ИСТИНА

Based on the analysis of a number of historical maps covering the territory of the Smolensk land starting from the period of formation of the ancient Russian state to the XXI century we have identified four main periods of the formation of the territory and dynamics of the borders of the Smolensk land (principalities, governorships, provinces, regions). "Old" or "Principality" period is the time of formation of the Smolensk principality from IX to XIII centuries. By the XIII century the Smolensk land occupied the territory between the rivers Sozh - Dnieper - Kasplya, the headwaters of the Western Dvina (near Toropetskie and Zhizhetskoye lakes), between the rivers Dnieper and Desna and included Toropets, Verzhavsk, Mogilev, Kopys. The second period starting from the end of the XIV century and to 1654 was the "Transitional" period because the boundaries of the Smolensk land and its administrative structure changed repeatedly. The Smolensk land was the subject of a constant struggle with varying success between the Russian and Lithuanian states. The Smolensk land finally becomes a part of the Russian state in 1654 as a result of the winning in one of the Russian-Polish wars. Starting from that time and until 1917 the "Provincial" period of the formation of the region begins. In 1708 the Russian Empire undertook a provincial reform by founding 8 provinces, including the Smolensk one with the administrative center of the same name. The last period, so called "Modern" or "Regional" period (1917 - XXI century). In 1918 the Western area was established, which also comprised the Smolensk province with the center in Smolensk. The Smolensk region was formed in 1937, it included 49 districts. In the postwar years the territory of the Smolensk region remained virtually unchanged, changing only the internal borders of its districts, which were either abolished or restored. However, after the collapse of the Soviet Union the Smolensk land became a border region of our country again. Currently the Smolensk region consists of 25 districts.