The place that each era occupies in the historical process can be determined much more accurately if we analyze not its judgments about itself, but inconspicuous phenomena on its surface. As an expression of the trends of the time, the former cannot serve as reliable evidence of the general structure of the era. The latter, due to their unconsciousness, provide direct access to the essence of what is happening. The understanding of any historical period is inextricably linked with the interpretation of such superficial phenomena. The essence of the era and its remaining unnoticed features mutually clarify each other.