The first settlements in territory of modern Kiev have arisen from 1500 up to 2000 years ago. According to a legend, in end V - the beginning of VI century of our era brothers, Cheeks and their sister Lybed have chosen a place on slopes of Dnepr and have based on abrupt the right I protect city and have named it, in honour of the senior brother, Kiev.

The place for city has been chosen successfully - high slopes of Dnepr served good sewn up from attacks of nomad tribes. Kiev, for greater safety, erected the palaces and churches on high mountain Starokievskoj. Merchants and handicraftsmen lived near Dnepr where there is a present Hem.

In the end of IX century, when Kiev it was possible to unite, at last, under the authority the scattered and isolated tribes, Kiev becomes the political and cultural center of east Slavs, capital of the Kiev Russia - the old slavic feudal state. By virtue of the arrangement on trading ways " from in Greeks ", Kiev supported long time strong political and economic relations with the countries of the Central and Western Europe.

Kiev starts to develop especially roughly in days of Vladimir's board Great (980 - 1015). With a view of strengthening unity of the Kiev Russia and increase in its influence on international scene, prince Vladimir in 988 christened Russia. The christianity has brought the Kiev Russia significant political benefits and has served as an impulse for the further development of writing and culture. At Vladimir Velikom in Kiev the first stone temple - church has been built.

However after death of prince Vladimir Monomaha (1125) process of crushing more or less uniform Kiev state begins. To the middle of XII century the Kiev Russia breaks up to set of independent princedoms. Of a situation external enemies were not slow to take advantage. In the autumn 1240 uncountable hordes, grandson Chingizhana, have seemed under the Kiev walls. Монголо-Tatars managed to take city after long and bloody fight. Thousand have been killed, the most part of city with the ground. In history of Kiev there has come the long and gloomy period of decline. Almost hundred years dominated over the Ukrainian grounds. And still Kiev managed to keep the ancient, craft, merchant and cultural traditions and to remain the important political, trading and economic center. In XIV century becomes a stronghold of an arisen Ukrainian nationality.

In XV century the Magdebourg right provided much greater independence of city in questions of international trade and much expanded right of city estates - handicraftsmen, merchants and petty bourgeoises has been granted to Kiev. In 1569, after signing, Poland and Lithuania were united in one state known in history as Speech, and have gradually approved the domination in Ukraine. Cruelty and an arbitrariness of foreigners have led to numerous revolts of Ukrainian people.

In 1648 inhabitants of Ukraine have begun the armed struggle against enslavers. In the chapter of revolt there was a hetman of Ukrainian cossacks Khmelnitskiy. Soon the most part of Ukraine and Kiev have been released. However, having risen before necessity to combat on several fronts - with the Polish and Lithuanian knights in the West, the Crimean khan and the turkish sultan in the south, - Khmelnitskiy has been compelled to address for the military help to Russian tsar. Formally union of Ukraine with Russia has been concluded in 1654. After defeat and Ivan Mazepa's death, tried to find for struggle against tsarism on behalf of Sweden, Ukraine has for a long time fallen under sovereignty of Russian empire. But despite of merciless imperial oppression, in XVII-XVIII. In Kiev all there were strongholds of political, economic, cultural and religious development of the nation. The Ukrainian culture concentrated around of such institutions, as academy. Some Ukrainian scientists and educators have won wide recognition and authority on all Europe. And still significant concessions to achieve it was not possible.

After social reforms 1861 and cancellings of the serfdom in a cultural and economic life of Kiev have occured some changes for the best. The number of hospitals, almshouses, educational establishments has increased. After a construction in 1860. A Odessa-Kursk railroad line, with the navigation developed by then across Dnepr, Kiev becomes large transport and shopping center. The tenders at the Kiev grain and sugar stock exchanges defined the world prices for these products. The first in Russia (and in the Europe) the electric tram has been started up by the second in Kiev in 1892 on a route which is connected the Hem and the Top city and passed on present Vladimir descent. Domestic and foreign industrialists put significant means in city. The infrastructure of Kiev promptly developed.

After revolution in Petersburg the authority in city repeatedly varied. Between 1917 and 1921 in Kiev have replaced each other three governments independent, but taken to pieces civil war, the Ukrainian state. On January, 22nd, 1918 Ukrainian Central It is glad, headed by historian Michael Grushevsky, has proclaimed independence of Ukraine. The first president of the Ukrainian Republic had been selected Grushevsky. However this decision was attempt to be seized for. The Ukrainian politicians did not have enough a political, economic and military authority to defend independence of the Ukrainian state. Soon parts of Red army under leadership have attacked Ukraine. In January, 1919, in conditions of the big solemnity, the Ukrainian National Republic led by Simonom Petlyura was formally united with the West-Ukrainian National Republic. (Last, had the capital Lvov, has arisen on the grounds, before a part of Austro-hungarian empire). However this union of the Ukrainian grounds has appeared rather short-lived as shelfs of the West-Ukrainian National Republic have soon sufferred defeat from the Polish interventionists who have intruded Galicia, and armies of the Soviet Russia have superseded Petlyura's parts from Kiev.

In 1922 Soviet Union which structure included also the Ukrainian Socialist Soviet Republic is created. Formally - as sovereign power in structure of federation, actually all authority has been transferred to the center, and the USSR became the totalitarian country.

Chernobyl accident on April, 26th, 1986 has forced to shudder all world. Henceforth the life of everyone has broken up on two parts: before explosion of a reactor and after. Chernobyl has already brought to Ukraine of tens thousand death, has ruined health of hundreds thousand people, has caused huge ecological and economic damage.

In the end 80 all becomes more appreciable than a way of development. The promised communism, and " the developed socialism " people did not arrange more increasing. Are new the leader, the first (and last) the president of the USSR Michael Gorbachev heads for so-called "reorganization" which was accompanied, turns in shops and high inflation. One for other of socialist camp there is Hungary, Poland, GDR, Czechia, Romania. " The iron system " goes to pieces.

On July, 6th, 1990 the parliament of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic proclaims the sovereignty of Ukraine. Disturbing three days of unfortunate Kremlin putsch in August, 1991 became rotary in history of Ukraine. On August, 24th, 1991 the Supreme body of Ukraine proclaims the Declaration of Independence. On December, 1st, 1991 the population of the country on a national referendum the overwhelming majority of voices - 93 % - supports independence. Leonid Makarovich Kravchuk, in the past the communistic ideologist, becomes the first the selected President of independent Ukraine. On July, 10th, 1994 in the second round of presidential elections Leonid Kravchuk loses Leonid Kuchma who has been re-elected for the second term in 1999.

Behind of 70 years of totalitarianism. The Ukrainian politicians see Ukraine the democratic country with the market, socially focused economy.