Нижний Новгород. Краткая история

Эдуард Михальков

Эта книга представляет собой лаконичный и доступный обзор истории Нижнего Новгорода с момента основания города в 1221 году до настоящего времени. В краткой и живой форме автор рассказывает об основных вехах становления и развития города как крупнейшего политического, экономического и культурного центра России. Книга адресована самой широкой аудитории читателей, интересующихся историей.

EN

The city of Nizhny Novgorod was founded in 1221 by Prince Yuri Vsevolodovich at the confluence of the Volga and Oka rivers. Originally it was called Nizhny Novgorod, which means"Lower City". A wooden Kremlin fortress was built on the high right bank of the Oka.

In the 1300s Nizhny Novgorod became an important trade center linking Central Russia with the Urals and Siberia. The strategic position of the city at the crossroads of major rivers contributed to the development of trade relations. The first stone walls were erected around the Kremlin in 1350.

Under Ivan the Terrible in the 1500s, new massive stone walls, towers and churches were built inside the triangular Kremlin. Outside the walls along the rivers, a commercial quarter and market were formed. In 1583 the first water supply system was built.

By the 1700s Nizhny Novgorod had become a prosperous trading city, where the Makariev Fair, one of the largest markets in Russia, was held. The merchant class appeared, which contributed to the construction of churches, mansions and cultural institutions. By the 1760s the population reached 30,000 people.

In 1817 Nizhny Novgorod became the capital of its own province. By order of Alexander I, the city was reconstructed, including a new beautiful stone embankment of the Volga River. The first bridges over the Oka River were built, and a theological seminary was opened.

Industrialization accelerated in the late 1800s with the construction of metallurgical plants, steamships and railroads. Famous engineer Vladimir Shukhov built groundbreaking steel structures throughout the city. By 1897, the city had a population of 115,000.

After the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917, some churches were destroyed, but major industries were nationalized and flourished under the communist regime. During World War II, more than 500 factories were evacuated to the city. In 1985, construction of the subway began.

During the Soviet period, Nizhny Novgorod turned into one of the largest industrial centers of the country.

In the 1930s, the Gorky Automobile Plant was built, which became the most important automobile manufacturer in the USSR. By the 1980s, GAZ employed about 100,000 workers and produced over 650,000 cars annually.

During the Great Patriotic War, many Nizhny Novgorod enterprises were evacuated from the western regions of the USSR. In particular, the Kharkov Locomotive Plant was evacuated to the Krasnoye Sormovo plant. After the war, the plant became one of the largest in Europe in the production of rolling stock for railroads.

In 1950-1960s a number of new giants of industry were built — plants"Sokol","Heat Exchanger", radio plant named after Lenin and others. Production of radio electronics, instrumentation, chemical industry was developing.

In 1970-1980s technical re-equipment of Nizhny Novgorod enterprises continued. The largest plants (GAZ, Krasnoe Sormovo, Sokol) mastered the production of new models of products, production volumes increased.

Railway engineering — Nizhny Novgorod was the center of steam locomotives and diesel trains development. It provided more than 50% of locomotives used in the USSR.

After 1991 and the collapse of the USSR, Nizhny Novgorod industry experienced a decline due to a systemic crisis. Many enterprises reduced production, some of them were closed.

In the post-Soviet period, Nizhny Novgorod experienced a revival, gaining a diversified economy with a focus on trade, aerospace, radio electronics, and automobile manufacturing. The historic city center was extensively restored.

Nizhny Novgorod has retained its historic architecture and importance as a trade center. Among the sights of the city are the vast walls of the Kremlin and the Arsenal building, the Governor's House, the cathedrals of the 18th century, the modern Chkalov Stairs on the Volga embankment. The city has theaters, museums and major universities.

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