Information on the thesis

The thesis provides a comprehensive study of the information preserved in the Kyiv (12th c.)
and Galicia-Volhynia (13th c.) Chronicles on the natural and human resources on the territory
of feudal principalities of the 11th – 12th cc., which united to form the Kingdom of Rus’ of the
13th- mid-14th cc. It is established that the chronicles’ mentions of relief, climate, soils, waters,
flora and fauna testify toa close mutual influence of natural conditions and human activity.
The role of regional geomorphology in formimg inner and outer state borders and courses
of military campaigns were examined along with their significance in the economic life of
Galicia-Volhynia Principality (places of historic battles between the neighbouring states,
mountain passes in the international system of trading routes). Owing to the chronicle records
concerning the relief of certain areas, peculiarities of some social disasters (war, famine,
epidemics) on the historical lands of the Princely era Galicia and Volhynia were defined.
The chronicles’ mentions of rivers, swamps and lakes in the Subcarpathia, Podillya and
Small Polissya territories have been analyzed. Their role in military campaigns, as well as
their importance in the economic life of the Galicia-Volhynia state (shipping, bridges, dams,
fords) have been examined. The extent to which extreme climatic events (rain, snow, wind,
frost, fog) were responsible for social disasters (hunger, epidemics) and their consequences
for the demography of Galicia and Volhynia of the princely epoch has been determined. The
health condition of a number of historical figures (princes) and the extent of mass diseases
have been assessed.
A retrospective reconstruction of the territorial-administrative organization of the Galicia-
Volhynia borderzone in the historic area of Plisnesko-Olesko has been carried out. It has been
emphasized that this is where especially important processes of state creation took place both
in the princely epoch, and in the next few centuries.
The survey findings are important in terms of deepening knowledge of historical geography,
local history, regional science, source criticism.
Key words: princely epoque, the Kingdom of Rus’, Galicia-Volhynia borderzone,
environmental conditions, human resources.