G.E. Katanaev and regionalism: the formation of research ideas in the context of the development of Siberian studies in the second half of the 19th century

The article is devoted to the clarification of the context of the formation of research ideas and the process of the formation of the research culture of G.E. Katanaev within the framework of the development of Siberian Studies of the second half of the 19th century. The purpose of the article is to show the process of gradual involvement of the historian of Siberian Cossacks G.E. Katanaev in “scientific creativity”, as a movement on the way from the common interest of regional issues to the scientific study of the history of Siberian Cossacks. Within the framework of achieving the goal, the author solves important tasks - to assess the degree of influence of the ideology of regionalism on the views of the researcher and to show the specific-event participation of the leaders of Siberian Regionalism in the process of formation of G.E. Katanaev as a bright representative of the “local cultural intelligentsia”. The author of the article notes that the initial interest of G.E. Katanaev in the history of Siberian Cossacks is awakened during his studies in the Siberian Cadet Corps in the post-reform period of the 1860s. Then the author reveals the process of forming the world view of G.E. Katanaev. Initially, a significant influence on this process is the personal familiarity of the future historian of Siberian Cossacks with the leaders of Siberian Regionalism and the study, under their influence, of literature, which was a “precursor” and sources of formation of regional philosophy and ideology. Further formation of G.E. Katanaev in the context of the development of “regional identity”" leads him in the field of literary and journalistic activity, educational work and scientific research. Then the universal interdisciplinary and encyclopedic characteristic of the researchers of the 19th century is gradually transformed by G.E. Katanaev into a passion for regionalism, historical and geographical surveys on the territory of Western Siberia and Steppe Region. Highly appreciating the research and practically-expeditionary work of G.E. Katanaev within the framework of the activities of the West Siberian Division of the Imperial Russian Geographical Society of the second half of the 19th century, the author of the article emphasizes that the scientific reports of G.E. Katanaev to the above mentioned Societyonly outlined the vector directions of his further research, started his many years of research on the history of the Siberian Cossacks Troops, which became the work of his life. In conclusion, the author concludes that G.E. Katanaev's rapprochement with the ideologists of the Regionalism occurred based on “Siberian patriotism, a kind of “sibirefilism”, a hot love for the Siberian homeland”. Of course, the regionalists played a significant role in the formation of the scientific and research interest of G.E. Katanaev within the framework of the Siberian Studies of the second half of the 19 century. But over time, G.E. Katanaev, remaining a Siberian patriot, makes a choice in favor of studying the history of Siberia and neighbouring regions of Eurasia and dear to his heart Siberian Cossacks and in favor of cultural and educational work and popularization of their knowledge, obtained in archives and formed under the influence of scientific literature.

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