History of Kherson

In the IV - III centuries BC Scythians and later - Sarmathians settled on the territory of modern Kherson. At the times of Kyiv Rus (IX - XII centuries) the path from Varangians to Greeks laid through the territory of modern Kherson, the Slavs used it for trading purposes. Slavic settlement was on the Big Island of Potemkin.

During the Russian-Turkish war of 1735-1739,the first Russian fortress "Alexander-Shants" was built here in 1737. After the next Russian-Turkish War (1768-1774) the Kyuchuk-Kaynardzhiysky contract was signed. It granted Russia access to the Black Sea by giving it the land between the Dnieper and Southern Bug. Russia’s aim was to strengthen the country's southern border and one of the steps was foundation of the city Kherson by decree of Catherine II from June 18, 1778.The city was created to protect the southern borders of the Russian Empire. To strengthen them, it was decided to build a town at the mouth of the Dnieper to become the shipyard, commercial harbor and the fortress as well as the basis for creation of the Black Sea Fleet. Kherson was named after the ancient Greek and later Byzantine colony Chersoneses.

The emergence of a new city on the map is directly connected with the name of G.A Potemkin; he decided that Alexander-Shants - a small Russian fortification, located 30 km from the mouth of the Dnieper River is the best place to found a city. According to the legend, the territory of modern Kherson was the place where Potemkin found ancient gates with Greek inscription "This path leads to Byzantium." Kherson had become the main reference point for the expansion of Russia against the Ottoman Empire. I.A Hannibal, uncle of A.S Pushkin on mother’s side, was the main builder of Kherson. Under his leadership the first ship of the Black Sea Fleet 66-gun "Glory of Catherine" was built at the Kherson shipyard. Kherson was planned to become the major trading city of southern Russia. In the 1792-1794 A.V Suvorov, famous military leader, lived and worked here. One of Kherson streets was named in his honor.

After foundation of Nikolayev (1789) and Odessa (1794), Kherson lost value as the main commercial port in southern Russia. Since then, the Admiralty moved to Nikolayev, and a part of merchants' offices - to Odessa. In 1803 Kherson became the center of the province, and started to develop as a commercial port. In 1813 the first elementary school was opened, in 1815 - Men's Provincial High School, in 1834 - Merchant Marine Academy, which trained navigators, shipbuilders and skippers. Plants, factories, theaters, museums, libraries, publishing houses appeared in Kherson. In the early twentieth century in Kherson, there were 166 streets and lanes, 10 squares; 10913 residential and commercial buildings. According to 1905 register, 328 plants, factories and workshops operated in the city. In 1919 Kherson was occupied by Austro-German troops, and then French and Greek troops.

Soviet power was established here in January 1920 with the help of 14th Army under the command of I.P Uborevich. Since 19 August 1941 to March 13, 1944 Kherson was occupied by German fascist troops. After the Second World War industry was completely destroyed in Kherson. In the postwar years, Kherson became the industrial, agricultural and cultural center in the southern Ukraine. Equipped with modern technology, Kherson sea port became one of the leaders in the Black Sea and took a worthy place in foreign relations of the USSR.

Today Kherson is a very interesting city both for tourists and businessmen. Today Kherson is, first of all, the famous shipbuilding town. The symbol of the city is a monument - sailor. Kherson port is one of the ten largest ports in Ukraine. Kherson is not a tourist center, but tourist groups come here regularly. One of the most popular trips to Ukraine - a cruise on the Dnieper - passes through this hospitable city. Tourists have possibility to see such Kherson attractions as Kherson fortress ruins, Spassky Cathedral.

Тема: Переваги Болонського процесу в Україні.