This essay argues that the traditional historiography of the Dutch Revolt (1566-1609/1648) falls short in explaining its success, which became manifest by the 1590s. Whereas religious zeal, geographical conditions, and tax protests play an undeniable role in understanding the outbreak and persistence of the rebellion, the tenacity of the northern provinces of the Netherlands should be understood at least in part as a response to a degree of violence on the part of the Spanish-Habsburg authorities that offended early modern sensibilities of this urbanized region, thereby attesting to the continued relevance of various aspects of Norbert Elias' civilizing process.

originality, Van Liempt did not really account for some of his extensive reliance on the secondary sources that underpinned his dissertation, according to Dekker. In response to historians’ sharp criticism about the originality of Van Liempt’s thesis and the quality of his research, Groningen University started an investigation into the circumstances of Van Liempt’s promotion, but found no reason to rescind its awarding of his doctoral degree. Dekker rightfully refers to Jon Wiener’s Historians in Trouble (2005) to argue that Van Liempt’s dubious practices are not unknown elsewhere. Indeed, Van Liempt’s endeavors resemble some of the missteps of Stephen Ambrose or Doris Kearns–Goodwin, which gets to Dekker’s broader point: his beef is in truth with our profession’s integrity, as well as its relevance. Dekker’s entire career as a historian makes it clear that he is profoundly passionate about his trade; for him, activities in which someone such as Van Liempt has engaged endanger the reputation of history as being a rigorous, exacting field of academic study. Perhaps such worries about alleged chancers appear a wee bit parochial, but the legitimacy, and perhaps even the very existence, of the academic study of history is endangered if people posing as professional historians discard accuracy, neglect to use the highest standards in weighing the evidence, decline to openly engage in the historiographical debate, do not give credit where it is due, or discount all the pertinent sources in a cavalier manner.

On the surface, Plagiarism, Fraud and Whitewashing is a straightforward and relentless detailing of the plagiarism and other misdeeds (I will refer only to a few of them below) committed by the Dut...

Research objectives: On the basis of a recently discovered map – found in the manuscript library of the Russian Academy of Sciences in St. Petersburg – of Iske Kazan’s fortification made by P.N. Rychkov in 1770, this article investigates the manner in which its population protected itself against its foes in the restless era that witnessed the dissolution of the Golden Horde and the transition to the Kazan khanate. It additionally asks why in fact this map was composed. Research materials: Combining the evidence of Rychkov’s map with archaeological findings and in dialogue with the relevant historiography, the authors place the map in its historical context and ponder its significance, and suggest why this map was made in 1770. Results and novelty of the research: It appears that Iske Kazan’s inhabitants turned to a unique manner to defend themselves against their enemies, using a wall-moat-wall design to prevent any storming by mounted troops, different from what has been hitherto thought about the ruins of this defensive structure. This manner of defending seems eminently well suited to the restless conditions prevailing in the Volga-Kama region around 1400 and the art of war as practiced in this region. The article additionally suggests why this map was made in 1770, linking it to the general desire of the Romanov government to discover much more precisely how its subjects lived their lives. This impetus was born from the introduction of the Western-European scientific mindset in Peter I’s reign, which paid much closer heed to a realistic understanding of nature and culture. The Russian Academy of Sciences mounted from the 1720s onward a host of scientific expeditions, which almost resemble voyages of discovery, to map the tsarist empire, of which Rychkov’s travels formed a part. The article hints at the possibility that such fact-finding missions gradually allowed the central government in St. Petersburg to increase its power over its subject peoples.

"Deutschland und die Sowjetunion 1933–1941. Dokumente aus russischen und deutschen Archiven." The Historian, 82(1), pp. 102–103

Within the seemingly incessant flood of texts that ponder the origins of our (post-) modernity, a trio of prolific scholars has produced three significant books. Each of them finds a key to our pol...

This essay presents the results of application of modern software for analysis of microscopic images in order to establish the veracity of an intriguing primary source, an early eighteenth-century depiction of the skyline of the city of Kazan. This image is an engraving made on the basis of a sketch of the city's panorama created by the Dutch artist and diarist Cornelis de Bruijn during his journey down the Volga in May 1703. The meticulous comparison between the computer processed drawing by de Bruijn and early photographs of Kazan enables to conclude that the Dutch traveler provided a highly accurate picture, the first of its kind, of the contours of Early Modern Kazan. In terms of precision, his picture surpassed earlier illustrations of the city such as those published by Adam Olearius. As a result, certain questions regarding the age of some of Kazan's landmarks, for example, the Soyembika Tower, are clarified. It has been established that this building predates the eighteenth century, and the authors suggest that its purpose may have been different from being military or defensive. In addition, de Bruijn's illustration elucidates the nature of the renovation carried out in the defensive towers of Kazan's city walls during Peter the Great's reign when the risk of raids or invasions into Muscovite territory from the south and east diminished considerably, which reduced the importance of Kazan as a fortified stronghold.

Ronald Grigor Suny has enjoyed a prolific career as a historian of late Imperial Russia and, especially, of the Soviet Union. He is one of the few scholars who has written at length in English abou...