A year ago, the Crimean peninsula was an integral part of the state of Ukraine. But after March 16, 2014, he changed his "place of registration" and became part of the Russian Federation. Therefore, we can explain the increased interest in how the Crimea developed. The history of the peninsula is very stormy and eventful.
The first inhabitants of the ancient land
The history of the peoples of Crimea has several millennia. On the territory of the peninsula, researchers discovered the remains of ancient people who lived in the Paleolithic era. Near the sites of Kiik-Koba and Staroselye, archaeologists found the bones of people who inhabited this area at that time.
In the first millennium BC Cimmerians, Taurians and Scythians lived here. By the name of one nationality, this territory, or rather its mountainous and coastal parts, is still called Taurica, Tavria or Tauris. Ancient people were engaged in agriculture and cattle breeding on this not very fertile land, as well as hunting and fishing. The world was new, fresh and cloudless.
Greeks, Romans and Goths
But forof some ancient states, sunny Crimea turned out to be very attractive in terms of location. The history of the peninsula also has Greek echoes. Around the 6th-5th centuries BC, the Greeks began to actively populate this territory. They founded entire colonies here, after which the first states appeared. The Greeks brought with them the benefits of civilization: they actively built temples and theaters, stadiums and baths. At this time, shipbuilding began to develop here. It is with the Greeks that historians associate the development of viticulture. The Greeks also planted olive trees here and collected oil. We can safely say that with the arrival of the Greeks, the history of the development of Crimea received a new impetus.
But a few centuries later, the mighty Rome laid eyes on this territory and captured part of the coast. This takeover lasted until the 6th century AD. But the greatest damage to the development of the peninsula was caused by the tribes of the Goths, who invaded in the 3rd-4th centuries and thanks to which the Greek states collapsed. And although the Goths were soon forced out by other nationalities, the development of the Crimea slowed down very much at that time.
Khazaria and Tmutarakan
Crimea is also called ancient Khazaria, and in some Russian chronicles this territory is called Tmutarakan. And these are not at all figurative names of the area on which Crimea was located. The history of the peninsula has left in speech those toponymic names that at one time or another were called this piece of land. Starting from the 5th century, the entire Crimea falls under the harsh Byzantine influence. But already in the 7th centurythe entire territory of the peninsula (except Chersonese) is in the Khazar Khaganate, powerful and strong. That is why in Western Europe the name "Khazaria" is found in many manuscripts. But Russia and Khazaria compete all the time, and in the year 960 the Russian history of Crimea begins. The Khaganate was defeated, and all the Khazar possessions were subordinated to the Old Russian state. Now this territory is called Darkness.
By the way, it was here that Prince Vladimir of Kyiv, who occupied Kherson (Korsun), was officially baptized in 988.
Tatar-Mongolian trace
Since the 13th century, the history of the annexation of Crimea has again developed according to a military scenario: the Mongol-Tatars invade the peninsula.
The Crimean ulus is formed here - one of the divisions of the Golden Horde. After the Golden Horde disintegrates, in 1443 the Crimean Khanate arises on the territory of the peninsula. In 1475, it completely falls under the influence of Turkey. It is from here that numerous raids are made on Polish, Russian and Ukrainian lands. Moreover, already at the end of the 15th century, these invasions become massive and threaten the integrity of both the Muscovite state and Poland. Basically, the Turks hunted for cheap labor: they captured people and sold them into slavery in the Turkish slave markets. One of the reasons for the creation of the Zaporizhzhya Sich in 1554 was to resist these seizures.
Russian history
The history of the transfer of Crimea to Russia continues in 1774, when the Kyuchuk-Kaynarji peace treaty was concluded. After the RussianThe Turkish War of 1768-1774 marked the end of nearly 300 years of Ottoman rule. The Turks abandoned the Crimea. It was at this time that the largest cities of Sevastopol and Simferopol appeared on the peninsula. Crimea is developing rapidly, money is being invested here, and industry and trade are booming.
But Turkey did not leave plans to regain this attractive territory and prepared for a new war. We must pay tribute to the Russian army, which did not allow this to be done. After another war in 1791, the Iasi Peace Treaty was signed.
The willful decision of Catherine II
So, in fact, the peninsula has now become part of a powerful empire, whose name is Russia. Crimea, whose history included many transitions from hand to hand, needed powerful protection. The acquired southern lands needed to be protected, ensuring the security of the borders. Empress Catherine II instructed Prince Potemkin to study all the advantages and disadvantages of annexing the Crimea. In 1782, Potemkin wrote a letter to the Empress, in which he insisted on making an important decision. Catherine agrees with his arguments. She understands how important Crimea is both for solving domestic state problems and from a foreign policy perspective.
April 8, 1783 Catherine II issues a Manifesto on the annexation of Crimea. It was a fateful document. It was from this moment, from this date that Russia, Crimea, the history of the empire and the peninsula were closely intertwined for many centuries. According to the Manifesto, all Crimean residents were promised the protection of thisterritory from enemies, preservation of property and faith.
True, the Turks recognized the fact of Crimea's annexation to Russia only eight months later. All this time the situation around the peninsula was extremely tense. When the Manifesto was promulgated, at first the clergy swore allegiance to the Russian Empire, and only then - the entire population. On the peninsula, solemn celebrations, feasts were held, games and races were held, volleys of cannon salute were fired into the air. As contemporaries noted, the entire Crimea with joy and jubilation passed into the Russian Empire.
