The book of A.A. Gorsky includes his selected articles of the 1990s - 2010s. Chronologically, they cover the period from the emergence of Russian statehood to the end of the 15th century. - the time of the formation of a single Russian state. The issues of the formation of the ancient Russian state and society are considered. problems of historical terminology, relations of Russian lands with the Mongol Empire and the Golden Horde, the process of growth of possessions of Moscow princes at the end of the XIII-XV centuries. Part of the work is devoted to issues of source study (including the treaties of Russia with Byzantium of the 10th century, "Words About Igor's Regiment," "The Tale of the Murder of Batu").