The formation of motherland and local history discourse on the basis of local research practices (the second half of the XIX - the beginning of the XX centuries)

The article presents a short survey of existing interpretations of a number of notions in the native country (local history) studies discourse and the analysis of their conceptual characteristics; an attempt has been made to clarify historic and culturological principles of the Motherland and local history studies phenomenon and the most important aspects of the process of defining certain terms. As it has become a wide spread practice to teach local history, addressing the history issues is becoming more topical, first of all, in the context of its spiritual component; in the focus of the researchers' attention there are men of science, culture and education who made up the social environment of native country studies genesis, developed the basics of local research practices. However, the history of local history studies is still often limited by the history of provincial historical science, in the majority of regional history studies one can find local history studies toolset which does not fit into the tradition of local description of territories dating back more than a hundred and fifty years. In the period of interest local history studies formed itself as an independent activity, later developing as a phenomenon of a disintegrating traditional society, its theory and practices were comprehended, gradually evolving into a unique phenomenon of provincial culture represented, first of all, by educational-educative and scientific-popularizing activities. Local history approach and local description as a method gradually penetrated into the scientific milieu. The article both offers a version of Motherland and local history studies genesis and shows the interest in them from present-day educational methodology. Motherland studies is understood by the author as a complex of educational-educative work aimed at acquainting students with material, spiritual and aesthetic wealth of the home country. The fact of widespread teaching of Motherland history appears to be an essential evidence of a new qualitative level of local history studies advancing as a kind of philosophy of new Russia's development.