Yaroslav Hrytsak, Vadym Aristov, Halyna Kachur, Навігатор з історії України. Русь [Navigator on the History of Ukraine. Rus’], Publishing House “Portal”, Kyiv 2024, pp. 144

Abstract

The review article presents one of the ten volumes in the series published by the Kyiv-based publishing house “Portal,” titled Navigator on the History of Ukraine. The series offers concise introductions to various epochs in the history of Ukrainian lands, spanning from the earliest times to the present day. The volume under review is the fourth in the series and covers the period traditionally referred to in historiography as Pre-Mongol Rus’ or Kievan Rus’. The book describes events from the years 839 to 1240. Each chapter includes not only an overview of key political and military events but also addresses religious and ecclesiastical issues, as well as social, economic, legal, and cultural aspects (including language, literature, architecture, and art). The authors base their analysis on a highly diverse range of sources, incorporating local accounts alongside Byzantine, Arab, Western European, and Scandinavian texts, as well as findings from archaeological excavations. This approach enables the verification of many long-standing interpretations found in earlier syntheses of Rus’ history. The publication excellently organizes knowledge about Kievan Rus’ and thus may serve as an invaluable resource for anyone – students, university students, and history enthusiasts – wishing to explore this aspect of medieval European history.