2014 Issue №12

This article explores local crafts of peasant women of the north-western provinces, namely, weaving, needlework, and lacework. The work conditions are examined. The author stresses that workers were highly dependent on dealers who provided them with raw materials and sold their products at the market. The phenomena identified are indicative of the formation of capitalistic forms of using the labour of peasant women practicing crafts, including that of a “dispersed manufactory.”

This article analyses Nikolai Ustryalov’s concept of “Russian Lithuania,” which presents the history of medieval Lithuanian as part of the Russian past. The author examines the career of S. S. Uvarov – Minister of National Enlightenment in the 1830 – 1840s, as well as other factors behind the official narrative about the “Russian character” of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The paper stresses the significance of Ustryalov’s concepts in the Russian historiography in the first half of 19th century.