Synopsis (Russian literature)
Encyclopedia
Synopsis, also known as the Kyivan Synopsis (}}) is a historical work, first published in Kiev
in 1674.
Innokentiy Gizel
is generally considered as the author of Synopsis, however, it is still arguable. Synopsis was the first Slavic textbook on history. It was rather popular until the mid-19th century and survived some 30 editions.
It was written shortly after the convention of the Treaty of Pereyaslav
(Pereyaslavl Rada), which ratified the addition of Ukraine
to Russia. The book began with the history of the origins and lifestyle of the Slavs and ended with the mid-17th century in the first edition. The second and third editions (1678 and 1680) ended with the Chigirin Campaigns of 1677-1678. Synopsis covers the history of Kievan Rus'
, Mongol invasion of Rus', struggle of the Russian people against the Crimean Tatars
, Turkey
, and Poland
. The author of the Synopsis asserted that the Russian tsar
s were legal successors of Kiev
an grand prince
s. Synopsis is notable since it clearly demonstrates that the idea of uniting all Russian people under the authority of one state was not born in Moscow
but in the south-western lands and designed in Kiev.
The old text sounds exceptionally impressive with all its mentions of «Russia», «Rus'», «Russian Land», "Russian State», «all Russian states». «all Russian reigns» etc. The two last chapter introduce «the Great, Minor and White Russia», but still no instances of the word «Ukraine» or its derivative «Ukrainian» can be found in the Synopsis.
The appendix of the Synopsis contains lists of Russian princes, Polish
Voivodes in Little Russia
, Cossack
hetman
s, and Kievan metropolitan
s.
Kiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
in 1674.
Innokentiy Gizel
Innokentiy Gizel
Innokenty Gizel was a Prussian-born Ukrainian historian, writer, political and ecclesiastic figure, who had adopted Orthodox Christianity....
is generally considered as the author of Synopsis, however, it is still arguable. Synopsis was the first Slavic textbook on history. It was rather popular until the mid-19th century and survived some 30 editions.
It was written shortly after the convention of the Treaty of Pereyaslav
Treaty of Pereyaslav
The Treaty of Pereyaslav is known in history more as the Council of Pereiaslav.Council of Pereyalslav was a meeting between the representative of the Russian Tsar, Prince Vasili Baturlin who presented a royal decree, and Bohdan Khmelnytsky as the leader of Cossack Hetmanate. During the council...
(Pereyaslavl Rada), which ratified the addition of Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
to Russia. The book began with the history of the origins and lifestyle of the Slavs and ended with the mid-17th century in the first edition. The second and third editions (1678 and 1680) ended with the Chigirin Campaigns of 1677-1678. Synopsis covers the history of Kievan Rus'
Kievan Rus'
Kievan Rus was a medieval polity in Eastern Europe, from the late 9th to the mid 13th century, when it disintegrated under the pressure of the Mongol invasion of 1237–1240....
, Mongol invasion of Rus', struggle of the Russian people against the Crimean Tatars
Crimean Tatars
Crimean Tatars or Crimeans are a Turkic ethnic group that originally resided in Crimea. They speak the Crimean Tatar language...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, and Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
. The author of the Synopsis asserted that the Russian tsar
Tsar
Tsar is a title used to designate certain European Slavic monarchs or supreme rulers. As a system of government in the Tsardom of Russia and Russian Empire, it is known as Tsarist autocracy, or Tsarism...
s were legal successors of Kiev
Kiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
an grand prince
Grand Prince
The title grand prince or great prince ranked in honour below emperor and tsar and above a sovereign prince .Grand duke is the usual and established, though not literal, translation of these terms in English and Romance languages, which do not normally use separate words for a "prince" who reigns...
s. Synopsis is notable since it clearly demonstrates that the idea of uniting all Russian people under the authority of one state was not born in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
but in the south-western lands and designed in Kiev.
The old text sounds exceptionally impressive with all its mentions of «Russia», «Rus'», «Russian Land», "Russian State», «all Russian states». «all Russian reigns» etc. The two last chapter introduce «the Great, Minor and White Russia», but still no instances of the word «Ukraine» or its derivative «Ukrainian» can be found in the Synopsis.
The appendix of the Synopsis contains lists of Russian princes, Polish
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
Voivodes in Little Russia
Little Russia
Little Russia , sometimes Little or Lesser Rus’ , is a historical political and geographical term in the Russian language referring to most of the territory of modern-day Ukraine before the 20th century. It is similar to the Polish term Małopolska of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth...
, Cossack
Cossack
Cossacks are a group of predominantly East Slavic people who originally were members of democratic, semi-military communities in what is today Ukraine and Southern Russia inhabiting sparsely populated areas and islands in the lower Dnieper and Don basins and who played an important role in the...
hetman
Hetman
Hetman was the title of the second-highest military commander in 15th- to 18th-century Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, which together, from 1569 to 1795, comprised the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, or Rzeczpospolita....
s, and Kievan metropolitan
Metropolitan bishop
In Christian churches with episcopal polity, the rank of metropolitan bishop, or simply metropolitan, pertains to the diocesan bishop or archbishop of a metropolis; that is, the chief city of a historical Roman province, ecclesiastical province, or regional capital.Before the establishment of...
s.