Abstract: The subject of this research is the history of a house in Arbat square. The once-famous house was built by a well-known architect S. M Kalugin, who was the creator of Sandunovsky Bani and other buildings in Moscow. The house was a part of a near-Moscow monastery – Voznesenki Davidov Hermitage. The article contains plans and drawings, the timeline of house’s reconstruction, stories of Muscovites who lived in the house, as well as the functioning of the “Keller and Co” pharmaceutical company, which occupied the house before the Revolution. The house was demolished in the early 1930s, during the reconstruction of Arbat square. This article is written on the basis of archive sources of the Moscow Central Archive, which were discovered and used for the first time. The article’s greatest value is the publication of drawings and building plans from the 19th–20th centuries. This article presents the first ever study on history of the House in Arbat square. The house belonged to a monastery and was little known of. The author has found valuable sources on history of the house and presented its complete history that started in the late 17th century and ended in the 1930s.

Keywords: XVII century, chapel, R. Keller, S. M. Kalugin, Voznesenskaja Davidova Pustin’, monastery, architecture, 1930-s, building plans, Valentin Egorov

Abstract: The authors state the relevance of a case study of identification processes in Russian history, particularly the inhabitant of a socialist town in the Urals. This article presents individual identity as a concept adopting different types of identification. Based on the memoirs (memoirs of L. M. Mar’yasin, Director of Uralvagonstroi, and D. Scott, American worker), the article analyzes individual identity of socialist town builders during the forced modernization of the 1930s. Approaches: concept of urban anthropology, theory of identity, concept of social stratification, content analysis method (symbolic, thematic, modal). The authors define the “sotsgorod” (English – “social city”) concept and create classification for identity markers (6 analysis blocks). The authors discovered the prevalence of positive modality in elite representative self-identification and negative – in foreign specialist’s. The authors also discovered the meaning of ideological and political attitudes that influenced the living conditions in the “sotsgorod” and encouraged the creation of a new “soviet identity”.

Keywords: markers of identity, content analysis, civil identity, political identity, identity of the socialist city, theory of identity, Urban anthropology, mobilization, “community character”, modernization

Abstract: Modern East Asian studies pay special attention to the Mongolian conquest as such and the activity of Kublai Khan in particular. This article explores the influence of Chinese civilization on its conquerors in terms of Yuan dynasty. It aims to find out answers to the following questions: what aspects experienced the synthesis of cultures? Where did Chinese traits manage to prevail the Mongolian ones? Where the Chinese culture was under Mongolian influence? For better understanding of this period specifics the author discusses several circumstances of Kublai’s enthronement. The author used comparative historical and comparative culturological methods while working on the article, juxtaposing different records on the development of various spheres in the Yuan Empire during the reign of Kublai Khan. These are the main conclusions of the article: Kublai was the first of Mongolian rulers who tried to combine Mongolian and Chinese lifestyles. Administration and Mongolian everyday life were enriched by Chinese elements. At the same time, the opposite trend was present as well, as Mongolians influenced the Chinese art and language.

Keywords: settled population, the nomads, art, government, culture, China, Mongols, cultural influence, Khubilai, Yuan Empire

Abstract: The article reviews main works published in the Russian Empire in the 19th – early 20th century that mention Japanese martial arts. Introduction to Japanese martial arts went hand in hand with introduction to Japanese culture and history. Martial arts were first mentioned already in Captain Golovin notes that were published in 1818. Publications analyzed in the article include academic and magazine articles, memoirs of historical figures, Russian translations of foreign education materials and popular-science literature. The author used basic methodology of historical research like genetic and typological methods, as well as historiographic analysis. This article is aimed to make an asset to the history of martial arts in Russia, history of sport and wrestling in Russia, as well as East Asian studies in Russia. The article discusses the attention of pre-revolutionary Russian-speaking public paid to Japanese martial arts and the stages of theoretical and practical knowledge accumulation in this field. Some published materials are used as historical sources for the very first time.

Keywords: Ju-Jutsu, History of martial arts, Russian literature, Historical sources, Japan, Martial arts, Russian Impire, Sport, Japanese culture, Orientalism

Abstract: Social planning in industry was an important part of Kosygin economic reform in the second half of 1960s. Based on the case study of Moscow factories - Lenin Electric Machine Plant and Kuybyshev Electric Plant, as well as Moldavian Soroca “Electropribor” Plant, this article discusses the problems of research approaches to the study of complex social development plans in Soviet academic literature. During literature research on methods for motivating workers at Moscow “Serp i Molot” plant and AutoVAZ, the author analyzed the scholarly trends in the Post Soviet period. This research was conducted following the basic scientific principles of history – concrete historical approach and comparative historical analysis. Scientific novelty of the article can be explained as the following: in terms of comparative analysis of social planning literature within different time periods, we can define a transition from narrow research on models of industrial objects social development to restating this problem in a wider context of critical reexamination of traditional administrative decisions and actions taken by plants’ administrations to develop the social sphere.

