Crimea Located on the World Map

Crimea is located in Eastern Europe with the northeastern portion of the Black Sea. It has a diverse variety of cultures and a long and rich political history. The area has been contested for multiple centuries by various powers including Greece, the Ottoman Empire, and Russia. On 19 February 1954, it was transferred to the Ukrainian SSR from the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic within the Soviet Union. Russia has been in control of Crimea from a disputed referendum that was held in March 2014. The international community had widespread condemnation of the referendum and resultant Russian control of the region. As of 2023, it is a flashpoint for contention between various geopolitical powers and ongoing tensions associated with international geopolitics.

History

According to archaeological records, the peninsula was occupied during the Paleolithic period. In antiquity, it was firmly established as a Greek settlement area, characterized by important Greek cities such as Chersonesus and Panticapaeum. These cities were centers of trade and culture. By the 1st century BCE, it became part of the Roman Empire, and later, the Byzantine Empire established political and religious control over it for several centuries.

During the medieval period, the peninsula experienced migrations and conquest. The Crimean peninsula was occupied by several of the nomadic tribes of the time, including the Scythians, Goths, and Huns. By the 13th century, it was incorporated into the Mongol Empire and then the Golden Horde. The Crimean Tatars emerged as an ethnic group during this time. In the 15th century, the Crimean Khanate was formed as a Turkic state and became a vassal of the Ottoman Empire at the time. The Crimean Khanate included incursions into neighboring territories and was a center of slavery.

Power relations began to change in the late 18th century when the Russian Empire began to expand south. The wars that ensued resulted in the annexation of the Crimean Khanate into the Russian Empire in 1783 by Catherine the Great. This was the start of a long period of Russian governance. Its large-scale militarization and economic development took place in the 19th century, and as part of this, the naval base at Sevastopol was established. The Crimean War (1853—1856), at its very core a conflict between Russia and an alliance of Britain, France, and the Ottoman Empire, was a formative event of the period and underscored the strategic importance of the peninsula.

Following the Russian Revolution of 1917, the area witnessed a number of power struggles, but ultimately it was incorporated into the Soviet Union. While under Soviet authority, in World War II Crimean Tatars were accused of collaborating with Nazi Germany, and in 1944, they were forcibly deported, an event that resulted in the deaths of thousands and left most in exile for decades. In 1954, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev transferred the peninsula from the Russian SFSR to the Ukrainian SSR, a move that had little immediate impact but took on significant meaning after the collapse of the USSR in 1991.

In 2014, a controversial referendum held under Russian military presence announced a formal declaration of secession and annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation. This was seen widely as illegitimate by the international community, and also by Ukraine and most other UN member states.

Culture

During the medieval era, this area was part of the Silk Road network and served as an important trading hub between Europe and Asia. When the Crimean Tatars came to the region in the 13th century, they brought with them a different layer of cultural identity, particularly concerning social organization, crafts, or customs. The Tatars had developed a rich tradition of decorative arts, from embroidery and metalwork, and ceramics, with floral and geometric ornamentation based on Turkic and Islamic design principles.

Family is at the heart of social and cultural experience. For many generations, families remain common, and hospitality is an obligation for many, where guests are welcomed with large meals and tea, and sweets, no matter who they are in terms of social context. People still remain tightly connected as a community, especially in smaller towns and in rural areas, neighbors often sharing meals, weddings, and religious holidays.

Food is one of the most evocative components of cultural identity in the region. Traditional dishes are prepared with love and reverence, and are often family recipes passed down through generations. Many of the recipes utilize locally grown fruits, vegetables, and herbs and spices. Markets are social places where locals purchase fresh produce, homemade cheeses, pickles, breads, and sweets. Some examples of food include: chebureki (a deep-fried pastry filled with meat), plov (a rice pilaf dish), shashlik (grilled meat on skewers), as well as a big variety of dumplings, soups, and stews.

