In this article, Kazan University philosophy, its characteristics and development trends, are analyzed from the perspective of the history of philosophy in Russia. The equivalence of the concepts “history of philosophy in Russia” and “history of Russian philosophy” is questioned and explored using the examples from the “stories” and “essays” written by prominent Russian philosophers such as A.I. Vvedensky, M.N. Ershov, B.V. Yakovenko, N.O. Lossky, and V.V. Zenkovsky. It is shown that they are likely to be equivalent and interchangeable, with the concept “history of Russian philosophy” approached in a broader sense. However, some important distinctions are still observed. When considered in a narrow sense, “Russian philosophy” appears to have certain fundamental, specific characteristics that define it as a specific type throughout its history and determine its unity. The results obtained reveal that some scholars view certain philosophical trends that developed in Russia as foreign or alien to the “spirit of Russian philosophy.” The peculiarities of Russian philosophy are singled out and summarized, and the validity of attempts to obstruct some of its manifestations is discussed. The critical role of university philosophy in the overall history of Russian philosophy is emphasized: it fostered philosophical interest and paved the way for purely philosophical work. Within this framework, Kazan University philosophy is examined.

This article explores the state and progress of philosophical education at Kazan Federal University over the last 15 years. In a brief historical overview, the distinct features of the philosophical curriculum at Kazan University during the pre-revolutionary, Soviet, and post-Soviet periods are identified. The modernization of the university-wide philosophy course for bachelor’s students in the 2020s, focusing on the competency-based approach, is traced. The role of university philosophers in designing and delivering the course “Foundations of the Russian Statehood” is emphasized. The evolution of professional education in the fields of philosophy and religious studies, along with theology related to them, is analyzed. In conclusion, the main challenges faced by the philosophical community in maintaining the relevance of social and humanitarian training for students, as well as in restoring and strengthening the spiritual and moral foundations of university-level philosophy in Russia, are discussed.

This article outlines the distinct characteristics of Kazan’s pre-revolutionary Oriental studies, which developed throughout the 19th century within academic and missionary discourses. The methodological approaches used by their representatives to explore the history and culture of the “Other”, (i.e., Islam and Muslim culture here) are identified. The origins of these approaches are traced. The interaction between academic scholars (primarily from Kazan University) and missionary researchers (from the Kazan Theological Academy) during the establishment of Orientalism as a separate branch is described. The results obtained show that a dialogical approach to studying Islam and Muslim culture in the second half of the 19th century was enabled by a complex interplay of academic, missionary, and social discourses.

The unpublished memoirs of Zoya Dmitrievna Belyaeva, who was the daughter of D.F. Belyaev (1846–1901), an esteemed Byzantinist and the dean of the Faculty of History and Philology at Kazan Imperial University, reveal how her father’s professional duties were inextricably intertwined with his personal experiences. These reflections not only capture the nuances of the scholar’s everyday life but also share the author’s perspective on the university culture of the late 19th century, thus enriching its history with many new, previously unknown, details and facts. The rhythm and lifestyle of D.F. Belyaev’s family were defined by the university events, corporate rituals, and professional interests. Z.D. Belyaeva skillfully captured the mindset typical of the classical academic community in those times. The celebration of the Emperor’s name day, religious holidays, visits to educational museums, jour fixes were especially important for both the family and the entire university. The descriptions of the interactions among the faculty members flesh out the portrayals of D.F. Belyaev’s colleagues at Kazan University: D.A. Korsakov, F.M. Mishchenko, N.A. Firsov, and D.I. Naguevskii. The social circle of the family included the families of D.I. Dubyago, the dean of the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics, and A.S. Nikol’skii, the head of public schools in the Kazan Governorate. D.F. Belyaev enjoyed the favor of K.V. Voroshilov and N.A. Kremlev, the rectors of Kazan Imperial University, as well as N.G. Potapov, the trustee of the Kazan Educational District.

The early years of Soviet rule brought radical changes to Russian higher education. The most significant transformations took place in the country’s major pre-revolutionary education centers, such as Kazan. This article describes the trends in the higher education system of the region following the transfer of power, with particular attention paid to the reform projects attempted at Kazan University and other higher education institutions in the city. The main initiators of the changes are identified, and the involvement of local and central authorities, along with professors and lecturers, is analyzed. The results obtained demonstrate that the reform projects of Kazan’s higher education institutions were not fully implemented, but they have had a noticeable and long-term influence on the structure of higher education in the region.

