The History and Development of Ukraine From Kyivan

The History and Development of Ukraine From Kyivan Rus’ Until Present Time Power Point by Lilia & Justin Houser

Kyivan Rus’ • In 862, Rurik, a Viking, was invited by the feuding Slavic tribes to rule over them, founding the dynasty of Rus’, with the capital at Novgorod. • In 882 the capital was moved to the city of Kyiv by Oleh. The dynasty grew in wealth, power, and culture. Kyivan Rus’ (in red) with present-day borders of Ukraine (in yellow)

• In 945, Empress Ol’ha converted to Christianity and was baptized at Constantinople • In 988, Olha’s grandson, Volodymyr, adopted Christianity as the religion of his empire, was baptized, as were all of his subjects in the River Dnipro at Kyiv. • This event is known as the “Baptism of Rus’” and fulfills a traditional prophecy that St. Andrew the Apostle came to the site of Kyiv and foretold that a Christian city would arise there. Baptism of Rus’ in the year 988

• In the 11 th century, Emperor Yaroslav the Wise laid the basis for the Rus’ka Pravda, or “Law of Rus’. ” He was also a patron of culture and in 1037 constructed the Cathedral of St. Sophia in Kyiv and from 1017 -24 built the famed Golden Gate of Kyiv, monuments which exist to this day. St. Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv, built in 1037

The Middle Ages of Ukraine • • In 1223, Mongols from the east, led by Genghis Khan, invaded Kyivan Rus'. The capital city of Kyiv fell to the invaders in 1240 and the region was ruled by the Mongols and their allies, the Tatars for more than 200 years. The independent languages and cultures of Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus began to develop. In the west, the Rus’ Principality of Galicia-Volhynia survived and built its great capital at L’viv. This empire lasted until 1349, when it was conquered by Poland. By the 1600 s Western Ukraine had been conquered by Poland Eastern Ukraine was conquered by Russia.

The Cossacks • Wandering individuals settled in the desolate regions of southern and southeastern Ukraine and southwestern Russia as early as the 13 th century, mixing with tribes of Cumans, Kassacks, Tatars, and others. • They were free-spirited and developed their own form of government, with a leader called a Hetman. • By the 1500 s they were organized as the Zaporizhian Cossacks and the Don Cossacks. Cossack playing bandura

Bohdan Khmelnytsky (1595 -1657) • Hetman of the Zaporizhian Cossacks • Led an uprising against Polish rule from 1648 to 1654, resulting in an independent Cossack state • Signed a treaty with Russia in 1654, which led to increasing Russian control • The Hetmanate functioned as an independent state from 1648 until 1764, when it was absorbed by the Russian Empire

Cossack Hetmanate in relation to present Ukrainian borders

Ivan Mazepa (1639 -1709) • Hetman from 1687 to 1709 • Patron of the Arts and Builder of Churches • When the Tsar of Russia planned to replace him, Hetman Mazepa turned against the Russian Empire at the Battle of Poltava and was killed

The Tragic Fracturing of Ukrainian Identity • • • By the late 18 th century, Poland had collapsed and Ukrainians were ruled by different empires – in the east, the Russian Empire; in the west, the Austrian Empire Central and Eastern Ukraine were Orthodox, while Western Ukraine aligned with the Catholic Church in 1596 and formed the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church Eastern Ukraine was becoming “Russified” and Western Ukraine was becoming “Polonized” Pictures: Top – St. George’s Cathedral in L’viv, historic seat of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church; Bottom – Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, historic seat of Ukrainian Orthodoxy

Taras Shevchenko, National Hero (1814 -1861) • Father of Ukrainian literature • Wrote many beautiful poems and raised the status of the Ukrainian language • Contributed to Ukrainian national awakening • Exiled for criticising the Tsar • Forerunner of Ukrainian national literary tradition, including greats such as Ivan Franko, Lesya Ukrainka, and others

The Age of Empires • In the 19 th and early 20 th centuries, Ukraine was split between the Austrian west and the Russian east • Russia forbade printing in the Ukrainian language by the Ems Ukase in 1876 • During this time millions of Western Ukrainians (under Austrian rule) immigrated to the USA, Canada, and South America to find better lives • During World War I, Ukrainians fought against each other on opposite sides Map showing Russian Gubernias of presentday Ukraine and the Austrian portion (in the west)

