No 3 (2010)

The period of life of the Spanish enlightener Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos in Madrid is studied in the article. In the capital he became a member of the Madrid Economic Society of Friends of the Country and took an active part in its studies dedicated mostly to encourage economic development and initiative and modernize Spain's education system. A number of important Spanish statesmen, social scientists and reformers participated in the activities of the Madrid Economic Society.

This article deals with the role of women in the structure of Chinese families in XVII-XIX centuries. The author studies traditional Chinese family as a basis of Chinese society, personal relationships between family members, position of women within this structure in different social groups.

The intent of this article is to deconstruct a direct, consistent cultural Russian ethos illustrated within the narratives of the Russian epos or byliny - what the author identifies as self-reflecting virtues. The article posits the presupposition that the byliny historically both delineate and propagate preferred socio-cultural characteristics that explicitly circumscribe Russian national identity. According to the author, the byliny exhibit three rather conspicuous distinct virtues as defining membership within the Rus clan: the love for and ability to conquer nature, the absence of spatial and temporal relevancy and being builders - these are the qualities that make Rus unique and are subsequently celebrated as cultural characteristics in the byliny. The article also briefly traces the history and form of the byliny.