Russian historian Vasily Klyuchevsky: biography, quotations, aphorisms, statements and interesting facts

Vasily Klyuchevsky (1841-1911 gg.) - the largest and one of the most prominent Russian historians of the second half of the XIX century. He is rightly considered the founder of bourgeois economism in national historiography, since he was the first to pay the closest attention to the study of national life and the economic foundations of public life.

Some information about the youth of the historian

Klyuchevsky Vasily Osipovich, whose brief biography is presented in this section, was born in 1841 in the Penza province. He was the son of a village priest. His two grandfathers and great-grandfathers were also clergymen. Therefore, the church doctrine had a great influence on him. The researcher preserved interest in orthodox history for life: his first thesis was devoted to the lives of saints, and in his famous courses on Russian history he invariably turned to the spiritual development of the people and the role of Orthodoxy in the past of the country.

Vasily Klyuchevsky studied at the Penza parish school and the Penza seminary, but decided to devote himself to the secular science of history. He was attracted by the historical-philological faculty of Moscow University, which was the center of social and political life at the considered time. However, the church education had a great influence on him. The historian himself admitted that the study of scholasticism had developed in him the ability to think logically.

Years of study and first studies

Klyuchevsky Vasiliy Osipovich, whose brief biography is continued in this section, studied four years at the Moscow University. This time became decisive in the choice of his profession and research subjects. A great influence on him was given by the lectures of the historian F. Buslaev. Then the future scientist became very interested in folk culture, folklore, proverbs, proverbs.

Vasily Kliuchevsky decided to devote himself to studying the foundations of the people's life, as he expressed it. His first thesis was devoted to a thorough study of hagiographic literature. Before it, none of the domestic historians have been dealing with this subject in detail. Another major study is devoted to the study of the composition of the Boyar Duma. Vasily Klyuchevsky very carefully analyzed those social strata that were part of this advisory body under Russian princes and kings. His work opened up new approaches to historiography in the study of the social structure of society. His methodology included a detailed analysis of all manifestations of life and everyday life of the common people, which was especially important for Russia in the second half of the XIX century after the abolition of serfdom.

Works on history

Vasily Klyuchevsky, whose biography was briefly presented in the previous sections, is known as the author of the famous course of lectures that he has been reading for several decades. Being an excellent speaker, he was perfectly fluent in the literary language, which made his speeches especially vivid and expressive. Thanks to the sharp and witty remarks and conclusions with which he accompanied his scientific reasoning, his lectures gained particular popularity. Vasily Kliuchevsky, whose history of Russia became a true standard not only for his students, but also for many other domestic scientists, also became famous as a thoughtful observer of the life of the Russian people. Prior to him, researchers, as a rule, paid attention to political events and facts, so his work without exaggeration can be called a real breakthrough in historiography.

Language of the scientist

A feature of Klyuchevsky's vocabulary is expressiveness, accuracy and brightness of utterances. The researcher knew how to express his thoughts very clearly about the most diverse problems of the present and the past. For example, he owns the following statement about the reforms of the first Russian emperor: "There is always a lot of rubbish from a large construction, and much good disappeared in Peter's hurried work." The historian often resorted to similar comparisons and metaphors, which, differing wit, nevertheless, very well conveyed his thoughts.

His statement about Catherine II, which he called "the latest incident on the Russian throne," is interesting. The scientist quite often resorted to similar comparisons, which made it possible to better understand the material he had covered. Many of Klyuchevsky's expressions have become a kind of proverb in domestic historiography. Often, his phrases are referenced in order to give expressiveness to reasoning. Many of his words became aphorisms. Thus, the statement "In Russia, the center on the periphery" almost immediately went to the people: it can often be found in the press, at symposia, conferences.

A scientist about history and life

Klyuchevsky's thoughts differ in originality and originality. So, he in his own way remade the famous Latin saying that history teaches life: "History does not teach anything, but only punishes for ignorance of lessons." Accuracy, clarity and brilliance of language brought to the scientist not only the all-Russian, but also world fame: many foreign researchers, studying the history of Russia, refer precisely to his works. The aphorisms of the historian in which he expressed his attitude not only to history but also to general philosophical problems in general are also of interest: "Life is not about living, it's about feeling that you live."

Some facts from the biography

In conclusion, we should point out a few interesting moments from the life of this outstanding researcher. The future researcher learned to read at four years and from early childhood showed an amazing ability to study. At the same time, he struggled with stuttering and as a result of great efforts he managed to overcome this vice and become a brilliant orator. He participated in the famous Peterhof meetings on drafting the Duma, and also ran as a member of the Cadet Party, but failed. So, Kliuchevsky Vasiliy Osipovich, whose biography and creativity became the subject of this study, is one of the leading domestic specialists in the study of Russian history.