Ob-Ugrians in the historiography of Siberia in the second half of the 19th century

The article considers and analyzes works of domestic researchers, representatives of various public currents of historical thought of Siberian historiography of the second half of the 19th century devoted to research of the Ob-Ugrians, their role in the development and inclusion of Siberia into the Russian State, as well as to the determination of the official attitude to Siberian peoples. The history and position of the indigenous dwellers in Siberia prior to the beginning of the colonization policy of the Moscow State are considered by a representative of the bourgeois direction of historiography, N.N. Firsov. The administrative and patrimonial organization of the Khanty, determination of the leading role in the society of princes, shamans, identification of the reasons of failures of the Russian Orthodox Church in the Christianization of the natives are the main subjects of the research. A representative of the provincial direction, N.M. Yadrintsev, pays attention to the subject of interaction between Russian and Ugrian ethnoses. The researcher gives examples of developing relations, defines the extent of interference and further prospect of contacts. In his works, Yadrintsev touches upon the problem of acquisition of civil equality by the Siberian people, preservation of ethnoses, distribution of education among the indigenous dwellers of Siberia. Historian V.K. Andrievych, a representative of official historiography, noted the fact of negative influence of the colonization policy of the Russian State on the lives of the indigenous dwellers of Siberia. Russian development of the territories of Siberia and inclusion of the Siberian ethnoses in these processes led to the indigenous dwellers' loss of independence and their difficult economic situation. The increase in the number of armed revolts of the Ugrian people at the beginning of the 17th century was caused by the arbitrary treatment of soldiers and industrial people. A representative of conservative views on the process of colonization of Siberia, researcher P.N. Butsinsky, pays attention to the subject of the Russian Orthodox Church activity in the promotion of Orthodoxy in lands occupied by the Khanty and the Mansi. A big role in the spiritual and educational mission belonged to Peter the Great and Filofey Leshchinsky. The researcher sees the reason of failures of the spread of Christianity among the peoples of Siberia in unsystematic actions of the church and the state. The works of N. Firsov, N.M. Yadrintsev, V.K. Andrievych, P.N. Butsinsky and A.N. Pypin are devoted to the study of various aspects of ancient history of the Ob-Ugrains, determination of forms and nature of their contacts with the Russian ethnos, assessment of actions of the Russian government concerning the indigenous dwellers in the course of the colonization policy of Siberia. Regarding the future development of the Siberian peoples, the problem of preservation of ethnoses and the idea of education of the peoples are pointed out.

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