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Nizhni Novgorod - History |
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From the very beginning the town was surrounded by a moat,
and a wooden Kremlin was erected. In 1350 Nizhni Novgorod became the capital of the Nizhni
Novgorod pricipality. The prince's palace, stone cathedrals, and
monasteries were built in the Kremlin. The new capital began to develop
trade and crafts, and began to construct a new system of fortifications
and to mint its own coins. Nizhni Novgorod became the cultural centre of Russia. In the
fourteenth century, both the great Russian philosopher Paul Visokiy and
the talented painter Prokhor (predecessor of Andrei Rublev) lived here. The monk Lavrenti wrote a chronicle of Russian history in the
fourteenth century. Between it’s founding and the fourteenth century Nizhni
Novgorod was burned and ruined seven times by the tribes and armies of the
Tatars. But after each invasion the people restored and renewed the
city. At the end of the fourteenth century Moscow pursued a policy
of uniting all Russian lands. And in 1393 Nizhni Novgorod lost its
independence and was incorporated into the Moscow principality. In the beginning of the fourteenth century the construction
of the stone Kremlin was finished. After the merger of Nizhni Novgorod,
the city lost its military importance and began to develop trade and
shipping. Its location at the intersection of the most significant
East-West trade routes worked to its advantage. The people of Nizhni Novgorod played a significant role in
the fate and history of Russia when they headed the patriotic movement in
"The Times of Troubles" (1603-1613). Kuzma Minin and Dmitri
Pozharski, citizens of Nizhni Novgorod, and their people's army crushed
the Polish invaders and saved Russia. In memory of that event the
Archangel Cathedral and granite obelisk were built in the Kremlin. The people of Nizhni Novgorod took active part in the reforms
of Peter the Great. Their experience in the manufacturing of sails was
instrumental in the founding of the Russian navy. The ships built for the
Azov and Persian wars, and the soldiers of regiments formed in Nizhni
Novgorod distinguished themselves in battle. In the second half of the seventeenth century the
reconstruction of Nizhni Novgorod began. The Uspenskaya, Ilynskaya and
Storgonoyskaya churches have survived and retain their beauty even today. Nizhni Novgorod also developed its cultural life. In 1798 prince Shechovskoy founded the first Theatre in Nizhni Novgorod Also, the genius inventor Kulibin lived and died in this city.
A new reconstruction plan, beginning in 1837, lead to the
building of the governor's palace, a new cathedral and a Kremlin garden.
The old moats were filled up and a promenade was constructed. In 1847 a
water supply system was established. The industrial period began in the city in the second half of
the nineteenth century. At that time Nizhni Novgorod became one of the
biggest industrial centres of Russia. The Sormovo plant, founded in 1849,
played a leading role in shipbuilding and machine manufacture. More than
10,000 people worked there producing riverboats and railroad cars.
Kurbatov (founded in 1857) and Yakovlev were other big plants related to
the production of ships. (About half of the total number of Russian ships
were made in Nizhni Novgorod, and the first motorized ships in the world
were produced here.) In 1862 Nizhni Novgorod was connected with Moscow by
railroad, and in 1898 the Sormovo plant produced its first locomotive. In
1897 Bugrov and Bashirov, the city's richest merchants, organized a
weaving plant which became one of the biggest in Russia. Rozhdestvenskaja Street (now Mayakovskij Street) became the
center of Nizhni Novgorod. Hotels and restaurants, trading houses, the
biggest, richest banks, and the offices of the shipbuilding companies were
all located there. In the beginning of the twentieth century the main fair
house, the Nizhni Novgorod branch of the State Bank (1913), and the
Peoples House and Duma (1904) were built in our city. For the opening of
the All-Russian Industrial Exhibition in 1896 the first funicular railway
was built in Russia. After the revolution in Russia in 1917 the communist leaders
tried to wipe out the old culture. Many churches and historical buildings
were destroyed, and many progressive and educated people of the city were
imprisoned or killed. Nizhni Novgorod remained the industrial centre in the USSR.
In 1937 the biggest auto factory in Russia was founded here. But it was
only in 1989, after the decline of communist regime, that the fair was
revived. Our city is linked with the name of the Great Russian
scientist and fighter for democracy Andrei Sakharov. He was exiled to
Nizhni Novgorod because of his anti-militaristic ideas and his fight for
democracy and freedom. Now our city is restoring its historical and cultural places.
An interesting part of our cultural life and historical heritage are the
museums of Nizhni Novgorod. The Nizhni Novgorod Art Museum was founded in 1896. Its first
paintings were donated by local collectors and amateurs, among them our
great writer Maxim Gorki. From his own collection he presented the
paintings of Rerikh, Kustodiev, and Nesterov. The Russian Academy of Art
made a great contribution to our museum. After the revolution in 1917 and
the nationalization of private collections, the Art Museum became one of
the best in Russia. It now has more than 10,000 exhibits. Unique paintings
and icons of the fourteenth through nineteenth centuries represent Old
Russian art. The museum is divided into several exhibition halls: Old
Russian, Modern Russian, and East European. All styles and trends are
represented. The works of celebrated Russian painters like Repin, Vasnesov,
Shishkin, Serov, and Rerikh, known throughout the world, are on display
here. The Historical and Architectural Museum was founded in 1867.
Many foreign visitors, after seeing the museum, begin to understand how
rich the traditions of the Russian people are as they become acquainted
with the old way of life. The museum has a rich collection of ethnic
costumes, crafts, glassware, and china. Central to the cultural life of Nizhni Novgorod are its theatres.
Six theatres are located in our city: Drama Theatre, Opera and Ballet Theatre,
Comedy Theatre, Nizhni Novgorod State Philharmonic, Puppet Theatre, and
the Theatre for Young Spectators. The Drama Theater of Nizhni Novgorod is the oldest in our
city. Prince Shekhovskoy founded it in 1798. For almost 200 years,
well-known actors have performed in the theatre of this city. Now both
classics and modern works are performed here. After reconstruction of the former People's House in 1935 the
Opera and Ballet Theatre was opened. It is one of the favourite theatres
among the people of Nizhni Novgorod. The young spectators of our city love the Puppet Theatre. Nizhni Novgorod is also a university centre. The University
of Foreign Languages, Medical University and The University of Naval
Architecture are located in the city. |
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