Smereka B. Descriptive statistical sources about colonization and administrative territorial structure of L'viv land of Rus' voivodship in 16th- 18th centuries.

The study of colonization movement remains poorly researched and the actual course of early modern colonization is studied mainly for the regions, where settlement activity was particularly noticeable (Podillya, Slobozhanshchyna). Processes associated with the spread of the Magdeburg law are poorly studied too (despite the growing interest in urban studies) as well as the specific features of the administrative territorial structure of Ukrainian lands. Descriptive statistical sources have an information potential for the study of these problems. Documents display information about the settlements and their inhabitants, infrastructure and owners in a concise form of lists and tables. Some samples also contained narrative blocks, which accumulate useful information for researchers - content of the privileges of land ownership, the flow of estate conflicts etc. The dissertation is devoted to the analysis of the descriptive statistical sources in terms of representativeness to study the settlement and also the administrative territorial structure of L'viv land of Rus' voivodship in early modern period; and to the research of the outlined phenomena. It was established that despite the shortcomings of the fiscal legislation and findings of misrepresentation of source data, representativeness of its individual species is high enough to calculate demographic parameters, to study colonization processes, to establish proprietary identity of the settlements and to reveal other important information - the presence of objects of infrastructure in the settlements and its service staff; representatives of various forms of rural self- government; possession of individuals within the village (community heads, pastors, millers, innkeepers etc.). Within the direct study of these phenomena features of the early modern colonization movement were revealed which determined its specificity. The number of population within this period was approximately estimated (85,000 in the mid of 16th century and 100,000 in the third quarter of 17th century) and its ethnic and religious diversity was specified. The facts of the disappearance of settlements were revealed, which was the result of numerous enemy attacks and devastations. The existence of self-government in the villages of L'viv land based on the German, Ruthenian and Walachian law were outlined. Mentions of the existence of various industries, the development of which caused exploration of new territories were listed. Apart from this, changes in the administrative territorial structure of the land were tracked.