Ukrainian Shield in Defense of European Civilization: Chronology and Periodization
Abstract
This article demonstrates how the ‘Ukrainian Shield’ has protected European civilization for more than a thousand years of turbulence. The article also develops a periodization of this phenomenon.
Scientific novelty. Despite a thorough study of some aspects of the topic, the Ukrainian Shield hypothesis as a unifying theme has not been adequately covered in Ukrainian historiography. The authors show the leading role of Ukraine in the struggle against various enemies who tried to conquer European countries, and we define the chronological boundaries and develop a periodization of this process.
Methodology. The study uses a civilizational approach, methods of analogy and periodization, historical, chronological comparative and analytical methods.
Conclusions. For more than 1155 years, the Ukrainian Crystal Shield has defended European civilization from various enemies, with the Ukrainian population bearing an enormous cost. This process began in 867, when the legendary Kyivan Princes Askold and Dir defeated the Pechenegs, and continues in 2023, when Ukrainians stopped the resurgent Moscow horde that threatens the whole world.
The periodization of the Ukrainian Shield was developed on the basis of the stages of Ukrainian statehood. Stage I. Princely Statehood: wars with the Pechenegs (867-1036); with the Torks (1055-1060); with the Polovtsians (Cumans) (1060-1238); with the Mongol-Tatars (1223-1241). Stage II. Cossack Era: confrontation with the Turks and Tatars (1478-1775). Stage III. The Ukrainian National Revolution: the struggle of the Ukrainian insurgency against the march of the Bolsheviks’ World Revolution (1917-1923). Stage IV. The Modern Ukrainian Independent State: the Russian-Ukrainian war (2014-2023).
The Ukrainian Shield protected European civilization from the Pechenegs, Torks, Polovtsians, Mongol-Tatars, Turks, Bolsheviks, and continues to protect it from Russian aggression since February 24, 2022. For 667 years out of the past 1155 years, Ukraine has been engaged in open conflict to repel invaders. Many of the “peaceful” years were spent preparing for the next onslaught. These long and bloody wars, often waged against superior opponents, has required enormous effort, along with material and human resources from Ukrainians. The principal beneficiaries of Ukrainian heroism have been the peoples of central and western Europe.
Funding. The article is published within the international project Erasmus+ in the direction of Jean Monnet Module «Implementation of European values as a basis of democracy in Ukraine» (EVADEM – 101085843 – ERASMUS-JMO-2022-MODULE).
References
Berezhynskyi, V. (1996). Viiny Kyivskoi Rusi z pechenihamy [The wars of Kyivan Rus with the Pechenegs]. Ukrainskyi istorychnyi zhurnal, 6, 116-117 [in Ukrainian].
Bezanson, A. (1993). Viina bilshovykiv proty selian [The Bolsheviks’ war against the peasants]. Vsesvit, 9-10, 128-132 [in Ukrainian].
Bohutskyi, Yu., Andrushchenko, V., Bezvershuk, Zh., Novokhanko, L. & Bohutskyi, Yu. (Ed.). (2007). Ukrainska kultura v yevropeiskomu konteksti [Ukrainian culture in the European context]. Kyiv: Znannia [in Ukrainian].
Borozdina, A. (2005). Pechenihy ta Kyivska Rus: Viiskovi stosunky [Pechenegs and Kyivan Rus: Military relations]. Voienna Istoriia, 5-6 (23-24). Retrieved from http://warhistory.ukrlife.org/5_6_05_7.htm [in Ukrainian].
Cleveland, W.L. & Bunton, M. (2009). A history of the Modern Middle East. Boulder, CO: Westview Press.
Hai-Nyzhnyk, P. (2022). Rosiisko-ukrainska viina – Viina za Zhyttia (2014-2022 rr.): Periodyzatsiia [Russian-Ukraine war – war for life (2014-2022): Periodization]. Ukrainian Studies, 1 (82), 51-76. DOI: 10.30840/2413-7065.1(82).2022.255750 [in Ukrainian].
Hanzha, O. (2000). Ukrainske selo v period stanovlennia totalitarnoho rezhymu (1917-1927 rr.) [The Ukrainian village in the period of the formation of the totalitarian regime (1917-1927)]. Kyiv: NAS of Ukraine Institute of History of Ukraine [in Ukrainian].
Honcharevskyi, V. (2011). Tsyvilizatsiinyi pidkhid do istorii: Suchasnyi ukrainskyi dosvid (1991-2009) [Civilizational approach to history: Modern Ukrainian experience (1991-2009)]. Kyiv: Lohos [in Ukrainian].
Horin, N. (2022, September 1). Radianska ekonomichna intehratsiia chy industrialnyi kolonializm? [Soviet economic integration or industrial colonialism?]. Heinrich-Böll Stiftung. Retrieved from https://bit.ly/3u7I7ar [in Ukrainian].
Hrytsak, Ya. (2022). Podolaty mynule: Hlobalna istoriia Ukrainy [Overcoming the past: A global history of Ukraine]. Kyiv: Portal [in Ukrainian].
Kotlyar, Yu. (2022). Ukraine and European civilization. In Ukraine and Europe: Common historical destiny (value aspect), within the international project Erasmus+ in the direction of Jean Monnet Module «Implementation of European values as a basis of democracy in Ukraine»: Abstracts (pp. 1-3). Mykolaiv: Petro Mohyla National University Publishing.
