Vasily Klyuchevsky, Russian historian (1841-1911)

Interpreting history from a sociological viewpoint, Vasily Klyuchevsky emphasised geographic and economic conditions as the determining factors of social change.

Klyuchevsky considered colonisation a distinctive feature of Russian development and an important factor in the rise of a strong central state.

Among his many writings, noted for scrupulous research and documentation, is his Course of Russian History (5 vol., 1902-21; tr. A History of Russia, 5 vol., 1960).