A Brief History of Ukraine

Liminal- occupying a position at, or on both sides of, a boundary or threshold

Kievan Rus- Late 9 th - mid 13 th century Medieval Slavic kingdom Medieval Slavic kingdom Loose confederation of different ethnicities and cultures Loose confederation of different ethnicities and cultures Converted to Orthodox Christianity in order to ally with Byzantine Empire Converted to Orthodox Christianity in order to ally with Byzantine Empire People of Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia trace their cultural heritage back to the Kievan Rus

Mongols invade in 13 th and 14 th centuries Mongols invade in 13 th and 14 th centuries Control of Ukraine passed to Poland-Lithuania Control of Ukraine passed to Poland-Lithuania Ukraine was border between P/L lands and Mongols Ukraine was border between P/L lands and Mongols Crimea became Turku-Mongol state until late 18 th century Crimea became Turku-Mongol state until late 18 th century Lithuania Poland

Cossacks East Slavic people on the border between Russia and Ukraine Ukrainian Cossacks revolted against Russian and Lithuanian rule- form Hetmanate ( ), also known as Left-Bank (of Dnieper River)Ukraine Russian Cossacks helped Russian Empire grow

Ukraine Divided (Again) 18 th century Ukraine divided between Austrian and Russian rule Ukraine divided between Austrian and Russian rule Austria controlled extreme western part, Russia annexed majority (Little Russia) Austria controlled extreme western part, Russia annexed majority (Little Russia) Russia put down Cossack revolts- by killing thousands of Cossacks Russia put down Cossack revolts- by killing thousands of Cossacks

Russo-Turkish Wars- 16 th to 20 th centuries Russia attempting to gain control of warm water port in Black Sea After losing in first two centuries, Russia begins to win in 18 th century Crimean Tatars- Turkic people who migrated into Crimea Crimean slave trade- Tatars raided Russia and Ukraine for slaves Russia annexed Crimea in resulted in Tatar Diaspora

Crimean War Russia used pretext of “defending Orthodoxy” as justification to invade Balkans Russia used pretext of “defending Orthodoxy” as justification to invade Balkans Ottoman Empire gets help from Western Europe (Britain, France, Sardinia-Piedmont) Ottoman Empire gets help from Western Europe (Britain, France, Sardinia-Piedmont) Fighting takes place in Crimea because Ottomans want it back Fighting takes place in Crimea because Ottomans want it back Sets precedent for Western interference in Russian plans for Ukraine Sets precedent for Western interference in Russian plans for Ukraine