Ukraine: History and Survival (IN-PERSON)
Class | Registration opens 12/1/2025 9:00 AM
This is a hybrid class being held in-person and on Zoom.
THIS REGISTRATION IS FOR IN-PERSON AT SHRINERS CENTER.
Due to its unique geographic position, Ukraine, a nation that lies between the East and the West, has been fought over and subjugated by a long line of imperial forces throughout history. Indeed, the history of Ukraine is one of the most important facets in the history of Europe.
This course will explore Ukraine by utilizing the earliest archeological records from the beginnings of its written history (Herodotus), through its continuous invasions from Byzantium, the Huns, the Vikings, the Mongols, and the more recent invasions from Poles, Lithuanians, Russians, and finally the Soviet Union, concluding with its most recent independence and its continued conflicts with Russia.
Format: Participants will be asked to make a presentation or lead a discussion on a topic selected from a list provided by the coordinators.
Resources/Expenses: The Gates of Europe: A History of Ukraine by Serhii Plokhy, available at Amazon, used for $5.00 and up. Access to the internet and local or national media is required.
Kevin Culley
Kevin Culley is a retired fire officer from New York City and has taught at the FEMA National Fire Academy in Maryland. He has a law degree from New York Law School, an undergraduate degree in chemistry from Brooklyn College and has also done graduate research work in biological chemistry at Downstate University, Brooklyn, NY. Kevin has coordinated several LLC classes in the past, including the History of Palestine and the Constitution.
Chuck Nickles
Chuck Nickles is a retired UMass Dartmouth physics lecturer. Before that he worked in industry on automated precision measurement systems and for an electric utility as a rate analyst and energy conservation specialist. Chuck has coordinated several LLC courses mostly in science and technology and has a particular interest in the Ukraine.