serhii plokhy the gates of europe a history of ukraine

So let’s dive right in.Īs is the case with a lot of ancient European history, the official written record really starts with the Greeks. It’s a dramatic story that involves a lot of different actors, with many ups and downs. This Summary will attempt the challenging feat of giving you an overview of Ukraine’s history as described by Serhii Plokhy in The Gates of Europe. The region of Ukraine was first populated by nomadic tribes that traded with nearby Greek colonies. In this summary you’ll see why neighboring nations have laid claim to its heritage, and just how interwoven Ukrainian history is to the overall history of the continent. Since Ukraine is essentially the gateway to Europe, its story and its independence have always been important. This is the story of those people and a region of Europe that has always sat at the crossroads of East and West, Europe and Asia. And yet, through it all, the Ukrainian people have kept their history and culture alive, even when their language was forbidden by the Russian Empire. Turmoil and oppression have been the norm. Taken over by Vikings, Mongols, and Ottomans, and stuck between the Kingdom of Poland and the empires of Austria and Russia, Ukraine has rarely found a chance to exist as an independent state. Unravel the fascinatingly complex history of Ukraine.įrom ancient times to modern days, it’s an understatement to say that Ukraine has been through a lot. People curious about Russian-Ukrainian relations.Post-Soviet Ukraine has had to continue dealing with Russian influence as it strives for EU membership.Įurope, History, Politics, Cultural Who is it for? The twentieth century saw some of the worst devastation in Ukraine. The Cossacks managed to create an independent state between two growing empires.ĭuring the Age of Reason, Ukraine was repeatedly torn between the Commonwealth and Russia. The region of Ukraine was first populated by nomadic tribes that traded with nearby Greek colonies.īy the end of the tenth century, the region was a thriving part of the European tapestry. What’s in it for me? Unravel the fascinatingly complex history of Ukraine.

Indeed, the history of Ukraine is one of the most important facets in the history of Europe. Due to this unique geographic position, Ukraine has been fought over and subjugated by a long line of imperial forces throughout history.

The Gates of Europe (2015) offers a compelling overview of the history of Ukraine, a nation which lies between the East and the West.

Serhii plokhy the gates of europe a history of ukraine