Udaltsova Zinaida (1918–1987) – Byzantinist, medievalist.
She graduated from the Historical Faculty of the Moscow State University (supervisor E. A. Kosminsky). Candidate in History (1945) – thesis ‘Party struggle in Byzantine in the fifteenth century and the activity of Bessarion of Nicaea’. Since 1946, U. worked at the Chair of the Medieval History of the Moscow State University; since 1949 – at the Sector of the Byzantine History of the Institute of History of the Ac. of Sc. of the U.S.S.R.; in 1961-1968 – Head of the sector. In 1968-1970, she was Head of the Sector of Byzantine History of the Institute of Slavic and Balkan Studies of the Ac. of Sc. of the U.S.S.R.; since 1970 – Head of the Sector of the Byzantine History of the Institute of World History of the Ac. of Sc. of the U.S.S.R. Director of the Institute of World History of the Russian Ac. of Sc. (1980-1987). Head of the Association of Byzantinists of the U.S.S.R., Vice President of the International Association of Byzantinists (1976). Chairman of the Russian Palestinian Society (1978-1983).
Doctor in History (1961) – she defended it on the base of the published book ‘Italy and Byzantium’. Professor of World History (1968).
Correspondent Member of the Ac. of Sc. of the U.S.S.R., Department of History (1976). Foreign Member of the the Ac. of Sc. of Saxony in Leipzig (German Democratic Republic, 1982).
Her main works were dedicated on issues of social and economical history of Byzantium, and the history of feudalism in Europe. Chief Editor and author of collective works on the history and culture of Byzantium (‘The History of Byzantium’ in 3 vol. Moscow, 1967; ‘Byzantine Culture’, Vol. 1. Moscow, 1984; Vol. 2. Moscow, 1989), ‘The History of Peasantry in Europe’ in 3 vol. (Moscow, 1985– 1986).