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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, 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 Dnieper was the focus of great battles during what Russians call the [[Great Patriotic War]] and what [[the West]] calls [[World War II]]. Following the largest tank battle in history at [[Kursk]], the Battle for Dnieper was one of the largest operations of the [[war]], involving four million troops, stretching over nearly 900 miles of front, and lasting over four months in 1943. It opened the way to the liberation of Kiev from the [[Nazi]] [[fascist]] army on 28 October 1944.

The Dnieper was the focus of great battles during what Russians call the [[Great Patriotic War]] and what [[the West]] calls [[World War II]]. Following the largest tank battle in history at [[Kursk]], the Battle for Dnieper was one of the largest operations of the [[war]], involving four million troops, stretching over nearly 900 miles of front, and lasting over four months in 1943. It opened the way to the liberation of Kiev from the [[Nazi]] [[fascist]] army on 28 October 1944.