How to Become Familiar with the History of Ukraine?

Understanding Ukraine's history is essential, as history often provides the key to making sense of the present. This is particularly true for Ukraine, a country whose past has shaped its current realities in profound ways.

Books are always a great resource, and I could easily recommend a few of my favorites. However, diving deep into Ukrainian history through books requires time and dedication—something not everyone has at their disposal.

Fortunately, we have YouTube.

YouTube is filled with countless videos about Ukraine and its past, but their credibility varies greatly. While some content is well-researched and insightful, others are produced by amateur historians or even sources with an agenda, making it challenging to find reliable information.

That said, there are excellent resources available.

One of the best resources on Ukrainian history is The Making of Modern Ukraine, a course taught at Yale University by historian Timothy Snyder. A renowned scholar specializing in Eastern European history, Snyder presents an engaging and accessible narrative that is both informative for newcomers and compelling for those already familiar with Ukraine’s past.

What makes this resource even more remarkable is that Timothy Snyder has made the entire course available to the public on YouTube—free of charge. His generosity in sharing this knowledge is invaluable. Thank you, Professor Snyder!

Below, you'll find a list of the individual lessons from The Making of Modern Ukraine, each linked to its corresponding video on YouTube. The lectures are in English, but subtitles in various languages are available for accessibility.

By following this course, you'll gain a solid foundation in Ukraine’s historical journey—from its early beginnings to its modern struggles and triumphs.