavijero’s activity within the framework of his religious career as a member of the Society of Jesus. Based on the analysis of archival and published sources, the author determines the milestones in establishment and development of the New Spanish historian as a member of one of the most influential Catholic monastic orders. The Society of Jesus played the pivotal role in life and creative path of Francisco Javier Clavijero. The atmosphere, prevailing in the Jesuit collegiums in the middle of the XVIII century, contributed to the development of philosophical and scientific knowledge. In virtue of joining the order, Clavijero met the prominent contemporaries and took a great interest in studying the history of pre-Columbian civilizations. Even despite the uneasy relations with the primates, Clavijero remained entirely faithful to the order, for which he permanently left New Spain.

Abstract: During the Age of Enlightenment, a historiographic revolution took place. The professional level of historians rose, and their understanding of history became more profound. Many thinkers began to ask questions pertaining to the meaning and value of history, its role in the system of scientific knowledge, and its benefits to society. History consequently became a pillar for social transformation, as well as an instrument of national integration. From that period on, the knowledge of national character, dignities and vices of society were acquired through the study of history. These ideas captured the minds of not only European but also Latin American intellectuals, including the authors in New Spain. Using a comparative approach and conducting a content analysis of the works of several New Spanish historians from the 18th century, the author of this article comes to the conclusion that during the indicated period the approach to historiography and, in particular, to the use of historical documents had significantly changed in the intellectual environment of New Spain. While historians in the first half of the 18th century were mostly still religious chroniclers, in the second half of the century the percentage of researchers interested in secular history and, above all, in its pre-Columbian period increased significantly. In the works of these New Spanish authors, there is a tendency to secularize history. They began to pay special attention to the collection of historical sources and their rational criticism.

Abstract: This article, in the context of prohibition of Spanish publication “The Ancient History of Mexico” by Francisco Javier Clavijero, examines the problem of censure of historical works of the colonial authors by Spanish authorities. The New Spain of the late XVIII retained barriers for distribution of the European philosophical ides of Modern Era. Besides the “natural” obstacle – remoteness from the metropolitan country and Europe – existed the barriers associated with the censure from Church and government. The works that contained the most radical and “harmful” ideas from the perspective of Spanish authorities, fell under the ban. Thus, the article determines the relation of Spanish authorities to the ideas of Clavijero through studying the censure practices of the Council of Indian Affairs – the institute, which controlled the colonial press, as well as the degree of reliability of censure filter. The article introduces into the scientific discourse a number of archival reference sources pertinent to issuing of the license for publishing texts of the colonial authors in the territory of India and metropolitan country. As demonstrated in the research, censure was a weak barrier for distribution of the new historical and sociopolitical ideas in the colonial society. This process could not be halted, even in terms of banning the publications in Spanish language.