Archeological excavations show evidence of the first settlements on the territory of Kiev 15,000 to 20,000 years ago. Legend has it that at the end of the 5th and the beginning of the 6th centuries, three brothers, Kiy, Shchek, and Khoriv, and their sister, Lybid, founded a town and named it after their elder brother Kiy, as "Kyiv". The evolution of Kiev into a city is indivisible from the development of the old Kievan- Rus feudal state. Legends and historical documents describe courageous Kievites defending their city over the ages against the Khazars and Pechenegs, Polovtsi, Tartars, and Mongols, Lithuanian and Polish feudal lords, the Duchy of Muscovy, and the Russian Empire.

The early settlers of Kiev built their first citadel on the steep right bank of the Dnipro River to protect themselves from marauding normadic tribes. Later, Kiev’s Grand Princes built their palaces and churches on Starokievska Hill, while artisans and merchants built their houses next to the wharf on the Dnipro. By the end of the 9th century, when the Kievan-Rus princes united scattered Slavic tribes, Kiev was the political center of the Eastern Slavs. Kiev maintained wide for links due to its position in the middle of trade routes between the Vikings and the Greeks. Kiev's development accelerated during the reign of Prince Volodymir the Great (980 - 1015). In 988, intent on strengthening his power on the broader international arena, Volodymir introduced Christianity as the establishment of political and cultural relations with the Byzantine Empire, the Bulgarians, and other countries of Western Europe and the Near East. By the 11th century, Kiev was one of the largest centers of civilization in the Christian World. It boasted over 400 churches, eight markets and nearly 50,000 inhabitants. In comparison, Novgorod, Rus' second largest city, had a population of 30,000. London, Hamburg and Gdansk each had around 20,000.

Golden Gate

The high level of skills of Kiev craftsmen can be proved by the number of buried treasures found on the territory of the ancient city and by its monuments of architecture and monumental art.  Unfortunately, only a few of the monuments from the glorious past have survived but luckily among them are the great architectural creations of the eleventh and twelfth centuries: the Cathedral of St. Sophia, the Golden Gate of Kiev, the Kiyevo-Pecherska Lavra monastery.Civilisation arise, flourish and decline. It was the fate of Kiev Rus too. In 1240, Tartar Mongols captured Kiev. Thousands of people were killed and much of the city was razed. Kiev felt into a prolonged period of decline.

After the death of the great Kievan Prince Vladimir Monomakh (1125), Kievan Rus became involved in a long period of feudal wars. Foreign powers were quick to take advantage of this situation. In the autumn of 1240, the Tartar-Mongols headed by Batu-Khan, the grandson of Genghis Khan, captured Kiev after a series of long and bloody battles. Thousands of people were killed and much of the city was razed. Kiev fell into a prolonged period of decline. The Tartar- Mongols ruled for almost a century. Despite foreign rule, Kiev retained its artisan, trade, and cultural traditions of ancient Kievan-Rus and remained an important political, trade and cultural center.

In the 14th century, the Kiev region became the cradle for the birth of the modern Ukrainian nation.

In the 15th century, Kiev was granted the "Magdenburg Rights", which permitted greater independence of the city in matters of international commerce. In 1569, Poland and Lithuania united into what was known as the Rzecz Pospolita Commonwealth. This led to the establishment of the rule of the Polish and Lithuanian nobility in Ukraine. Repression by the foreign nobility eventually inspired resistance from the Ukrainian people.

In 1648, led by the Ukrainian Cossack Hetman (military leader) Bohdan Khmelnitsky, the people began an uprising that liberated Kiev and larger areas of Ukraine. Later, faced with ravaging attacks by the armies of Polish and Lithuanian feudal lords from the West, the Turkish Sultan and the Crimean Khan from the South, Hetman Khmelnitsky was forced to seek military assistance of the Russian Czar. The union of Ukraine and Russia was formalized by the Treaty of Pereyaslav (1654). Afterwards, Ukraine plunged into a long period of domination by the Russian Empire.Despite repression and severe Czarist autocratic rule, 17th and 18th century Kiev still managed to preserve some niches of political, economic, cultural, and religious development. Ukrainian culture continued to flourish around institutions like the Kiev Mohila Academia. Ukrainian scholars based in Kiev earned a strong reputation in Moscow and elsewhere in the Russian Empire.