This article summarizes the history of archaeological research at Kazan University, from its establishment in 1804 to the present day. The first important milestone was in the 19th century when amateur collecting of artifacts and coins by the university professors in the early 1800s was replaced by professional archaeology, with the Society of Archaeology, History, and Ethnography founded in 1878 at Kazan University. The society published its own journal to raise awareness and foster curiosity, both locally and internationally, about archaeological discoveries in the Kazan Governorate and the surrounding territories. From the late 19th to the early 20th century, a fruitful cooperation developed between Russian archaeologists and Finnish scholars, which lasted until the 1930s and centered in their mutual interests revolving around the Ananyino culture and the origins of the Finno-Ugric peoples. In the aftermath of World War II, the university archaeological team took part in many projects: exploratory surveys for the construction of the Kuybyshev Hydroelectric Station (late 1940s–early 1950s), excavations of the early Bulgarian burials and proto-Bulgarian sites (1950s–early 1960s), unearthing of the Bilär settlement (late 1960s–1980s), fieldwork at the ancient Hungarian Bolshie Tigany burial and in Kazan (1974–1978). In the 1960s–1980s, foreign collaborations were limited to socialist countries (Bulgaria, Hungary), which kept the focus of their scholarly attention on the eastern regions. However, the intensive contacts with Finnish archaeologists continued. Starting from the 1990s–2000s, the results of archaeological research in Tatarstan finally became accessible to Western European and US scholars, who then relied on them to navigate their studies on the history of Islam and Islamization in Europe, sedentarization of nomads, and medieval trade. Now, the archaeology at Kazan University has advanced to a new stage by covering a much broader geographical scope and incorporating the latest technology into archaeological practices.

This article reviews the second (revised and expanded) edition of the book “Professor Ivan Mikhailovich Ionenko: His Personality and Times” by P.S. Kabytov and N.A. Fedorova, with a detailed analysis of its main sections, which trace I.M. Ionenko’s life path, pedagogical and scholarly experience, public work, personal life, and relationships with students. The relevance of the book is discussed in the context of current historiographical trends. The key strengths of the book are highlighted, including its credibility, quality and diversity of the source materials used, thorough reconstruction of the pivotal moments in the life of the researcher, and precise definition of the role his works played in the development of Russian historiography. Therefore, the book offers valuable insights into the life of Professor I.M. Ionenko of Kazan Federal University and is a meaningful contribution to preserving the corporate memory of historians over time.

This article traces how the idea that Kuzma Minin’s tomb is located in the Transfiguration Cathedral of Nizhny Novgorod developed in the 18th century and how it became intertwined with the narrative about Peter the Great visiting the place to venerate the relic. Together, these historical narratives formed an important plot determining the Russian socio-cultural identity. The analysis highlights a blurred boundary between pre-academic historiography and academic historical research. The methods used include a detailed study of historiographical sources and textual criticism. The belief in Kuzma Minin’s tomb within the cathedral stemmed from its burial records and commemoration lists. Their contamination led to such interpretations. Colonel A.I. Svechin was the first to suggest the idea in 1765. It was further developed by I.I. Golikov, a Russian historian, under the influence of Damaskin, the Bishop of Nizhny Novgorod, and cemented by N.S. Ilyinsky’s poem. The writings of I.I. Golikov and N.S. Ilyinsky rely on G.F. Müller’s scholarly work and link Kuzma Minin’s tomb to the image of Peter the Great paying homage to it.

The material conditions in the Russian army during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878 are studied. A focus is placed on adequate housing as a key factor in ensuring and maintaining the psychophysical wellbeing of soldiers throughout military operations. The two main ways of housing troops used by Russia in that period of time are discussed: barracks and camps. The regulations that governed the accommodation of Russian military personnel within the governorates of the Russian Empire and in foreign territories, as well as the requirements for barrack facilities, both constructed and requisitioned, are outlined. The role of the support provided by the Romanian Principality to Russia and the agreements between them is considered. The deployment of the Russian army in the field is examined. Various types of tents are singled out. The level of comfort they offered is assessed. Additionally, measurements of their size and capacity are performed, and the results are compared with modern standards accepted in Russia. The tent provision in the Russian army, including that at different stages of the war, is specified.

This article analyzes service benefits and privileges in Tsarist Russia. During the Imperial period, the country developed a complex system of them, both general and specific (regional). They were established by law for the outskirts of the Russian Empire, including those in Central Asia (Russian Turkestan) under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of War. The system was also influenced by the experiences of Siberia and the Caucasus. The analysis considers the pension benefits for Turkestan officials, reduced service terms required for retirement, increased payments for relocation to or from the region to central Russian provinces, regular salary increases every five years of service, longer vacations, allowances for children’s education, guaranteed placement of children in educational institutions with paid travel to them, as well as free healthcare and medication for administrative and police officials, etc. It is concluded that all these benefits and privileges attracted more qualified, professionally trained, and experienced personnel to serve in the remote Russian territories of Central Asia.

