Keyword: «southern urals»

Based on an interdisciplinary approach, the practical contribution is considered of the Imperial Academy of Sciences to the economic development of the state by organizing scientific expeditions to remote provinces of the Russian Empire is considered. In 1768-1774, 5 academic expeditions were organized. Great importance was attached to the study of the natural resources of the Southern Urals, where 3 of the 5 expeditions were sent. It is noted that this became possible after the final inclusion of Bashkiria in the national administrative system and the formation of the Orenburg province on its territory. The main focus of this article is on the expedition of P. S. Pallas to the Southern Urals. It is emphasized that in addition to scientific interest, the expedition's activities were aimed at studying economic issues: mineral deposits, medicinal natural resources, economic activities of the local population, description of existing mines and factories. It is concluded that the results obtained were of both scientific and practical importance for the development of the country's economy. The novelty of the study is seen in the fact that the activities of academic expeditions in the Southern Urals are presented in the context of the economic and political interests of the Russian state in this region.

As a result of the study, it was determined that the fortress cities and prison towns have designated the vector of evolution of urbanization processes. Those that were located near navigable rivers or convenient dirt roads received an impetus for development. On the contrary, the absence of this factor subsequently led to the decay of urban settlements. An even more vivid example of such an impact is the beginning of railway communication in the region. The scale of the growth of both the territory and the urban population under the influence of this factor is obvious. In general, the administrative factor of urban development is quite justified for solving large-scale tasks of the state. However, at the same time, only those of the fortress cities and fortress towns of the XVI – XVIII centuries who managed to join the general economic system and become attractive settlements for merchants and burghers survived and significantly increased in size and population. The latter became possible where it was possible to ensure proper regional and interregional communication.