By the 18th century, Kiev, with its hundreds of churches, the world-known Pechersk Lavra Monastery, Saint Sophia's Cathedral, a number of other monasteries and convent became the Russian Empire's center of worship and symbol of Orthodox Christianity. After the social reforms of 1861 which did away with some of the worst aspects of serfdom in Russia and Ukraine, some improvements occurred in Kiev's cultural and economic communities. The number of hospitals and educational establishments increased.

After the construction of the Odessa-Kursk railroad in the 1860's and the development of shipping on the Dnipro River, Kiev became a major transportation and trade center. Transactions at Kiev's grain and sugar exchanges influenced world prices for food products. The first electric street-car line in the Russian Empire was built in Kiev in 1892. Home and foreign business communities readily invested Kiev's industries.

Military and political power in Kiev changed numerous times in the years following the Bolshevik's overthrow of Russia's Czars during the October Revolution in 1917. Between 1917 and 1921, three successive governments of an independent but constantly besieged Ukrainian State were based in Kiev. On January 22,1918, the Ukrainian Central Rada (Council), led by historian Mikhaylo Hrushevsky, formally proclaimed Ukraine's independence. One of the first countries to officially recognize Ukraine's independence was Russia, who was trying to solidify its grasp over what was soon to become the U.S.S.R. Shortly thereafter, Russia's Red Army attacked Ukraine. In 1919, amid great fanfare, the Ukrainian People's Republic, led by journalist Simon Petliura, formally united with the West Ukrainian People's Republic (which was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire) based in Lviv. This union of Ukraine's lands proved to be short lived as the West Ukrainian National Government's Army lost the war against Polish expansionists, while the Kiev- based Ukrainian Army was forced out of Ukraine by the Red Army. Soon after, Ukraine was officially incorporated into the Soviet Union.

 

During World War II, Kiev again was heavily damaged. For 72 days the city was defended by its citizens and Soviet troops against the invading Nazis. On September 19, 1941, Nazi troops entered Kiev. The Nazis also built two concentration camps for civilians and Paw's near Kiev. During this period, over 200,000 people were killed and over 100,000 were deported to Germany for forced labor. There is a Babi Yar deep ravine on the outskirts of Kiev. Occupying German forces changed all of that in September 1941 when they ordered 35,000 of Kiev's Jewish residents to gather their belongings and march to Babi Yar. Thinking they would be transported to another location, they did as they were told and lined up along the ravine where Nazi firing squads proceeded to execute them. Their bodies were thrown into the ravine below. Throughout the Nazi occupation of Kiev, Babi Yar was used for mass killings. In all, over 100,000 people, including partisans and militaries of the underground, kievites, but mostly Jews, were killed here.Kiev was liberated on November 6,1943, by Soviet troops.

The post war years in Kiev were marked by intensive restoration of the damage caused during the war. The city began to dress its wounds.The 1980's were marked by increasing political impotence of Soviet leadership.

The city hit the headlines in April 1986, when the nuclear reactor at nearby Chernobyl exploded, but scientists generally agree that the city is now safe from radiation effects.

The contemporary city of Kiev is one of the biggest cities in Europe. It stands pre-eminent as the administrative, economic, research, cultural and educational centre of a new independent state of Ukraine which is one of the largest European countries, with the area of 603, 700 sq. km and a population of 51, 300, 000 (as per 1st January 1996) The area of Kiev is 827 sq. km. Only 350 sq. km or 42, 3 % have been built up within the city limits. All the rest is the area of reservoirs and forest tracts and green plantings in general use. The area of forest tracts and green plantings constitutes 214 sq. m per one citizen; this is one of the best indicators in the world.The population in Kiev was 2, 638, 700 in 1996 as per 1st January 1996.