Since then, Crimea, the history of the peninsula and the way of life of its population have been inextricably linked with all the events that took place in the Russian Empire.
Powerful push for development
A brief history of Crimea after joining the Russian Empire can be described in one word - "flourishing". Industry and agriculture, winemaking, viticulture begin to develop rapidly here. Fish and s alt industries appear in the cities, people are actively developing trade relations.
Since the Crimea is located in a very warm and favorable climate, many rich people of tsarist Russia wanted to get land here. Nobles, members of the royal family, industrialists considered it an honor to establish a family estate on the territory of the peninsula. In the 19th - early 20th century, the rapid flowering of architecture begins here. Industrial magnates, roy alty, the elite of Russia are building entire palaces here, laying out beautiful parks that have been preserved on the territory of Crimea to this day. And after the nobility, they reached the peninsulapeople of art, actors, singers, artists, theater-goers. Crimea becomes the cultural Mecca of the Russian Empire.
Don't forget about the healing climate of the peninsula. Since the doctors proved that the air of the Crimea is extremely favorable for the treatment of tuberculosis, a mass pilgrimage began here for those wishing to be cured of this deadly disease. Crimea is becoming attractive not only for bohemian holidays, but also for he alth tourism.
Together with the whole country
At the beginning of the 20th century, the peninsula developed along with the whole country. The October Revolution did not pass him, and the civil war that followed. It was from the Crimea (Y alta, Sevastopol, Feodosia) that the last ships and ships left Russia, on which the Russian intelligentsia left Russia. It was in this place that a mass exodus of the White Guards was observed. The country was creating a new system, and Crimea did not lag behind.
It was in the 20s of the last century that the transformation of Crimea into an all-Union he alth resort took place. In 1919, the Bolsheviks adopted the "Decree of the Council of People's Commissars on medical areas of national importance." Crimea is inscribed in it with a red line. A year later, another important document was signed - the decree "On the use of Crimea for the treatment of workers."
Before the war, the territory of the peninsula was used as a resort for tuberculosis patients. In Y alta, in 1922, a specialized Institute of Tuberculosis was even opened. Funding was at the proper level, and soon this research institute becomes the country's main center for pulmonary surgery.
The Landmark Crimean Conference
During the Great Patriotic War, the peninsulabecame the scene of massive fighting. Here they fought on land and at sea, in the air and in the mountains. Two cities - Kerch and Sevastopol - received the title of Hero Cities for their significant contribution to the victory over fascism.
True, not all the peoples inhabiting the multinational Crimea fought on the side of the Soviet Army. Some representatives of the Crimean Tatars openly supported the invaders. That is why in 1944 Stalin issued a decree on the deportation of the Crimean Tatar people from the Crimea. Hundreds of trains transported an entire nation to Central Asia in one day.
Crimea went down in world history due to the fact that in February 1945 the Y alta Conference was held in the Livadia Palace. The leaders of the three superpowers - Stalin (USSR), Roosevelt (USA) and Churchill (Great Britain) - signed in Crimea important international documents that determined the world order for long post-war decades.
Crimea - Ukrainian
In 1954 a new milestone begins. The Soviet leadership decides to transfer Crimea to the Ukrainian SSR. The history of the peninsula begins to develop according to a new scenario. The initiative came personally from the then head of the CPSU, Nikita Khrushchev.
This was done for a round date: that year the country celebrated the 300th anniversary of the Pereyaslav Rada. To commemorate this historical date and demonstrate that the Russian and Ukrainian peoples are united, Crimea was transferred to the Ukrainian SSR. And now it began to be considered as a whole and a part of the whole couple "Ukraine - Crimea". The history of the peninsula begins to be described in modern chronicles from scratch.
Was this decision economically justified, was it worth it then to take such a step - at that time such questions did not even arise. Since the Soviet Union was united, no one attached particular importance to whether Crimea would be part of the RSFSR or the Ukrainian SSR.
Autonomy within Ukraine
When an independent Ukrainian state was formed, Crimea received the status of autonomy. In September 1991, the Declaration on the State Sovereignty of the Republic was adopted. And on December 1, 1991, a referendum was held, in which 54% of the inhabitants of Crimea supported the independence of Ukraine. In May of the following year, the Constitution of the Republic of Crimea was adopted, and in February 1994, the Crimeans elected the first President of the Republic of Crimea. They became Yuri Meshkov.
It was during the years of perestroika that disputes began to arise more and more often that Khrushchev illegally gave Crimea to Ukraine. Pro-Russian sentiments on the peninsula were very strong. Therefore, as soon as the opportunity arose, Crimea returned to Russia again.
Fateful March 2014
While a large-scale state crisis began to grow in Ukraine in late 2013 - early 2014, in Crimea, voices were heard more and more strongly that the peninsula should be returned to Russia. On the night of February 26-27, unknown people raised the Russian flag over the building of the Supreme Council of Crimea.
The Supreme Council of Crimea and the Sevastopol City Council adopt a declaration on the independence of Crimea. Then there wasthe idea to hold an all-Crimean referendum was announced. Initially, it was scheduled for March 31, but then moved two weeks earlier - to March 16. The results of the Crimean referendum were impressive: 96.6% of voters voted for the annexation of Crimea to Russia. The overall level of support for this decision by the population of the Crimean peninsula was 81.3%.
The modern history of Crimea continues to take shape before our eyes. Not all countries have yet recognized the status of Crimea. But Crimeans live with faith in a brighter future.