Keywords: distributive economy, supply, material incentives, motivating workers, work collective, house building, mechanical engineering, social funds, social sphere, social planning

Abstract: This article is focused on Gothicism – historical myth, according to which all nations of the Northern Europe are of Goth descendance. The myth takes its origin in the 15th century Scandinavia. Two centuries later it was adopted by the English and in the 17th century – by the Scots. The subject of this research is the concept of Gothism in Scotland. According to this concept, the Scots were proclaimed as the ancestors of the Piсts – a nation, whose ethnogenesis is still a subject of wider debate. They were assigned to have German origins, and therefore – the Scottish nation supposed to be of the same origin. The aim of this article is to broaden the concept of Gothicism in Russian historical science that has mostly worked with German and Scandinavian sources and has used the infamous Norman theory. This article follows the development of Gothicism concept in Scotland. Due to specific character of this research, the author used the historism methodology, which in this case meant the learning of Gothicism’s role and place in its historical context. Nevertheless, the author explored the value of Scottish Gothicism for modern science, – as an idea of Picts’ German origin. This article states that the concept of Gothicism had demonstrated the consequences of country’s separation into Lowlanders and Highlanders-Gaels. In order to avoid comparisons with the Irish and “the wild Celts” (whose image was extremely popular among the English), representatives of Scottish intellectual circles created a new identity, borrowing the concept of Gothicism from the English. This article also makes the case that Gothicism, as a version of Scottish national myth, had existed for a hundred years and was later succeeded by the concept of Teutonism, in terms of which the german origin theory was developed.

Keywords: Great Britain, lowlands, 19th century, celts, Goths, 18th century, Picts, Gothicism, national myth, Scotland

Abstract: This article discusses the archeological expeditions to South Vyatka (Urzhumsky, Malmyzhsky and Kil’mezensky areas of Kirovskaya Oblast’) organized by Lomonosov Moscow State University in 1999–2015. Diverse ethno-confessional population of these regions aroused constant attention from representatives of various humanity disciplines: historians, archaeographers, philologists, ethnographers, religious studies scholars. Old Believers’ population is represented primarily by three branches of Bezpopovtsy Sect (Filippians, Fedoseevtsy and Pomorian Old-Orthodox Church). Archeographers of Leningrad, Yekaterinburg, Kirov and Moscow studied this sect extensively. This article covers the steps and methodology of research on traditional culture of this region. The author analyzes the practice of implementing written and oral sources into scientific research by LMSU scholars, which was highly acclaimed by their colleagues from various scientific centers in Russia. This article is dedicated to the works and papers of Moscow archeographical expedition which has already produced three edited volumes of primary sources and a dozen academic articles. Experience, gained during complex archeographical studies conducted in the last fifteen years, can be used while researching different ethno-confessional groups in other regions.

Keywords: old believers, traditional culture, peasants, field studies, expeditions, archeografy, historiography, South Vyatka, first World war, integrated approach

Abstract: This article discusses the historical and architectural reconstruction of Yakut settlements, differentiated depending on the seasoning of their economical activity. The article is written in relation to the case study of life and household activities of one paternal family, who lived on the plainlands in central Yakutia. The academic interest in this topic is sparkled by the fundamental and organic interconnectedness of paternal family’s natural habitat and the surrounding habitat that is characterized by the preservation of existing ecosystems. The author has researched extensively on preexisting organic basics of formation of traditional Yakut housing in the late historical period, as well as necessary maintenance buildings for successful northern cattle breeding. The characteristics of historical and architectural formation of settlements, emerging as a result of seasonal economic activity and communication with the surrounding organic habitat, were re-created. Research material had been collected during multiple field trips, measuring works and interviews with the witnesses. The main conclusion and the dominating result of the research is the historical and architectural reconstruction of Yakut settlements that appeared during the expansion of natural-resources lands. The settlements slowly lost their social and functional meaning due to the emergence of centralized structures of resettlement in Central Yakutia in the Postwar years.

Keywords: traditional housing, maintenance buildings, summer road, winter road, Yakut settlements, seasonal climate changes, Central Yakutia, paternal family, natural habitat, historical and architectural reconstruction

Abstract: This article discusses the image of Roman Emperor Licinius I, political “long-liver” of the post-tetrarchy Civil War in Roman Empire, co-emperor and then rival of Constantine the Great. Being in the shadow of his great contemporary, Licinius is portrayed as a weak and incompetent ruler in some ancient literature. However, there rises a question of reasons how he could hold the power for about 16 years (308–324). Historical writings about Licinius were created after his defeat and therefore could not avoid the influence of winner’s propaganda – Constantine the Great’s. The author attempts to answer the stated questions by thorough analysis of narrative tradition and by justifying received data with material sources (inscriptions and coins). Therefore, complex analysis of various types of sources complies the research method used in this article. The author concludes that the real image of Licinius I as a politician, ruler and commander was irretrievably overshadowed by Constantine’s propaganda. Moreover, study of the sources allows to track down the changes in Licinius’ image within propaganda. While referring to the novelty of this article, one can mention that Emperor Licinius has not been fully studied before in Russian historiography. However, the author states that the study of narrative tradition about him is worth the effort not just in order to (perhaps, due to the tradition of a certain portrayal and winner’s propaganda – Constantine, this might not be counted as a reason at all) understand Licinius’ place in Roman history, but to study the ideological propaganda of Constantine the Great, its methods, goals, means and results as well.

