In turn ruled by the Golden Horde in the 13th century, the Grand Principality of Lithuania and Poland, then Russia and the Soviet Union, Ukraine's people now strive to reclaim their identity. The largest country in Europe boasts a varied landscape with rich soils and mineral resources that have played a major role in its economic development and attracted different peoples and cultures. These elements of unity and diversity, of stability and change, will determine what lies ahead for Ukraine. With a full-color format, essential facts and history at a glance, bibliography, and other study features, ""Ukraine, Updated Edition"" offers a first-rate introduction to this emerging nation.