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Cities of Ukraine – Their Historical Context: A Four Part Course with Dr. Nina Wieda

Cities of Ukraine – Their Historical Context: A Four Part Course with Dr. Nina Wieda


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Ukraine has a fascinating and rich history and a lot of that history is centered around its ancient cities. This course focuses on four ancient Ukrainian cities that still stand today and remain important political and cultural centers. Each city embodies and exemplifies a certain period in Ukrainian history. Ukraine's capital Kyiv was also the capital of a powerful and sophisticated Medieval State - Kievan Rus, a celebrated center of learning and Orthodox Christianity. 

We begin in Kyiv, a city full of ancient monuments dating back as far as 1036–each monument tells numerous stories and legends about times long past. Next we venture to Lviv - the city of lions - to tell the tale of Ukraine after Batu Khan brought the Tatar-Mongol army to conquer Kyiv and dismember Kievan Rus. Built-in 1256, Lviv became the capital of a thriving medieval kingdom and remains a cultural center and an architectural jewel today. 

The third city we'll study together is Odessa, the site of an ancient port that embodies the multi-ethnic and multi-confessional spirit of Ukraine's Black Sea coast. Home to a significant Jewish population, Odessa established itself as a multicultural capital of the region inhabited by descendants of many waves of colonizers that the region experienced over the millennia of its existence. Finally, the Crimean city of Kerch has been continuously populated for 3.7 millennia and has been known as a city since the 7th century BC. It tells the story of the region attracting ancient Greeks, then Venetians and Genoese, and remaining an important city as a part of multiple empires over the millennia. 

Led by an expert on Ukraine, Nina Wieda, this Conversation will bring Ukraine's history to life by linking it to Ukraine's most ancient cities. Designed to inform curiosity as well as future travels, participants will come away with an increased appreciation for the ancient history of Ukraine.

1. Kyiv 
Ukraine's capital Kyiv was also the capital of a powerful and sophisticated Medieval State - Kievan Rus, a celebrated center of learning and Orthodox Christianity. Kyiv is full of ancient monuments dating back as far as 1036; each monument tells numerous stories and legends about times long past. 

2. Lviv 
Lviv - the city of lions - tells the tale of Ukraine after Batu Khan brought the Tatar-Mongol army to conquer Kyiv and dismember Kievan Rus. Build in 1256, Lviv became the capital of a thriving medieval kingdom and remains a cultural center and an architectural jewel today.

3. Odessa 
Odessa is the site of an ancient port that embodies the multi-ethnic and multi-confessional spirit of Ukraine's Black Sea coast. Home to a significant Jewish population, Odessa established itself as a multicultural capital of the region inhabited by descendants of many waves of colonizers that the region experienced over the millennia of its existence. 

4. Kerch 
A Crimean city of Kerch has been continuously populated for 3.7 millennia, and has been known as a city since 7th century BC. It tells the story of the region attracting ancient Greeks, then Venetians and Genoese, and remaining an important city as a part of multiple empires over the millennia. 

Nina Wieda is a native of the Caucasus living in Chicago, USA. She holds a Ph.D. in Slavic from Northwestern University and an MA in Nationalism Studies from Central European University. Nina also has experience in journalism, advertising, and consumer research – her writing has been published in three languages. She wrote her Master's thesis about the Northern Caucasus region. Dr. Wieda currently teaches at Northwestern University near Chicago.

This conversation is suitable for all ages.

90 minutes, including a 30 minute Q&A.

Customer Reviews

Based on 4 reviews
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C
C.F. (Santa Monica, US)
Wonderfully presented and so timely; a must if interested in this area!

Guest did not leave comment

P
P.R. (Québec, CA)
Odessa

As usual, Nina gives a top notch talk!

P
P.R. (Québec, CA)
Part 2

Ukraine has a complex history and we discover it bit by bit with Nina.

P
Paul R. (Québec, CA)
A very pertinent course

Nina is not doing a class but trying as much as possible to engage the listeners in her very passionate tale of a country she adores! ❤️

Customer Reviews

Based on 4 reviews
100%
(4)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
C
C.F. (Santa Monica, US)
Wonderfully presented and so timely; a must if interested in this area!

Guest did not leave comment

P
P.R. (Québec, CA)
Odessa

As usual, Nina gives a top notch talk!

P
P.R. (Québec, CA)
Part 2

Ukraine has a complex history and we discover it bit by bit with Nina.

P
Paul R. (Québec, CA)
A very pertinent course

Nina is not doing a class but trying as much as possible to engage the listeners in her very passionate tale of a country she adores! ❤️