Post World War I • In 1917, Ukraine declared independence from the Russian Empire, and the Ukrainian People’s Republic was formed. Symon Petliura served as Head of the Ukrainian State • Soon after, Ukraine came under the rule of Hetman Pavlo Skoropadsky • In 1918, the Directorate took control of Ukraine, led by the famous historian Mykhaylo Hrushevskiy • In Western Ukraine, the Polish. Ukrainian War was fought in 19181919. Poland gained control of L’viv and Eastern Galicia. Hrushevsky and Petliura

The Early Soviet Era • • While Ukraine was struggling to develop, the Bolshevik revolution in Russia spread to the eastern part of Ukraine, and the communists took control Ukraine entered the Soviet Union in 1922 The capital was at Kharkiv until 1934 and then moved to Kyiv This ushered in a very painful time in Ukrainian history Churches were closed In 1937 -38, millions were executed in the “Great Purge” for trumped-up political reasons Kobzars (traditional Ukrainian musicians) were deliberately rounded up and murdered during this decade to eliminate the influence of Ukrainian culture Flag and emblem of the Ukrainian SSR

Holodomor • As a result of Stalin’s policies to export grain to raise cash to develop the USSR’s industrial infrastructure, millions were purposely deprived of food in what was the “breadbasket of Europe” • Ukraine was especially hard-hit, and 10 million died during the Holodomor (Great Famine) of 1932 -1933 Holodomor Victims in Kharkiv, 1933

World War II (The Great Patriotic War) • • • Hitler and Stalin were bitter enemies and distrustful of each other On June 22, 1941, Germany invaded the USSR The people of Ukraine bravely rose to the challenge to defend their homeland The Ukrainian War Dead in World War II exceeded 6. 8 million (military and civilians), or 16. 3% of the population Three million were killed by the Nazis as part of the organized Holocaust, including 60% of Ukraine’s Jewish population Ruins of Kyiv during World War II

OUN • The Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists formed in 1929 to promote a free Ukraine without Russian or Polish domination • In 1940 the OUN split into OUN-M (conservative) and OUN-B (more radical) factions • OUN-B was led by Stepan Bandera (19091959) Proclamation of Ukrainian Independence, 1941

Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) • UPA fought during the war to create an independent Ukrainian state • They fought a guerilla war against Poles, Germans, Russians – anyone who opposed this objective • After the war, they struggled for years against the USSR until most were captured, imprisoned, executed, or emigrated • Using UPA resistance as a pretense, the Lemkos (Western Ukrainians) were expelled from Poland in 1944 -1947 • Stepan Bandera was murdered by a KGB agent in Germany in 1959 Stepan Bandera

Post-War Ukraine (1946 -1991) • • • Western Ukraine was added to the Ukrainian SSR in 1946 (it was formerly part of Poland) Ukrainians rebuilt and industrialized their nation as part of the Soviet economy Ukrainian language, culture and religious beliefs were frequently repressed during this era Many immigrated to the USA, Canada, and South America after the death of Stalin in 1953 In 1954, Russia “gave” the territory of Crimea to Ukraine as a gift to commemorate the 300 th anniversary of Bohdan Khmelnytsky’s agreement with Russia

Steps Toward Independence • In 1986, a horrific nuclear power accident at Chornobyl – and the subsequent cover-up – horrified angered many • At the same time, the USSR began economic and political liberalizations under Gorbachev • As the USSR began to weaken, calls for Ukrainian independence grew louder

Independence • On August 24, 1991, the Supreme Soviet of the Ukrainian SSR declared independence from the USSR • On December 1, 1991, in a formal referendum, over 90% of Ukrainian voters supported independence • The Soviet Union dissolved on December 26, 1991

Orange Revolution • • • As Ukraine tried to find its way as an independent nation, corruption became rampant After fraudulent election results in 2004, and the attempted poisoning of presidential candidate Viktor Yushchenko, people organized a massive rally in Kyiv to protest – the Orange Revolution A re-vote was ordered, and Yushchenko was declared the victor

Ukraine Today • Although developmental difficulties continue, Ukraine remains a hopeful young republic with an abundance of resources, a charming culture and a vibrant, patriotic people! • Ще не вмерла Українa!

Music Credits • • • All works by Ukrainian composers “Melodia” (1981), by Myroslav Skoryk “The moment of glory, ” bandurist Valentyn Lysenko “A letter to an album, ” by Myroslav Skoryk “Sonata in A major for violin and clavichord, ” by Maksym Berezovskiy Ukrainian National Anthem