The study of history, the preservation of accumulated knowledge and the transfer of them to the next generations is an incredibly responsible task, because it contributes to the progress of civilization. And historian Vasily Klyuchevsky made a huge contribution to this branch of science during his lifetime. His achievements are highly appreciated today, despite the fact that this outstanding man left this world more than a century ago.
In his youth, the future historian studied in a theological seminary, but after a few years he left it of his own accord, without finishing. After a brilliant graduation from a university in Moscow, Klyuchevsky, at the request of one of the teachers, was left at the department to later become a professor. For his graduation essay at the university, the young man received a gold medal. When he was a professor, Klyuchevsky gave lectures at higher female courses, which gave women the opportunity to get a higher education. For the thesis “Ancient Russian Lives of the Saints as a Historical Source”, the historian independently studied more than 5 thousand chronicles. Klyuchevsky was a secret adviser to the imperial court. His “Short manual on Russian history” consisted of 4 weighty volumes. In the year of his death, shortly before this sad event, Klyuchevsky received the title of honorary member of Moscow University. Vasily Klyuchevsky has been working on the five-volume “Russian History Course” for more than 30 years. The historian was a member of four different academic commissions, universities and academies. The house-museum of Klyuchevsky is located in Penza. In the same city a monument to this great man was erected for the first time.