This article shows, based on a detailed analysis of both archival and published sources (including the periodical “Vologodskie Gubernskie Vedomosti” (‘Vologda Provincial Gazette’)), how Vologda merchants used various technological advancements in their business and daily practices during the second half of the 19th and early 20th centuries. In the Russian Empire, it was the time of rapid science and technology development, with innovations becoming increasingly integrated into everyday life. The merchants of the Vologda Governorate, like those in other regions, were the early adopters of this progress, adjusting and exploiting the changes for their benefit. In the 1850s–1860s, they already actively used machinery and equipment, some imported from England, to facilitate industrial manufacturing and ease commercial operations. In the 1870s–1890s, they opened photography studios and began utilizing telephone communications. During the 1880s, electric lighting made its debut in the Vologda Governorate, which was at a distillery owned by the heirs of the merchant I.A. Pervushin. The emergence of electric theaters in the region is also associated with the efforts of local merchants. In the early 20th century, cinematography flourished, with M.D. Pervushin’s electric theater “Apollo” being one of the best in Vologda. Besides, the merchant class was at the forefront of promoting the use of cars, and among the first seven car owners in Vologda was the merchant D.I. Titov.

In Russian historiography, the officials of Tsarist Russia have long been portrayed as refusing progressive ideals and pursuing their personal goals, i.e., as being unconcerned with the public good. However, this perspective on the history of Russian officialdom has led to the neglect of many distinguished individuals who contributed immensely to the public life of their country. Due to their active roles in both local and public self-government of Russian provincial cities and the exceptional impacts they made on the urban well-being of the Russian Empire, there has now been a growing interest in their biographies among researchers. One such individual is Nikolai Fedorovich Grauert, once a prominent public figure in Kazan. He served as a member of the Kazan City Duma and the City Council (from 1897 to 1916), participating in a number of city executive commissions (those related to school, theater, and forestry management). Despite his fruitful work in the public service, N.F. Grauert’s biography has never been specifically addressed. He happened to be involved in the events in October 1905 that took place in Kazan and thus was labeled by the state authorities as a culprit of the Kazan “upheaval.” Here, using archival sources, N.F. Grauert’s biography is reconstructed. His role as the chairman of the City Council’s School Commission for improving the situation with urban education, as well as in expanding the school network to promote universal education in Kazan, is emphasized.

This article explores the short life of the Safavid Shehzade Alkas Mirza (1516–1550), the second son of Shah Ismail. In the early adult years, he served as the governor (beylerbey) of Shirvan, where he ruled under the authority of his elder brother Tahmasp, who would later become a shah of Iran. Alkas Mirza sought independence for his province. These ambitions brought him into conflict with Shah Tahmasp and ended in defeat. In search of support, he fled to the Ottoman Empire and was received there as a legitimate ruler of an independent state rather than a shehzade in exile. After several meetings with Sultan Suleiman, he persuaded him to march against Shah Tahmasp. In the 1548–1549 campaign, Alkas Mirza not only participated but played an active role in the Ottoman military operations against the Safavid forces. However, the campaign ultimately failed due to the clever military strategy devised by Shah Tahmasp to counteract the enemy, thus leading to Alkas Mirza’s loss of favor and diminishing influence at the Ottoman court. Forced to leave the country, he soon fell into his brother’s hands and died under mysterious circumstances. During the research at the Ottoman Archives in Istanbul, new diplomatic documents, which shed light on the described events marking a significant milestone in the history of the Ottoman–Iranian relations over the mid-16th century, were discovered.

The establishment of the education system in Singapore is explored. This city-state, unlike many former colonies, has successfully integrated into the global economy, becoming a role model for traditional societies pursuing modernization in today’s environment. Through a comparative systemic analysis, the main characteristics of Singapore’s education system are examined, and their evolution is traced. It is highlighted that they serve as the major factor in the emergence of Singapore as a leader in the Southeast Asian education sector. Tensions between developing supranational and national identities are found with the help of the systemic, typological, comparative, and retrospective methods. It is demonstrated how the two tendencies combine in the educational policy of Singapore. Based on the results obtained, the achievements and shortcomings of Singapore’s educational landscape are discussed, and its future development is predicted. The methods of philosophical hermeneutics and everyday history research are applied in line with advancing approaches to the study of historical processes. The conclusions are drawn with an account of the principles of sociocultural history elaborated by English historians during the 20th century.

This article examines the Bashkir institution of kalym (bride price) in the 18th–19th centuries. Using the materials from the National Archive of the Republic of Bashkortostan (fund I-295 “Orenburg Mohammedan spiritual assembly”) and published sources, differences in the composition of kalym are identified depending on the local distinctions among the Bashkirs, as well as their economic and cultural types and socio-economic status. These differences were most apparent in the so-called “smaller” kalym, which consisted of summer and winter clothing with jewelry, headwear, and coin-coral pectoral ornaments. The results of the literature and archival analysis yield a deeper understanding of the specifics of clothing and jewelry included in kalym. A pivotal role of the institution of kalym and dowry in the life of the Bashkirs is shown. The garments in the Bashkir kalym had both practical and symbolic functions — they regulated property rights and indicated the material well-being of a young family. Varying from one to another Bashkir settlement, they also shared similarities with the costumes of neighboring peoples, such as the Tatars. The exchange of clothing garments between the marrying parties, including members of different Bashkir clans and tribes, ended up in the formation of a unique cultural layer.