Ukrainian Culture, an overview

A detailed Summary of Ukrainian Culture, an overview

The best way to begin to understand Ukrainian culture is to review early Ukrainian history. This will give us a good step from which to look at traditional Ukrainian culture. Unlike the Russian people, who descended from northern tribes descending from Scandinavia and the far north, Ukrainian history was influenced by southern civilizations such as Scythians and Greeks. Invasions by the Huns and the Khazars between the 3rd and 9th centuries mixed Ukrainian bloodlines with those from all over Asia. During the 10th century, Kievan Rus was established and the golden age of Ukrainian kings was born. During this period, many important events took place, notably; King Volodymyr the Great introduced Christianity to the Ukrainian State.

The region fell to the Mongols Golden Horde in the 13th century, and was eventually ruled by Poland and Lithuania. This was known as the Age of the Kozaks, Ukrainian horseman that formed one of the largest armies of the time to fight against the invading armies of more powerful nations. These Kozaks were active in their fight for independence well into the Russian occupation, before eventually coming under the control of Russia in the late 18th century. In 1918, Ukraine declared it

Taras Shevchenko, the greatest recognized poet of Ukrainian history, was the first to write of the Russian oppression of the Ukrainian serfs in poems such as Haidamaky, which eventually became national treasures.

s independence, only to be reclaimed in 1922 by Communists during the Bolshevik Revolution. Ravaged by war and Nazi occupation during WWII, Ukraine remained under Soviet rule until declaring its freedom in 1991. Ukrainian culture has been defined in many creative styles. Literature is arguably the most prominent expression of Ukrainian culture. Ukrainian literature had been developing since the early 11th century, when people of the early Kievan Rus drafted some of Ukraine's first works in early Church Slavonic, such as the Hypathian Chronicles. The first historical epic of Ukraine, Slovo o polku Ihorevi, was written during this period. The major authors of this period were two monks known as Ilarion of Kiev, Cyril of Turov, and Prince Volodymyr Monomah II. The 16th century brought such innovations as the printing press that allowed the church to spread information during a period of Polish occupation. Works such as Perestoroha and Apocrisis bound together the religious community in these tough times.

Authors such as Marko Vovchok, and Ivan Nechuy-Levitski supported Ukrainian realism. Their works took a more somber role of looking at the aspects of their country

Some common words found in the essay are:
Ukrainian Easter, Kozaks Ukrainian, WWII Ukraine, Perestoroha Apocrisis, Socrates Ukrainian, Taras Shevchenko, Monomah II, Unlike Russian, Ivan Nechuy-Levitski, Kievan Rus, ukrainian culture, 18th century, ukrainian history, ukrainian literature, kievan rus, golden age, century brought, age ukrainian, golden age ukrainian, occupation eventually,

Approximate Word count = 962
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: History