Kievan Synopsis

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Synopsis, also known as the Kievan Synopsis (Ukrainian: Київський Синопсис, Russian: Синопсис, Киевский синопсис) is a historical work, first published in Kiev in 1674.

Innokentiy Gizel is generally considered to have authored the Synopsis, however, it is still arguable. Synopsis was the first Slavic textbook on history. It was rather popular until the mid-19th century and survived some 30 editions. The book began with the history of the origins and lifestyle of the Slavs and ended with the mid-17th century in the first edition. The second and third editions (1678 and 1680) ended with the Chigirin Campaigns of 1677-1678. Synopsis covers the history of Kievan Rus, Mongol invasion of Rus, struggle of the Ukrainian people against the Crimean Tatars, Turkey, and Poland. The author of the Synopsis asserted that the Russian tsars were legal successors of Kievan grand princes. The appendix of the Synopsis contains lists of Rus princes, Polish Voivodes in Ukraine, Cossack hetmans, and Kievan metropolitans.