A monograph continuing the study of the history of Kievan Rus, published in 1974 and 1980, examines the stages of its study in the scientific literature. The main attention is paid to the analysis of the points of view of Soviet historians on such key issues as the emergence of the Old Russian state, the role of the city, the genesis and development of feudalism in Russia, the nature and form of the class struggle, etc. The book is intended for scientists, teachers of humanitarian faculties of universities, everyone interested in the history of Kievan Rus.