Kuzmenko A. Problematics of studies on history of Ukraine (the end of XVIII - the beginning of the XIX century).

The thesis under consideration is the first attempt at the complex study of the process of reformation of knowledge on Ukrainian history into Ukrainian historical science during the end of XVIII - the beginning of the XIX century. The author reasons the suggested subdivision of this process into periods with definition of two main historiography stages, the transitional and the organizational. Through analysis of level of research of this problem in domestic and foreign historiography, main historiography periods in this process have been identified. A specific character of qualitative changes in development of researches on history of Ukraine under the influence of progressive Western European traditions is shown; the mutual influence of intellectual environment of the Russian Empire and the process of gathering knowledge on Ukrainian history is traced. A completely new by its quality layer of knowledge produced by noble historians is studied as a phenomenon of peculiarly Ukrainian original historiography. The importance of influence of the mentioned processes on transition from systemless accumulation of knowledge on Ukrainian history to scientific and critical forms of historical studies is brought out; the initial stages of documentalization and improved professional character of this process are identified.