The manual was prepared at the Department of General History of the Faculty of Humanities of Novosibirsk State University in accordance with the programs of the courses “History of the Middle Ages”, “History of Medieval Culture”, “History of Civilizations”, and can also be used in studying the courses “Philosophy of History”, “ Methodology of History", at the departments of history and archeology of Novosibirsk State University, as well as in other universities where courses similar and similar in content are taught. It is compiled on the basis of those lectures that have been given over the years to students and teachers of higher educational institutions of Novosibirsk, and provides an overview issues that enjoyed the greatest interest from the audience. It examines some important and complex specific historical and methodological problems, either poorly addressed in the research literature, or still not clearly resolved. In this regard, both in content and methodology, the educational publication has an original author's approach.