The Formation and Development of Russian Historical Literature on Russian Maritime Expeditions of the 19^th Century

Aim. To identify the main patterns of the formation and development of Russian historical literature (before the beginning of the 20^th century) about the 19^th century Russian maritime expeditions.

Procedures and methods. A historiographical analysis of the main works of the 19^th century covering the history of Russia's maritime expeditions during this period has been conducted.

Results. The focus is on the features of the interpretation of the expeditionary activities of the Russian Empire in various historical periods of the 19^th century and the evolution of research approaches of authors who conducted and studied Russian maritime voyages and geographical discoveries. It is shown that historical literature of the 19^th century was formed primarily on the basis of the works of direct participants in the expeditions and was characterized by a descriptive and documentary nature, an orientation towards the practical tasks of navigation, scientific discoveries, and the state interests of the Russian Empire.

Research implications. The article concludes that a comprehensive examination of various aspects of Russian historical literature before the 20th century allows us to gain a deeper understanding of the significance of Russian maritime expeditions as an important factor in shaping the political, scientific, and symbolic landscape of the 19^th century Russian Empire. The materials and findings of the article can be used in teaching general and specialized courses on Russian history, historiography, and historical geography, as well as in studying the history of geographical discoveries and the scientific life of 19^th century Russia.

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