By Umar Waqar Khan
Sandwiched between the Black Sea, Russian Federation, Romania, Poland and Belarus; Ukraine occupies a prestigious place in the civilizational development in Europe and Asia.Humans have inhabited the Ukrainian land mass since
By Umar Waqar Khan
Sandwiched between the Black Sea, Russian Federation, Romania, Poland and Belarus; Ukraine occupies a prestigious place in the civilizational development in Europe and Asia.Humans have inhabited the Ukrainian land mass since time memorial dating back to 32,000 BCE. From the Gravettian culture in the Crimean Mountains and 4,500 BCE Neolithic Cucuteni-Trypillian Culture to Iron Age colonization by Cimmerians, Scythians, and Sarmatiansuptoadvent of Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome, and the Byzantine Empire followed by the Goths and Huns of the fourth century,Ukraine went through an evolution of cross cultural fertilization and progress. This was followed by interaction with Great Bulgaria,Khazar Empire and Islamic Tatars.
The rise of KievenRus and establishment of Eastern Slav tribes in the region constituted a golden age of transformation from 9th to 12th century. The area between Baltic and the Black seas thrived with trade,commerce and human development. Important thing to note is the centrality of Kiev in the framework of this empire and its contribution as a major stabilizer between Europe and Asia. The period of Golden Horde and advent of Islam in the region has been described as the Tatar Yoke, however historians have described this period as of historical significance as it brought European and Asian cultures together and ushered in an era of Turko-Mongol integration with Europe in this part of the world with strategic consequences for times to come.As per Wikipedia, Historians have debated the long-term influence of Mongol rule on Rus’ society. The Mongols have been blamed for the destruction of KievanRus’, the breakup of the ancient Rus’ nationality into three components, and the introduction of the concept of “oriental despotism” into Russia. Historians also credit the Mongol regime with an important role in the development of Muscovy as a state. Under Mongol occupation, for example, Muscovy developed its mestnichestvo hierarchy, postal road network, census, fiscal system, and military organization.
Ukrainian territories experienced another transformation under the Golden Horde, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and Polish Kingdom. After Great Northern War (1700–1721) Ukraine was divided among a number of regional powers. 19th century witnessed majority of Ukrainian territories integration into the Russian Empire.
As per Wikipedia,chaotic period of incessant warfare ensued, with internationally recognized establishment of independent Ukrainian People’s Republic. Independent Ukraine emerged from its own civil war. Then Soviet aggression and the Ukrainian–Soviet War followed, which resulted in Soviet victory. Ukrainian People’s Republic was occupied and state called Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic was created. On December 30, 1922 it became one of the founding republics of the Soviet Union. World War 2brought the tragedy of change of hands between German and Soviet forces with Ukraine suffering from devastation and destruction. The Soviet period was marked by positive and negative consequences; the contest of Cold War warranted the Soviet Regime to launch industrial development and education programmes in the autonomous republics but also needed strict state control. Ukrainian people were able to build a strong and modern agricultural base and industrial sector including state of the art space and aviation programmes.
Ukraine became independent again when the Soviet Union was dissolved, with 24th August as its independence day.She has developed and indigenous market based economy over a short period of twenty years and overcome basic challenges related to transformation. Fewsnap shots of Ukrainian development are referred from Wikipedia, “Ukraine produces nearly all types of transportation vehicles and spacecraft. Antonovairplanes (including the largest Aircraft ever built in the world) and KrAZ trucks are built and exported to many countries. The majority of Ukrainian exports are marketed to the European Union and CIS. Since independence, Ukraine has maintained its own space agency, the National Space Agency of Ukraine (NSAU). Ukraine became an active participant in scientific space exploration and remote sensing missions. Between 1991 and 2007, Ukraine has launched six self-made satellites and 101 launch vehicles, and continues to design spacecraft”
Ukraine is a major energy exporting country (in 2011, 3.3% of electricity produced were exported) 48% of total electricity is produced from nuclear power. The largest nuclear power plant in Europe, the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, is located in Ukraine.
As per a monograph published by UNESCO-CEPES, higher education in Ukraine has a long and rich history. Its students, graduates and academics have long been known and appreciated worldwide. The pioneering research of scholars working in the country’s higher education institutions and academies, such as 