The capital of Ukraine, the city of Kiev is the largest administrative centre of the country. Located in Kiev and working there are President, the Supreme Soviet, the Government, practically all Ministries and governmental departments of Ukraine. One of the most characteristic features of the capital of Ukraine is that it is one of the greatest research centres in Europe. Located in Kiev is National Academy of Science of Ukraine with the most of its institutes many of which are famed for their scientific schools. Overall 216 research institutes and 48 design offices work in the city as well as 14 leading higher educational institutions of Ukraine.There function in Kiev 398 general education schools with 3 49 600 pupils going to school, 98 health care institutions, and 274 outpatient - clinic facilities with 20 000 physicians working at those establishments.

The capital of Ukraine has a great cultural potential: 28 museums, 40 theatres, 68 projecting machines, many standing art exhibitions. The most known museums are the National Museum of History of Ukraine, the Museum of Ukrainian Fine Arts, the Museum of Western and Oriental Art.

Despite repressions, suffering, political turmoil, and ecological disasters, Ukraine's spirit and national identity have never died. On August 24, 1991, after the aborted coup in Moscow, Ukraine proclaimed its independence. As of 1994, Ukraine has diplomatic relations with over 135 countries and close to 60 diplomatic missions are established in Kiev. News correspondents, business representatives, and students from all over the world reside in Kiev, and the flow of foreign tourists and official delegations is heavy year round.The resident American community consists of Embassy personnel (including dependents), correspondents, business representatives, clergy, professors, and students.Kiev suffered severely during World War II, and many irreplaceable architectural and art treasures were destroyed.Earlier in the 1930's the Soviet authorities system destroyed many churches. Extensive restoration has revived much of historic Kiev.

The art and architecture of Kiev are world treasures. The Cathedral of St.Sophia, where the princes of Kiev were crowned in the years of Kiev's grandeur, has outstanding mosaics and frescoes dating back to the 11th century. Overlooking the old section of Kiev, Podol, stands the Ukrainian Baroque church of St. Andrew, much beloved by Ukrainians. The Percherska Lavra the Monastery ot the Caves has two 11th century cathedrals on its grounds, in addition to its world famous catacombs, bell tower, and museum collections.Close to the center of town stands the The church of St.Andrew structure, which dates to 1037. This recently reconstructed remains of the former fortified wall of the city defined the limits of the city in centuries past. Several blocks away, stands the magnificent 19th-century Cathedral of St. Volodymyr.

Theater buffs will find much to choose from here. Most performances are in Ukrainian or Russian.

The recently renovated Kiev Opera House presents very good opera as well as a broad repertoire of ballets. The Kiev Young Theater is very popular and stages innovative plays in Ukrainian or Russian. The Ivan Franko Theater is the center of Ukrainian drama, comedy, and musicals. This repertoire has just opened its 75th season and includes brilliant versions of Aeneid and Teve Tevel, the original version of Fiddler on the Roof.

The modern center with surviving parts of the old city are on the hilly west, or right bank, of the Dnipro River. The main street, Khreshchatik, runs between two steep hills. Parallel about half a kilometer west, is vulytsya (street) Volodymyrska, the main street of the Old Kiev area (Staryj Kyiv). From the north end of Khreshchatik, vulytsya Hrushevskoho rises southeast along a ridge to the Caves Monastery at Perchersk. Woods and parks cover most of the steep right-bank slopes. The capital's newer sections stretch out on the flat left bank. These are characterized by large housing developments and industrialized neighborhoods. Ukrainian pottery, embroidery, and handicrafts are available throughout the city, particularly in shops and art gallaries (Triptikch, Tadzio, Mixt etc) on Andrievsky Uzviz, at Percherska Lavra, and St. Sophia's church. Quality and quantity vary from shop to shop, from gallary to gallary. A growing number of hard currency stores stock Western food, alcohol, clothing, and electrical appliances.