Beáta Varga

The northern coast of the Black Sea as a “frontier” and its role in shaping the society in Ukrainian history in the 16-18th century

Introduction

The northern coast of the black sea as a “frontier” and its role in shaping the society in ukrainian history in the 16-18th century. Discover the Black Sea northern coast as a 16th-18th century "frontier" in Ukrainian history. Learn about Cossacks, state policy, and unique societal shaping in this steppe region.

Abstract

The most significant characteristic of the northern coast of the Black Sea as “southern steppe frontier” was that the mass resettlement of the population to the southern border zone, where a voluntary border guard system was established, was mainly due to state policy and the fact that the region lacked a permanently settled population. The emergence of Cossacks was the result of a frontier-like lifestyle that evolved on Eastern European steppes. From the late 15th century, along the Dnieper, Volga and Don Rivers, in the southern borderlands, a unique community of free Cossacks was born, establishing a military democracy. To a certain extent, Cossacks could be considered a mobile frontier community with the same rights as the rest of the society. The three main differences between these Black Sea and the American frontier are: 1. The populating process taking place in the northern basin of the Black Sea from the beginning of the 16th century preceded the military takeover of the region; 2. the feudal system prevailed in the region; and 3. at the end of the 18th century, the region lost its restricted autonomy.

Review

The proposed article offers a compelling exploration of the northern Black Sea coast's role as a "southern steppe frontier" in Ukrainian history during the 16th to 18th centuries. The title and abstract effectively convey the ambition to apply a significant historical concept to a region often analyzed through different lenses. The focus on the interaction between state policy, population resettlement, and the unique socio-military structure of the Cossacks promises a nuanced understanding of this pivotal period and geographical space. This framing sets the stage for an examination of how external pressures and internal developments converged to shape a distinctive frontier society. A key strength lies in the abstract's clear articulation of the frontier's characteristics, specifically highlighting the interplay of state-orchestrated resettlement and the absence of a permanently settled population as foundational elements. The emergence of the Cossacks as a "military democracy" and a "mobile frontier community" is presented as a direct result of this frontier lifestyle, offering an intriguing perspective on their socio-political organization. Particularly commendable is the abstract's attempt to differentiate this Black Sea frontier from the American frontier, noting critical distinctions such as the sequence of population and military takeover, the prevailing feudal system, and the eventual loss of regional autonomy. These points suggest a sophisticated comparative approach that could enrich frontier studies significantly. While the abstract provides a strong conceptual outline, certain aspects could benefit from further elaboration in the full paper. For instance, the exact nature of the "voluntary border guard system" and its relationship to state policy warrants deeper exploration, particularly concerning the agency of the population versus central control. The assertion that Cossacks held "the same rights as the rest of the society" might require careful qualification, given their distinct legal and social status, which often placed them in a unique, quasi-autonomous position. Moreover, while the three differences from the American frontier are enumerated, the *analytical implications* of these distinctions—how they fundamentally altered the character and development of the Black Sea frontier compared to its American counterpart—would need rigorous substantiation. Overall, the article holds significant promise for contributing to our understanding of early modern Ukrainian history and the broader field of frontier studies, provided these ambitious claims are thoroughly supported by detailed historical evidence and analytical rigor.

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