Crimean Peninsula, Ukraine -- the Earth in Miniature. Part 2.
Who were all those people who lived there and left their tracks in the history of the Crimean Peninsula? Every year dozens of archaeological and historical expeditions work in Crimea trying to find the exact answers. What did they find out? The earliest known traces of inhabitants belong to the Cimmerians who called the peninsula Tauris. During the 7th century BC they were expelled by the Scythians. In 5th c. BC, Greek colonists started to settle their colonies along the Black Sea coast. They founded the sea ports of Chersonesos outside present-day Sevastopol, Theodosia (now Feodosia), and Kerkinitida (present-day Yevpatoria).
During the later centuries, Crimea's lands were occupied by the Roman legionaries (1st century AD), the Goths (AD. 250), the Bulgars (6th century), the Khazars (8th century), the state of Kievan Rus (10th-11th centuries), the Byzantine Greeks (1016), the Kipchaks (1050). In 1223, sweeping all of them, a new force appeared on the Crimean Peninsula. Chingiz Khan's Golden Horde invaded Crimea and made it part of the huge Tatar empire. Tatar first Crimea's capital was founded in Qirim (now Stary Krym). It gave its name to the hole peninsula . Later in the 15th century it moved to Bakhchisarai.
In 1475 Crimea fell under protectorate of the Ottoman Empire. Over the next three hundred years the Crimean Khans were appointed by Constantinople and the Tatars remained the rulers of Crimea. But the developing Russian empire was striving to gain control of the passage from the Black Sea into the Mediterranean. In 1783 Catherine the Great took Crimea from the Ottoman Empire. Russia spent four years of wars to make Crimea part of the great Russian empire.
In the 19th century the Ottoman Empire started to lose its power and couldn't control the strategically important Black Sea area. The major European states didn't want to let Russia dominate over the area. In 1854 France and Britain came to the Turkish Sultan's aid. It was the beginning of the Crimean War. They landed their expeditionary force in Balaklava, near Sevastopol and hostilities began. History left us documents about terrible casualties on both sides, the major defeat on the Turkish fleet, and a disastrous cavalry charge of the Light Brigade.
The 20th century brought new disastrous and major changes to the Crimean Peninsula. During the 1st World War Crimea was taken by German forces. The October Revolution in 1917 made Crimea one of the major battlefields between White and Red Russian soldiers. During the 2nd World War from 1942 untill 1944 Crimea was occupied by Germany once again. In 1945 the Livadia Palace near Yalta was where the Yalta Conference took place. Russian Secretary-General Joseph Stalin, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and USA President Franklin D. Roosevelt made a history in Europe. After the end of the 2nd World War 220,000 Crimean Tatars and 70,000 Crimean Greeks were deported from Crimea to Central Asia. They were allowed to return to Crimea in the 1990s, after the fall of the Soviet Union.
In 1954 Nikita Khruschev had returned Crimea to the Ukrainian SSR. In 1991 Ukraine declared its independence and Crimea became an Autonomous Republic within Ukraine.
For many years Crimea has been a favorite tourist destination for people from all over the Soviet Union and number of European countries. Crimean Peninsula is famous for its warm sea, sunny and healthy climate, diverse flora and fauna, and bright fragrant wines. It is ideal for rock climbing, mountain biking, and more "exotic" kinds of outdoor activity which include: yachting, windsurfing, spelaeology, horse riding, gliding, hang-gliding, sight-seeing in helicopters.
If you would like to know more about Crimean Peninsula, Ukraine, please visit http://ukraine-travel-advisor.com/Crimean-peninsula.html Part # 3 of this article will guide you though the major tourist areas of the Crimean Peninsula.
Dina DeVries is the founder of Ukraine Travel Advisor - your source of practical information about travel to Ukraine. You will find a lot of insider tips about major Ukrainian tourist destinations, Ukraine culture, rules of etiquette, and superstitions which will help you to feel comfortable and stay out of embarrassment while visiting Ukraine.
Related Tags: ukraine, black sea, crimean peninsula, simferopol, crimea history, sevastopol, feodosia
Your Article Search Directory : Find in Articles
Recent articles in this category:
- Would You Volunteer To Hang To A Thin Cable And Zip 170 Feet Aboveground?
I did and loved every minute of it. It takes a leap of faith, and trust in yourself, your equipment - Bonding With Your Kids On Camping Trips
A camping expedition is an excellent opportunity for family bonding - specially around the camp fire - Trip To Darjeeling
Darjeeling a beautiful hill town situated in the lap of the mightiest Kanchan Junga is one of the so - Brazil Beach Paradise: Trindade
Only 15 miles south of the popular colonial town of Paraty, is the small fishing village of Trindade - The Outdoor Sport Makes You Think Naturally Closer
Whether Go out to the outdoors can be very valuable to many volunteers of us. The volunteer who take - Resplendent Hvar - The Crown Jewel Of The Dalmatian Coast
Ask any image-conscious Croatian, and you'll probably be told that the most beautiful of the over 10 - Swarovski Optiks Pocket Binoculars Reviews
There's at least 10 pocket binoculars available from Swarovski Optiks, so how do you know which one - How To Achieve Safety Summer Camping
Camping is one of the enjoyable events for every human being but we should be more aware of the camp - Treat Yourself With Our Adventure Tours
Always ready to take the first road out? At the Explorers, all roads lead to outdoor adventure and t - Kerala Tour - Amazing Experience To Relish Forever
Kerala is a beautiful tours and travel destination in India visited by tourists, travelers and world
Most viewed articles in this category:
- Get a Hitch Bike Rack and Keep Your Bike Safe
If you've got a pickup truck or an SUV, you may think that you don't need to make an investment in a - Relaxing in Your Hammock Swing
A hammock swing without anyone sitting in it looks much like a hanging bundle of ropes. It can be ha - Hiking - 3 Essential First Aid Techniques For Any Hiker
Every hiker should have at least a basic knowledge of first aid and three of the most valuable skill - What Types of Things are Related to Sharks?
Sharks have been part of people's lives in several ways. It does not matter if you ever saw one, liv - Mountain Vacations
Why mountain vacations? Hmm... Two days ago I was swimming in the Arkansas River. A few days before - Chill Out In Florida
If you are looking for relaxation Florida is ideal. There are also a vast array of lakes, forests, n - Why Not Consider Idaho For Your Next Family Vacation?
Many of the national parks in the United States are facing a crisis. Too many visitors. Overcrowdi - The Travelers' Temperature Predicaments (2)
Temperature measurement is very important to a whole range of areas and activities: science, scienti - Backpacking Tents
When there is a plan for backpack hiking, camping out and a taste of the world away from the city, a - Wedding Tents
When it is your big day, you simply want everything to be perfect as the way you had envisioned it.