The Great War

SEMINAR 3 TOPIC 3

FROM THE KHMELNYTSKYI UPRISING TO THE END OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY

The Great War

In the middle of the 17^th century a great war occurred in Ukraine which influenced several countries and changed the map of Eastern Europe.

Main causes of the war:

1. The duties of Ukrainian serfs increased and became extremely harsh. For example, in the 15^th century the peasants worked for their lords only 14 days a year, but in the 17^th century – 4-6 days a week. It happened because Western Europe was interested in agricultural products to feed its growing population. Thus Poland, as a country with vast agricultural resources, decided to take advantage of the situation. The result was an increase in peasants’ working obligations.

2. There were a number of wars between Cossacks and szlachta (nobility) at the end of the 16^th and first half of the 17^th centuries after which the Cossack rights were severely limited. The registered Cossacks were placed under the command of Polish officers and their number was reduced. The Polish control was rather strict so it was practically impossible for the Cossacks to make sea raids against the Crimea and Turkey after 1638. Especially dissatisfied were the Zaporozhians as without sea raids the Zaporozhian Sich was slowly dying away. So, the Cossacks needed only a spark to rebel. This spark was provided by Bohdan Khmelnytskyi.

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