The story of the Ukraine by Clarence Augustus Manning
"The story of the Ukraine" by Clarence Augustus Manning is a historical account written in the mid-20th century. It presents a concise national history that argues for Ukraine’s distinct identity, tracing its geography, culture, statehood, and political struggles from medieval Kyiv to the upheavals of the modern era. The opening of this work frames Ukraine’s admission to the United Nations as recognition of a long-suppressed nation and sketches a sweeping preface: the
rise of Kyivan Rus’, its Christianization and European stature, its fragmentation and ruin under nomads and the Mongol invasion, and the later Cossack revival that nearly forged a modern state. It contrasts the Kozak fight for liberty with Poland’s aristocratic order and Muscovy’s autocracy, highlighting Bohdan Khmelnytsky’s near-breakthrough, Mazepa’s failed revolt, and the loss of autonomy culminating in the destruction of the Zaporozhian Sich. The introduction also recounts the 19th‑century cultural awakening (with Shevchenko), the short-lived independence after World War I, Soviet repression and famine, and Ukraine’s devastation in World War II, ending with a guarded hope for freedom. Chapter I defines Ukraine’s geography, resources, river systems, and strategic crossroads status—sources of both wealth and vulnerability. Chapter II clarifies the name question, distinguishing ancient Rus’ centered on Kyiv from later Muscovy/Russia, the Habsburg term “Ruthenia,” and the eventual embrace of “Ukraine” as a national self-designation. Chapter III narrates Kyivan Rus’ from Scandinavian beginnings through Vladimir’s baptism, cultural florescence, political pluralism, internal fissures, Andrey Bogolyubsky’s sack of Kyiv, Mongol conquest, and the westward shift under Poland-Lithuania. Chapter IV outlines the cultural revival via Orthodox brotherhood schools, the Ostrih Bible, and the Kyiv Mohyla Academy, set against the Union of Brest and sharp confessional conflict. Chapter V begins the story of the Kozaks: their frontier democracy at the Zaporozhian Sich, daring Black Sea raids, uneasy service to the Polish crown, and growing role as defenders of the Ukrainian people—while still lacking a sustained state-building program. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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About this eBook
| Author | Manning, Clarence Augustus, 1893-1972 |
|---|---|
| LoC No. | 47003132 |
| Title | The story of the Ukraine |
| Original Publication | New York: Philosophical Library, 1947. |
| Credits | Tim Lindell, Karin Spence and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at www.pgdp.net (This book was produced from images made available by the HathiTrust Digital Library.) |
| Language | English |
| LoC Class | DK: History: General and Eastern Hemisphere: Russia, Former Soviet Republics, Poland |
| Subject | Ukraine -- History |
| Subject | Kievan Rus -- History |
| Category | Text |
| EBook-No. | 78161 |
| Release Date | Mar 10, 2026 |
| Copyright Status | Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads | 502 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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