Gradual conquest of Siberia by Moscow state started in 1582 with the Yermak's campaign. That year, the Cossacks were exploring the region of the confluence of the Ob and Irtysh rivers. They didn’t encounter any serious resistance, until they met Prince Samar, the leader of the local tribe of Ostyaks, who decided to fight the intruders. But he couldn’t defend the territory, and was killed. The settlement was looted and fell into decay. Only half a century later, this territory in Siberia became part of the Russian state.

 In 1630s, the first settlers began to move to the lower reaches of the Irtysh for service of postal tracts. And, in 1635, one of the first official documents on the establishment of Samarovo settlement was signed. Special horse changing stations, "yams" were placed along some of the most active trade routes. In 1637 two yams were organized - the Demjansky and the Samarovsky (today's Khanty-Mansiysk).

In the 17th century, a favorable location at the intersection of important routes allowed Samarovo settlement to become a center of trade. In the 18th century, residents of the settlement had to learn crafts and production, because the main trade routes shifted to the south, when the Russian Empire captured the Eastern Siberia. In the 19th century, this village attracted travelers, researchers, scholars and even royal persons.

At the turn of the 19th-20th centuries, Samarovo became a prosperous village. Rich landowners, merchants and fishermen were living here. Their large two-story houses became a decoration of the village. In 1906, after the first Russian revolution, the first exiles began to arrive in Samarovo. Soviet power was proclaimed in 1918.

In 1930, a decree on the formation of Ostyako-Vogulsk National District was signed. In 1931, construction of a new capital of the district began in 5 km from Samarovo. It was named Ostyako-Vogulsk. The new village and Samarovo were connected by a road in 1937. Later, it became known as “Khanty-Mansiysk street”. In 1940, Ostyako-Vogulsk was renamed Khanty-Mansiysk. In 1950, Khanty-Mansiysk became a town with Samarovo as its part.

Text vocabulary:

the Cossacks – Казаки

to loot – грабить, разграбить

trade routes – торговые пути

prosperous village – процветающая, зажиточная деревня

Exercise 11. Match these two parts to make a phrase:

the Cossacks were                      part of the Russian state

the leader of the                          had to learn crafts

a favorable location at the          a decoration of the village

this territory in Siberia became            exploring the region

residents of the settlement          local tribe of Ostyaks

large two-story houses became            intersection of important routes

Exercise 12. Read the sentences and find true \ false statements.

Samarovo

Samarovo is the place where Khanty-Mansiysk takes its origin from. T\F

For the first time the village of Samarovo was mentioned in the chronicles of the XIII century. T\F

At the beginning of the XVII century it appeared officially on the map of Russia. T\F

 The historical place of its formation is situated in the area of rainforests. T\F

Samarovsky Yam – this was the original name of the future capital of Ugra. T\F

In the XVII century it was a small village inhabited by yamschiks (coachmen) and the name of “yam” was connected with them. T\F

Yermak

Yermak, the Great Russian discoverer of Siberia played an important role in the history of Khanty-Mansiysk. T\F

His supporter lost the battle with Khanty Samar-khan, and afterwards the settlement of Samarovo appeared here. T\F

 The monument to Yermak is erected on the left bank of the Irtysh River. T\F

Khanty and Mansi

They have always been known as Khanty and Mansi . T\F

 Sometimes they were also called Ob-Ugric peoples. T\F

These nations are the main indigenous peoples of the region. T\F

They are absolutely different in appearance; their traditions, way of life and culture are also different. T\F

Exercise 13. Choose one of the items and prepare a presentation about the history of these towns: Surgut, Nizhnevartovsk, Nefteyugansk, Kogalym, Nyagan, Uraj, Berezovo, Megion.You can also choose any town of the region. Find some interesting facts from their history.