History Lesson.

[ada]

Originally posted by SkyRenegade
lol. Who'd a thought Poland would come up in the Ukraine forum.

It is hard, but finally (I hope) we would became not only neighbours but also real friends. And then...economically: beware of us, Europe!

[Zbyszek]

Originally posted by SkyRenegade
lol. Who'd a thought Poland would come up in the Ukraine forum.

Sky, though it may me stressful to some Ukrainians (I am sure), it is just impossible to avoid mentioning Poland when unfolding history of Ukraine. Mazepa gave very short and well composed history of Poland but one factor must be played up - as Ivan Franko said (a Ukrainian poet and left political activist ) - there is no other couple of nations being as close to each other and hating each other as passionately as Poles and Ukrainains. Franko himself is maybe the best example of this shizofrenia.
Sky, I could say Poles were crucial in developing Ukrainian identity but they were also brutal enough in quashing it. It is fascinating theme for historians. I really can not imagine Ukrainian historian seriously digging the past of his land and failing to know Polish in writing at least. Respect for history (not automatically for Poland) makes it mandatory. And Sky, I can make you sure that it is technically not too difficult task for Ukrainians.

[SkyRenegade]

wow thanks for the extra insight. And opinion.

[dobko]

Listen to Zby, Justin. He'll point you in the right direction.

[benda]

I can imagine such a historian. It is a Crimean historian. And though I am Kyivian it's a pity that we don'tknow anything about history of Crimea.

[Zbyszek]

Originally posted by benda
I can imagine such a historian. It is a Crimean historian. And though I am Kyivian it's a pity that we don'tknow anything about history of Crimea.

OK, Benda history of Crimea is surely fascinating subject to study but consider the following:

1. Restricting oneself to professional history research of Crimea sounds debilitating.
2. Ukrainian historian studying Crimea only will be in danger because he would find it extremely difficult to prove Ukrainian rights to Crimea on historic base.
3. I wonder which language is prevalent in the matter of history records of Crimea. Turkish?

[benda]

Ukrainian rights for Crimea were proved by Petro Sahaidachnyi (conquering Kafa (Feodosiya) in 1616). Crimeans made Ukrainians slaves, and we got rights for Crimea.

As for language. Yes, Crimea was Turkish territory from 1475 to 1783. But:
1) after 1783 Russians founded many new cities there; there was Crimean war 1853-1856 so Russians wrote some pages to Crimea's history;
2) Till XX century when Atatyurk became a Turkish president and made reforms, Turks used Arab alphabet.

Olexiy, Kyiv