[Conference at UCLA] “The Book of Royal Degrees and Russian Historical Consciousness”

“The Book of Royal Degrees and Russian Historical Consciousness”


Thursday, February 26 - Saturday, February 28, 2009



This three-day international conference, organized by Professor Gail Lenhoff (Slavic Languages and Literatures, UCLA), marks the publication of a critical edition of Russia’s first narrative history, The Book of Royal Degrees, produced in the Moscow metropolitan’s scriptorium between 1555-1564, during the reign of Ivan IV “the Terrible.” The edition was made possible by grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the National Council for Eurasian and East European Research (NCEEER), with additional support provided by CMRS and the UCLA Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures.




Invited speakers, representing various academic disciplines, will present papers on the book’s treatment of Muscovite history, politics, theology, literary production, artistic subtexts and reception. Other questions to be considered include: 1) religion and governance; 2) preconditions for a “culture of history”; 3) ways in which pre-modern writers of history seek to understand, legitimize and influence the present; 4) the ways in which historical narratives such as The Book of Royal Degrees contribute to the rise of nationalism and the survival of absolute monarchies; and, 5) the uses of historical narratives in the building of a civil, democratic society.




The program is cosponsored by CMRS, the Center for European and Eurasian Studies, the UCLA Vice Chancellor for Research, and the UCLA Dean of Humanities.



•Place: Royce 314
•Time: Download the complete program. (PDF 345k)
•Advance Registration: Not required
•Fee: None
•Seating: Seating is limited. Seats available on a first-come, first-served basis.
•Parking: Parking permits are $9 from any UCLA Parking Services kiosk. Tell them you are here to attend “the Russian Historical Consciousness” Conference in Royce Hall.” You will be directed to park in the nearest available lot.
•Lodging: Information on hotels near UCLA is at www.cmrs.ucla.edu/hotels.html