Transport Development of the Far East in the Late 19th and Early 20th Centuries in Modern Russian Historiography

The article analyzes publications related to the first quarter of the 21st century and devoted to the formation of the transport system of the Far East in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when the basic foundations of communication routes were laid on its territory, which led to significant changes in the entire structure of public relations in the region and the nature of its relations with central Russia. It is concluded that the problem of transport development of the Russian Far East continued to remain relevant for Russian researchers. The authors, having overcome the methodological limitations of the Soviet period and the exaggeratedly critical approach of the perestroika 1990s, turned to a more balanced assessment of events. Many diverse sources have been introduced into scientific circulation, which has influenced the expansion of research topics, the detailing of the picture of historical development and strengthened the factual argumentation of research results. Based on the data obtained, the trends of the region’s transport development and the factors that influenced them were more clearly defined. The emphasis on the historical context and the identification of cause-and-effect relationships led to a deeper understanding of the essence and role of the transformations that took place in connection with the construction of communication routes and the improvement of vehicles.