Keywords: ideological struggle, narrative tradition, comprehensive analysis, Tetrarchy, emperor, Roman Empire, Licinius, Constantine the Great, Ancient Rome, ideological indoctrination

Abstract: This article tackles political conditions for the development of Soviet police in 1917–1939. The author defines several steps of creation of the law enforcement system, discovers the specific characteristics of its development in the Far East. The author pays attention to the fact that recruitments in the 1920s proceeded exclusively by the principle of political expediency. Police as a part of state apparatus reflected the class basis of the society. Сhanges in economic policy of the country led to transferring of police administrations to local funds, staff reduction and shutdowns of special education institutions. Police forces had to face the problem of professional dismissals and hiring of large amounts of employees whose moral and professional qualities were not suitable for work in law enforcement. The study of wide range of sources, which author obtained in the central and regional archives, allowed her to enrich the historiography of the question of personnel policy management among Far East policemen in the 1920s–1930s. The author argues that the problem of recruitment to Soviet police was relevant during the whole Interwar period. Police reform of the first half of the 1930s did not lead to the improvement of police personnel quality. Conducted in the second half of the 1930s, the systematic work on pay raises, special education institutions network expansion and boosting work satisfaction among police personnel allowed to decrease delinquency among employees.

Keywords: morally-business qualities, personnel selection, militian device, criminality, Educational work, staff of militia, Far East, Soviet militia, law enforcement bodies, Material security

Abstract: This article discusses validity of opinions during the Senate debate on “Safeguard” missile defense system. The object of this research is senators’ arguments, presented after the decision-making on the problem. The author gives a detailed structure of their arguments and analyzes them. He pays special attention to senators’ statements on the US National Security or “Safeguard” technical characteristics. The author also defines influence of legislators’ arguments on the ideological split regarding the missile defense system. The main methods used in the articles are historical-typological and historical-systematic. The method of historical periodisation was used while reviewing the results of vote on missile defense issue. Research novelty lies in tracing connections between legislators’ argumentation and the ideological split in regards to the missile defense system. The author’s particular contribution to the topic is represented by grouping senators’ arguments into several categories, which allows to expose their position. The article also approaches the problem of party split regarding the missile defense system.

Keywords: Cold War, Stance, Decision, Anti-missile defense, Safeguard, Voting, Senate, Split, Lawmakers, Survey

Abstract: Based on rarely used archival and document material, this article analyzes the role of Highlanders material culture of the Wartime (13th–17th centuries), represented by armory and fortifications. This article states that all Caucasian nations developed a clear defense system against foreign enemies and fellow tribesmen alike, who were raid driven by feudal elites, need or personal bravado. Therefore, there are almost no settlements in the Caucasus region, where turrets or habitable towers did not overlook the buildings and surrounding grounds did not have defense walls, customs posts, cave covers, fortresses or castle-like complexes. Methodological basis for this article was formed by historical and comparative, structural, abstract and logical research methods. Each of them had a particular application and played a significant part in processing, systematization and generalization of studied sources. Specifically, historical and comparative method allowed to analyze the facts under comparison and thereupon define both consistent patterns and characteristics of discovering Highlander material culture of the Wartime, represented by fortifications and armory of all kind. Structural analysis method was necessary for a study of complex structural components without dividing them into elements. Abstract and logical method allowed generalization, synthesis and integration of article’s conclusions. The author concludes that the fortification culture was defined by the genetic ties to the empirics of house building and therefore contained all the positive achievements of ethnic architecture. Its workmanship was beautifully reflected in historical and cultural landmarks created by the nations who inhabited this region.

Keywords: ethnic architecture., fortified culture, cave fortifications, creative activities, North Caucasus region, mountain peoples of the Caucasus, battle towers, Housing, Construction technology, Monumental buildings

Abstract: The process of opening the State Bank of Russia and private Russian banks branches in the Grand Duchy of Finland in the early 20th century represented one of the most important steps to financial integration of an almost autonomous region into the Russian Empire. This process experienced some troubles and problems related to the Finnish opposition and complicated domestic situation in Russia. It had not shown any results because of the start of the First World War. However, to some extent, it managed to unlock its potential. This research has become possible with the help of office archives of Governor-General and stats-secretariat of the Grand Duchy of Finland. Their thorough examination allowed the uncovering of factors, main steps and results of Russian Bank operations in Finland. In addition to the fact that this article is the first to introduce some of the sources, it can also give an indepth understanding of complex relations between the Russian government and the Grand Duchy. The study of an attempt to financially rather than forcefully integrate periphery, that was moving further and further away in cultural and economic terms, is extremely important for contextualizing and redefining the already existing ideas of core actions towards newly annexed territories in the pre-revolutionary time.

Keywords: Russian-Finnish relations, economic history, State Secretary, State Bank of Russian Empire, integration, finance, Grand Duchy of Finland, branches of the State Bank, the private Russian banks, national outlying districts of the Empire