On History of Ural School of Historians of International Relations: M. Ya. Syusyumov about I. N. Chempalov

The article is devoted to two well-known historians of the Ural State University: Mikhail Yakovlevich Syusyumov (1893-1982), the outstanding byzantinist of the 20th century, and Ivan Nikanorovich Chempalov (1913-2008), the founder of the Ural school of historians of international relations. The aim of the article is to study one of the most important aspects of the unique process - the formation of the scientific school of historians of international relations at the Ural University. Special attention is paid to an important stage in the scientific biography of its founder I. N. Chempalov - preparation of the doctoral thesis. The documents are used which had not previously been published, in particular, the materials of personal correspondence of M. Ya. Syusyumov with other historians - V. T. Sirotenko and K. D. Petryaev. The authors believe that the Ural school of historians of international relations was formed not without the influence of the theory of continuity (historical succession) proposed by M. Ya. Syusyumov. There is a high prognostic potential of historical thinking of this authoritative medievalist, who gave a number of assessments of the modern historical process, as subsequent events confirmed his rightness. The authors of the article made an attempt to reveal the essence of “the phenomenon of I. N. Chempalov.” The process of scientific continuity and influence of the senior colleague on formation of I. N. Chempalov as a historian of international relations is covered.