У статті розглянуто вплив змін природного середовища на історичні процеси, які відбувалися на
території степової та лісостепової зон України
XV—V ст. до н. е. Визначається, що однією з визначальних причин виникнення великих скіфських
городищ був саме природний фактор. Зміна кліматичної обстановки в степовій зоні призвело, практично, до повного відтоку населення з її території в XІ—V ст. до н. е. Встановлення на півдні України більш сприятливого клімату, який почався в
VІІ ст. до н. е., привело до збільшення чисельності
населення в лісостеповій зоні та утворення великих скіфських городищ на її території.
У статті також розглянкто питання щодо
виникнення і функціонування головних торговельних шляхів, які існували на території Північного
Причорномор’я в цей час.
This article considers the impact of changes in the
natural environment on historical processes that took
place in the steppe and forest-steppe zones of Ukraine
in the XI—V centuries BC. It is determined that one of
the main reasons for the emergence of large Scythian
settlements was a natural factor. Changes in climatic
conditions in the steppe zone led to the almost complete
outflow of population from its territory in the
XI—V centuries BC. The establishment of a more favorable
climate in the south of Ukraine, which began
in the VII century BC, led to an increase in the population
in the forest-steppe zone and the emergence of
large Scythian settlements on its territory.
The article also considers the question of the emergence
and functioning of the main trade routes that
existed in the Northern Black Sea region at that time.
South Bug, Dnieper and Don rivers were used as trade
routes beginning ХV century BC. The Scythian penetration
to forest-steppe zone and the construction of big
sites of settlements started before the start opening the
north coastal Black Sea territory by Greek colonists.
The Scythians appeared in the forest-steppe zone in
the first half to mid- VII century, and the Greek opening
of the coastal areas starts at the end of VII century
BC. That time the South Bug, Dnieper and Don rivers
became waterways connecting North Black sea area
with central East Europe and Baltic countries. It were
the estuaries of these rivers where appeared the biggest
early Greek settlements: Berezan at the Bug and
Dnieper estuary’s conjunction and Taganrog at the
Don estuary. In the VII—V centuries South Bug was
the main trade route. This point is supported by the
fact that the Olvia state capital-Olvia city was established
on the right bank of the Bug estuary.
The Greek centers exported to these areas, possibly
ceramics, vine, olive oil, jewelry etc. These are the ceramic
residuals which make it possible to determine
the big Scythian settlements lifetime. Greek traders as
reported ancient authors imported from forest-steppe
areas, where these settlements were established, cattle,
slaves, copper, furs, wax, salted fish, amber etc.
The climate improvement at the North Black Sea area
started opening of these unsettled steppe areas. This
process resulted in gradual decadence of big Scythian
settlements. The Grate Scythian center moves to
the lower reach of Dneaper river, which followed by
main trade route transfer to that exact river. So the
natural factor seriously influenced the South Black
Sea areas historical processes in the VII—V centuries
BC.
