The collective work is written in the form of historical and historiographical essays on the socio-economic development of the “new lands” of Siberia and North America. Based on the analysis of a wide range of both domestic and foreign literature and sources, the main trends, methods and problems of research by Western European and American Siberian scholars are identified, American and Russian historiography of the initial period of development of the American frontier is characterized, interesting and little-studied subjects of the socio-economic development of Siberia are considered: the role of distillery production in the regional economy, the socio-cultural appearance of the merchant elite, the formation of the shipping company. The publication is intended for historians, teachers and students of history departments, as well as everyone interested in the socio-economic history of Russia. Authors: Ananyev D.A., Komleva E.V. , Raev D.Ya., Rezun D.Ya., Sokolovsky I.R., Tumanik E.H. Responsible editor Dr. ist. Sciences D.Ya. Rezun.Novosibirsk: Sova, 2006. 227 p.