KyivKyiv is one of the biggest European cities. For centuries it is famous for its beauty and cultural heritage. Modern Kyiv is the administrative, economic, scientific, cultural and educational center of independent Ukraine. The first official mentioning about Kyiv is dated by 862, in "Povest Vremennykh Liet". But excavations conducted at the beginning of XX century discovered first settlements of Slavonic tribes of V-VI centuries. According to the legend at the end of V – beginning of VI century A.D. Kyi, Shchek and Khoriv brothers and their sister Lybed chose the place at Dnipro hills and at steep right bank founded the city and named it Kyiv in honor of the eldest brother.
The place for the city was chosen successfully. High Dnipro hills serviced as a good protection from nomadic tribes raids. To be more secured Kyiv princes erected their palaces and churches at high Starokyivska Mountain. Merchants and craftsmen lived near Dnipro where modern Podol district is now situated. At the end of IX century when Kyiv princes at last succeeded to unite dispersed and isolated tribes under their power Kyiv became political and cultural center of the Eastern Slavs, capital of Kyiv Rus – ancient Slavonic feudal state. Because of its allocation at the trade ways "from Varangian to Greeks" for a long time Kyiv maintained strong political and economic connections with the countries of Central and Western Europe.
Especially roughly Kyiv began to develop during Volodymyr the Great (980-1015) ruling. In 988, with the aim to strengthen Kyiv Rus unity and its influence at the international arena to be increased Prince Volodymyr christened Rus. Christianity brought significant political benefits for Kyiv Rus and was an impulse for further development of written language and culture. First temple Desyatinnaya Church made of stones Desyatinnaya Church was constructed under Volodymy the Great. In XI century under Yaroslav the Wise ruling Kyiv became of the biggest center of civilization in Christian world. Those times St. Sophia Cathedral and the first library at Rus were built. Besides, those times there were about 400 churches, 8 markets and more than 50 000 inhabitants in the city. (To compare: at one and the same time there were 30 000 inhabitants in Novgorod – the second biggest city of Rus, and 20 000 inhabitants in London, Hamburg and Gdansk accordingly). Kyiv was one of the most going handicraft and trade center of Europe.
The process of braking up of more or less unified Kyiv state began after Volodymyr Monomakh death (1125). At the middle of XII century Kyiv Rus disintegrated into many independent principalities. External enemies did not fail the situation. Innumerable hordes of Batyi Gengis Khan’s grand son appeared under walls of Kyiv in autumn of 1240. After long and bloody battle Mongol-Tatars seized the city. Thousands of Kievers were killed and the most part of the city was razed to the ground. Long and gloomy period of decay began in Kyiv. For almost one hundred years Mongol-Tatars had been ruling at Ukrainian land. Nevertheless Kyiv worked well to preserve it ancient handicraft, merchant and cultural traditions and remained an important political, trade and economic center. In XIV century Kyiv region appeared as a bulwark of arise Ukrainian nationality. Under the legend Apostle Andrei traveling to the North gave his blessing to Dnipro hills and said that there will be the great city where the name of God will be glorified. There is one more version about creation of Kyiv: Kyi, Shchek and Khoriv brothers and their sister Lybed chose the place at Dnipro hills and at steep right bank founded the city and named it Kyiv in honor of the eldest brother. Scientists consider Prince Kyi the founder of the ruling dynasty of newly created "Russkaya Zemlia" (Russian land) state with the center in Kyiv.
We can talk a lot about this city history, culture, architecture and art. We propose not only to hear about it but to see everything with your own eyes. Come to us, please, and we will give you an opportunity to touch the mystery of ancient and modern times. "The city of Kyiv is splendid, happy city. Above the spilled Dnipro it is all in chestnuts’ green, all in rays of sun…" Mikhail Bulgakov |