Music and dance are another celebratory part of social experience. Traditional folk music uses special instruments like the saz, dombra, and accordions for performances at folk festivals, weddings, or in the community. People commonly perform folk dances that are lively and expressive. People are generally active in these forms of expression and often wear colorful costumes in festivals. In addition, people enjoy contemporary music. Like the food, music often captures the hybrid nature of social identity with folk traditions and pop music.

Language

Many different languages exist that demonstrate the diversity of ethnic groups and their ethnic connections to Ukraine and Russia, as well as indigenous and minority groups.

Russian is the most spoken and used in life and media, education, government, and business. Its dominance increased after 2014 when Russian officials took over the region. Russian is now the primary language of instruction in schools, and it is the main language used for official documents and stated on all signs. The majority of the population can speak it, and it is commonly the lingua franca among diverse peoples.

Ukrainian is also spoken, especially by ethnic Ukrainians, but over the years, its public presence has diminished. Before 2014, it was more prominent in schools and government, especially when the peninsula was under the governance of Ukraine. Ethnic Ukrainians still use Ukrainian at home, in community events, and at some formal gatherings, no matter the official restrictions regarding Ukrainian language media (Ukrainian language media virtually disappeared on the peninsula) and other limitations regarding the following of education in the Ukrainian language.

Crimean Tatar, the language of the indigenous Crimean Tatar population, is culturally and symbolically significant. Crimean Tatar is part of the Turkic language family and has long been hindered by political repression, especially after the Soviet deportation of Crimean Tatars in 1944. In the last few years, members of the Tatar community have rallied to revive and maintain the language through cultural activities, private schooling, and media. Other minority languages, such as Armenian, Bulgarian, and Greek, are present among smaller language communities and are seen primarily in a private and/or religious context.

Geography

This peninsula, located in Eastern Europe and extending into the northern portion of the Black Sea, is positioned south of mainland Ukraine and is only connected to it by the extremely narrow Isthmus of Perekop. To the northeast, the peninsula borders the very shallow Sea of Azov. The peninsula covers about 27,000 square kilometers and has a variety of geographic features and natural environments.

Being located on the coast of the Black Sea, it provides access to important waterways and trade routes. The peninsula is surrounded by water on three sides, being bordered by the Black Sea to the west, south, and southwest, and the Sea of Azov to the northeast. The peninsula is attached to the mainland by a narrow land bridge called the Isthmus of Perekop. The isthmus is about 5 to 7 kilometers wide and is the only natural land connection from the north.

The terrain consists of mountains, plains, and coastal areas. The southern portion of the coast is dominated by a mountain chain, which runs entirely from west to east across the peninsula. The mountains rise steeply from the coastline, creating dramatic cliffs and landscapes. The highest mountain on the peninsula rises to an altitude of 1,545 meters (5,069 feet). The mountain range serves as a natural barrier, affecting the climate of the area and the vegetation types found in the region.

The climate of the region varies, but is mainly a temperate continental climate, with Mediterranean influences in the southern coastal area. The southern coastal area generally has a mild, subtropical climate with warm and dry summers, and mild winters, which allows for a longer growing season for grapes, fruits, and other crops.

The interior and northern areas generally have a more continental climate, with colder winters and hotter summers. Precipitation is relatively low, particularly in the steppe areas, thus many areas are dry. Mountain areas receive increased precipitation along with some snow during the winter months.

There are some rivers and lakes located in the peninsula, but not large in size. The longest river travels through the central portion of the region to a large lagoon in the Sea of Azov. Other rivers originate from the mountain range to the south into the same area of the Black Sea.

Vegetation varies per each climate zone and topographical region. The southern coastal area has vegetation common to Mediterranean environments, such as olive trees, palms, and vineyards. Mountainous areas have vegetation such as oak, juniper, and pine forests. Northward, vegetation transitions into steppe region grasslands, with species that are resistant to drought.

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