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'''Kiev''' ('''''Kyiv''''' in Ukrainian) is the capital city of [[Ukraine]], located in the north-central part of the country along the banks of the river Dnipro | '''Kiev''' ('''''Kyiv''''' in Ukrainian) is the capital city of [[Ukraine]], located in the north-central part of the country along the banks of the Dnieper river (Dnipro). It has a population of about three million. | ||
Kiev [[oblast]] is the province surrounding the city of Kiev. | Kiev [[oblast]] is the province surrounding the city of Kiev. | ||
==History== | ==History== | ||
Following are some historical milestones of Kiev's history: | Following are some historical milestones of Kiev's history: | ||
* Legend has it that Kiev was founded about 500 by three brothers, Ky, Khoriv, and Shchek, along with their sister Lybid. | * Legend has it that Kiev was founded about 500 by three brothers, Ky, Khoriv, and Shchek, along with their sister Lybid. | ||
* Around 900, King Oleh from Scandinavia | * Around 900, it was seized by the Varangians from the Khazars, who had built a fortress along the Dneiper. Varangians were a Baltic people linked with the Vikings, led by King Oleh from [[Scandinavia]], who established the Rus' dynasty. (The term rus' means red-haired.) | ||
* For 100 years the region expanded as a riverine trade route, sending fur, honey, and slaves south to Constantinople, and receiving luxury goods in return. | * For 100 years the region expanded as a riverine trade route, sending fur, honey, and slaves south to [[Constantinople]], and receiving luxury goods in return. | ||
* Around 1000, King Volodymyr married into Constantinople royalty and forcibly converted the people of Kiev from paganism to Orthodox Christianity. Subsequently Yaroslav the Wise (Volodymyr's son) expanded Kiev into a major sociopolitical and economic center. | * Around 1000, King Volodymyr married into Constantinople royalty and forcibly converted the people of Kiev from paganism to Orthodox Christianity. Subsequently Yaroslav the Wise (Volodymyr's son) expanded Kiev into a major sociopolitical and economic center. | ||
* Mongol raiders sacked Kiev in 1240, and the city languished and shrank. | * Mongol raiders sacked Kiev in 1240, and the city languished and shrank. | ||
* In 1362, Kiev was incorporated into the Grand Duchy of [[Lithuania]]. Later, the city and surrounding area became a voivodeship of [[Poland]] as part of the Union of Lublin, a monarchical alliance that created the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1569. | |||
* About 1800, czarist policies encouraged an influx of Russian immigration, boosting the population considerably. | * About 1800, czarist policies encouraged an influx of Russian immigration, boosting the population considerably. | ||
* In the early 1900s, the Bolshevik Revolution resulted in many Red versus White battles in and around Kiev, and subsequent Stalinist famines killed many. | * In the early 1900s, the Bolshevik Revolution resulted in many Red versus White battles in and around Kiev, and subsequent Stalinist famines killed many. | ||
* Early in the 1940s, the German invasion of World War II also destroyed many lives, both military and civilian. | * Early in the 1940s, the German invasion of World War II also destroyed many lives, both military and civilian. | ||
* Between 20-28 September 1941, the city centre of Kiev, in particular buildings along the Khreshchatyk and parallel streets, were destroyed in a series of controlled explosions initiated by NKVD agents left behind in Kiev by the retreating Soviet Army. Hundreds of people were killed and 23,000 left homeless. | |||
* Around 1990, as the Soviet Union crumbled, Ukrainians agitated for independence, ultimately leading to the peaceful democratic Orange Revolution in the first decade of the 21st Century. | * Around 1990, as the Soviet Union crumbled, Ukrainians agitated for independence, ultimately leading to the peaceful democratic Orange Revolution in the first decade of the 21st Century. | ||
Revision as of 04:48, 6 March 2014
Kiev (Kyiv in Ukrainian) is the capital city of Ukraine, located in the north-central part of the country along the banks of the Dnieper river (Dnipro). It has a population of about three million.
Kiev oblast is the province surrounding the city of Kiev.
History
Following are some historical milestones of Kiev's history:
- Legend has it that Kiev was founded about 500 by three brothers, Ky, Khoriv, and Shchek, along with their sister Lybid.
- Around 900, it was seized by the Varangians from the Khazars, who had built a fortress along the Dneiper. Varangians were a Baltic people linked with the Vikings, led by King Oleh from Scandinavia, who established the Rus' dynasty. (The term rus' means red-haired.)
- For 100 years the region expanded as a riverine trade route, sending fur, honey, and slaves south to Constantinople, and receiving luxury goods in return.
- Around 1000, King Volodymyr married into Constantinople royalty and forcibly converted the people of Kiev from paganism to Orthodox Christianity. Subsequently Yaroslav the Wise (Volodymyr's son) expanded Kiev into a major sociopolitical and economic center.
- Mongol raiders sacked Kiev in 1240, and the city languished and shrank.
- In 1362, Kiev was incorporated into the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Later, the city and surrounding area became a voivodeship of Poland as part of the Union of Lublin, a monarchical alliance that created the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1569.
- About 1800, czarist policies encouraged an influx of Russian immigration, boosting the population considerably.
- In the early 1900s, the Bolshevik Revolution resulted in many Red versus White battles in and around Kiev, and subsequent Stalinist famines killed many.
- Early in the 1940s, the German invasion of World War II also destroyed many lives, both military and civilian.
- Between 20-28 September 1941, the city centre of Kiev, in particular buildings along the Khreshchatyk and parallel streets, were destroyed in a series of controlled explosions initiated by NKVD agents left behind in Kiev by the retreating Soviet Army. Hundreds of people were killed and 23,000 left homeless.
- Around 1990, as the Soviet Union crumbled, Ukrainians agitated for independence, ultimately leading to the peaceful democratic Orange Revolution in the first decade of the 21st Century.