Preface

History of Ukraine plays an extremely important role in the educational-training process of each educational establishment, as native history is not only an educational study but a part of a national outlook, important part of a common culture of the society and all its members.

Without knowledge of history it is not only difficult to understand the present, foresee and successfully build the future, but to bring up a conscious citizen, real patriot of the Ukrainian state.

The manual "Ancient and Medieval history of Ukraine. Advanced composition for students of the faculties with the teaching in English" is targeted for the students of the higher agricultural institutes of the III - IV levels of accreditation, which follow the baccalaureate program in English.

The stages of the historical development of Ukraine from ancient times to the end of the XV century are covered. The structure of the textbook constitutes of the two sections, corresponding to the new approaches of the division into periods of the Ukrainian history: "Ancient history of Ukraine", "Medieval Ukraine". The special attention is brought to the problems of the statehood, social-political, social-economic, cultural, and intellectual development of the Ukrainian people during the various historical stages. It is very actual arid useful.

The basis of the educational-methodical textbook is formed by the author lectures and educational-methodical works of the last years, provided according to the requirements of the module-rate system of education and principles of the typical program "History of Ukraine. Syllabus of the subject for students of the facilities with the teaching of several subjects in English".

In the textbook an attempt to collect and briefly but clearly provide the most important and characteristic events and facts has been made. The special attention is paid to the complex and controversial issues, processes in the history of social-political, social-economic and cultural life of Ukraine from the arousal of first state units on the territory of Ukraine up to joining Rzeczpospolyta by the Ukrainian lands. The detailed consideration of the processes of formation of ancient Rus state and the main stages of its development are provided as well as social-economic and political order of Kyivan Rus and Halytsko-Volynsk statehood.

The characteristic feature of the textbook is its formation in accordance with the first module of the course "History of Ukraine".

In order to master the study material at the end of each chapter the quiz on every topic is provided. The quizzes are also related to the material that goes beyond the information given in the textbook. The purpose of that

is to deepen the self-study of the extra-curriculum literature by the students. For the same reasons at the end of each chapter there are projects.

The project consists of the composition assignment, which develops the student's writing skills, the ability to express their own ideas. In all cases the composition topic relates to the reading. It enables to expand the themes of the text and gives the students an opportunity to do their own research. Projects will encourage students to take an active part in the learning process.

At the end of the textbook there is a chronological table of the main historical events from the ancient times to the end of XV century as well as an extended list of the recommended literature on the subject "History of Ukraine".

The manual is a first part of a planned by the author edition of the course of the history of Ukraine in English.

Chapter I. AN ANCIENT UKRAINE'S HISTORY