Changes

The '''Dnieper River''', ([[Ukrainian language|Ukrainian]]: ''Dnipro'', [[Russian language|Russian]]: ''Dnepr'', [[Belarusian language|Belarusian]]: ''Dnyapro'', ancient [[Greek language|Greek]]: ''Borysthenes'') is the fourth longest river in [[Europe]] with a total length of 1,367 miles (2,200 km).<ref>https://www.britannica.com/place/Dnieper-River</ref> The Dnieper River has played a major role in [[Russian]] and Eastern European history.

The '''Dnieper River''', ([[Ukrainian language|Ukrainian]]: ''Dnipro'', [[Russian language|Russian]]: ''Dnepr'', [[Belarusian language|Belarusian]]: ''Dnyapro'', ancient [[Greek language|Greek]]: ''Borysthenes'') is the fourth longest river in [[Europe]] with a total length of 1,367 miles (2,200 km).<ref>https://www.britannica.com/place/Dnieper-River</ref> The Dnieper River has played a major role in [[Russian]] and Eastern European history.

The first Russian state of [[Kievan Rus]] rose from the city-state of [[Kiev]], founded by [[Viking]]s as a result of the early small port town‘s location on the great north-south water route, the Amber Road, flowing between [[Scandinavia]] (the [[Swedish]] Viking [[Varangian]]s) and [[Byzantian]] [[Constantinople]]. Thus, the Dnieper gave birth to‚ the mother of Russian cities‘ and connected Kievan Rus to what would become the source of much of Russian culture: [[Greek]] or [[Eastern Orthodoxy]]. The Swedes, who carried on a prolific [[slave trade]] of captured [[Slav]]s with [[Muslim]]s in Constantinople, were finally driven out of [[Slavic]] lands after the Battle of Poltava in 1709 ending the [[Great Northern War]].

The first Russian state of [[Kievan Rus]] rose from the city-state of [[Kiev]], founded by [[Viking]]s as a result of the early small port town‘s location on the great north-south water route, the Amber Road, flowing between [[Scandinavia]] (the [[Swedish]] Viking [[Varangian]]s) and [[Byzantian]] [[Constantinople]]. Thus, the Dnieper gave birth to‚ the mother of Russian cities‘ and connected Kievan Rus to what would become the source of much of Russian culture: [[Greek]] or [[Eastern Orthodoxy]]. The Swedes, who carried on a prolific [[slave trade]] of captured [[Slav]]s with [[Muslim]]s in Constantinople, were finally driven out of [[Slavic]] lands after the Battle of Poltava in 1709, ending the [[Great Northern War]].

The [[Zaporozhian Cossacks]], famous in Russia and what came to be known as "Ukraine" in [[Soviet]] times, were located on the Dnieper. Other Cossack formations like the [[Zaporozhye]]ns dwelt in the marshes and islands on the Lower Dniper near its [[Black Sea]] estuary. The Dnieper became the dividing line or outskirts (''okraina'') of the [[Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth]] and the [[Russian Empire]], with the western side facing south called the Right Bank and the eastern side known as the Left Bank. In the [[Soviet]] era, the Dniper’s six major [[hydroelectric]] stations and damns were symbols of [[communist]] modernization. One is featured near the end of [[Boris Pasternak]]’s famous novel ''[[Doctor Zhivago]]'', as well as in the [[British]] film version of the novel.  

The [[Zaporozhian Cossacks]], famous in Russia and what came to be known as "Ukraine" in [[Soviet]] times, were located on the Dnieper. Other Cossack formations like the [[Zaporozhye]]ns dwelt in the marshes and islands on the Lower Dniper near its [[Black Sea]] estuary. The Dnieper became the dividing line or outskirts (''okraina'') of the [[Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth]] and the [[Russian Empire]], with the western side facing south called the Right Bank and the eastern side known as the Left Bank. In the [[Soviet]] era, the Dniper’s six major [[hydroelectric]] stations and damns were symbols of [[communist]] modernization. One is featured near the end of [[Boris Pasternak]]’s famous novel ''[[Doctor Zhivago]]'', as well as in the [[British]] film version of the novel.