The twelve-volume “History of the Russian State,” to which Karamzin devoted the last 22 years of his life, covers the period from ancient times to the beginning of the 17th century and is not only a significant historical work, but also an excellent literary work. Karamzin contributed a lot to the understanding of the general the course of Russian history and in assessing individual historical events, revealed, with the help of psychological analysis, the ideological and moral motives for the actions of historical figures. Believing that the history of mankind is the history of global progress, the basis of which is the struggle of reason against error, enlightenment against ignorance. Karamzin saw the historian’s task as instructing people in their social activities. The first volume of “History of the Russian State” included 10 chapters: I – About the peoples who have lived in Russia since ancient times, II – About the Slavs and other peoples, III – About the physical and moral character of the ancient Slavs, IV - Rurik, Sineus and Truvor, V - Oleg the ruler, VI - Prince Igor, VII - Prince Svyatoslav, VIII - Grand Duke Yaropolk, IX - Grand Duke Vladimir, X - On the state of Ancient Rus'.