It’s Great to Be Modest (for the 70th Anniversary of N.A. Mininkov)

Abstract. The article is devoted to the 70th anniversary of the prominent Rostov historian N.A. Mininkov. The authors indicate the main milestones of the professor’s creative and pedagogical path. The main scientific achievements of the scientist are related to the study of the Don Cossacks’ history. His monographs show a complete picture of life on the Don in the XVI–XVII centuries. The researcher’s interest in theoretical and methodological problems of history was initiated by educational tasks. However, according to the authors, research in this area has acquired serious scientific significance. There is a whole range of Mininkov’s historical and biographical works dedicated to the Don researchers of the XIX–XX centuries. It is noted that the attention to people of the second plan in history is associated with his deep conviction in the humanitarian essence of science, in the service of which his own life principles of intelligence, modesty, humanity are organically manifested.

Keywords: N.A. Mininkov, anniversary, history of the cossacks, theory and methodology of history, the Don historians, humanitarian science.