Kotlyar, Yu., Lymar, M. & Ahieieva-Karkashadze, V. (2022). The U.S.–European coordination for assisting Ukraine, reviving the Alliance and protecting European values. American History and Politics, 14, 7-20. DOI: 10.17721/2521-1706.2022.14
Kotlyar, Yu., Lymar, M. & Tykhonenko, I. (2020). Pakistan-Ukraine. Analogies in the triangles of regional security complexes. Annali di Ca’Foscari. Serie orientale, 56, 219-244. DOI: 10.30687/AnnOr/2385-3042/2020/56/009
Kotlyar, Yu. (2022). Ukrainskyi krystalichnyi shchyt i Yevropeiska tsyvilizatsiia [Ukrainian crystal shield and European civilization]. Petro Mohyla TV, YouTube. 2022. URL: https://bit.ly/3Qro6D4 [in Ukrainian].
Kyrydon, A. & Troian, S. (2022). Tsyvilizatsiina viina 2014-2022 rr.: natsionalno-vyzvolna viina Ukrainy XXI stolittia (teoretychnyi dyskurs) [The civilization war 2014-2022: The national liberation war of Ukraine in XXI century (theoretical discourse)]. In Bodak, A., Pantiuk, M., Haliv, M., Ilnytskyi, V., & Vikhliaiev, M. (Eds.). The Russian-Ukrainian war (2014-2022): Historical, political, cultural-educational, religious, economic, and legal aspects: Scientific (pp. 523-534). Riga, Latvia: Baltija Publishing [in Ukrainian].
Lenin, V. (1973). Povne zibrannia tvoriv [Complete collection of works.]. Vol. 37. Kyiv: Politvydav [in Ukrainian].
Lenin, V. (1974). Povne zibrannia tvoriv [Complete collection of works.]. Vol. 43. Kyiv: Politvydav [in Ukrainian].
Marchenko, M. (2012). Kyivska Rus u borotbi z kochovykamy do monholskoi navaly [Kyivan Rus in the struggle against nomads before the Mongol invasion]. Kyiv: Promin [in Ukrainian].
Ohneviuk, V. & Videiko, M. (2022). Istorychnyi dosvid ukrainskoi tsyvilizatsii [The historical experience of Ukrainian civilization]. Svitohliad, 4 (96), 2-19 [in Ukrainian].
Plokhy, S. (2015). The gate of Europe. A history of Ukraine. New York: Basic Books.
Sas, P. & Kirkene, H. (2011). Khotynska bytva 1621 – bytva za Tsentralnu Yevropu [Battle of Khotyn in 1621 – the battle for Central Europe]. Kyiv: Baltiia-Druk [in Ukrainian].
Shpak, V. (2002). Ukraina: Vid «rosiiskoho komunizmu» – do yevropeiskoi tsyvilizatsii [Ukraine: From “Russian communism” to European civilization]. Cherkasy: Brama [in Ukrainian].
Studinski, V. & Dуnyak, S. (2021). Ekonomiko-ekolohichni aspekty vydobuvannia hranitu na Zhytomyrshchyni: Problemy i perspektyvy [Economic and ecological aspects of granite mining in Zhytomyr region: Problems and prospects]. University Economic Bulletin, 51, 90-95. DOI: 10.31470/2306-546X-2021-51-90-95 [in Ukrainian].
Tereshchenko, Yu. (1996). Ukraina i yevropeiskyi svit: Narysy istorii vid utvorennia Starokyivskoi derzhavy do kintsia ХVІ st. [Ukraine and the European world: Essays on history from the formation of the Old Kyivan State to the end of the ХVІ century]. Kyiv: Perun. Retrieved from https://bit.ly/3SADKPd [in Ukrainian].
Toynbee, A.J. (1935). A study of history. 3 vols. Oxford University Press.
Tymar, I. (2023, March 12). Polovtsi i Rus [Polovtsians and Rus]. ZAXID.NET. 12 березня 2023. Retrieved from https://zaxid.net/polovtsi_i_rus_n1559610 [in Ukrainian].
Yevstratov, V. (2010). Pokhid novhorod-siverskoho kniazia Ihoria proty polovtsiv u 1185 rotsi ta yoho naslidky [The campaign of Novgorod-Siversk Prince Ihor against the Polovtsians in 1185 and its consequences]. Siverianskyi Litopys, 1, 3-8 [in Ukrainian].
Yurii, M., Aleksiievets, L., Kalakura, Ya., & Udod, O. (2012). Ukraina naidavnishoho chasu – XVIII stolittia: Tsyvilizatsiinyi kontekst piznannia [Ukraine of the earliest times – the XVIII century: The civilizational context of knowledge]. Book 1. Ternopil: Aston [in Ukrainian].
Yurii, M., Aleksiievets, L., Kalakura, Ya., & Udod, O. (2012). Ukraina ХІХ – pochatku ХХІ st.: Tsyvilizatsiinyi kontekst piznannia [Ukraine in the ХІХ and early ХХІ centuries: The civilizational context of knowledge]. Book 2. Ternopil: Aston [in Ukrainian].
Zalizniak, L. (2014). Ukraina mizh Skhodom i Zakhodom. Pro vytoky i sut rosiisko-ukrainskoi viiny 2014 r. [Ukraine between East and West. About the origins and essence of the Russian-Ukrainian war of 2014]. Kyiv: Shliakh [in Ukrainian].
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
