Tatsiyenko N. The peasantry of Right-bank Ukraine during the imperial period (1793-1917): on the materials of Uman district

The thesis is devoted to a comprehensive study of Right-bank Ukraine’s peasantry in late 18th – early 20th centuries. The general characteristics of Ukrainian rural population were shown on the example of Uman district in Kyiv province. The regional peculiarities of conditions the largest social stratum lived in during the studied period were also elucidated. The presented research describes the peasantry’s way of life, social and economic status, population dynamics, educational level and social activities in Uman district in late 18th – early 20th centuries. It has been proved that the dynamics of the peasantry population in both Kyiv province and Uman district had a wave-like character. During the studied period Uman district, as one of the largest areas in terms of its territories and number of inhabitants, was agricultural region; the vast majority of its population lived in rural zones and was not properly educated. The Orthodox Church contributed greatly to the involvement of broad masses of the peasantry into school education. As a result, since the 1860s the church and parish education had become widespread. The thesis proves that, despite the noticeable changes in the issue of public education, peasantry education even in early 20th century can be stated as insufficient one. At that time the percentage of literate rural population was 10.6 per cent of the entire number of peasants in Uman district. In addition, the level of female education was much lower than male one.