‘Greeks of the Azov Region: Historical Perspectives and Contemporary Realities.’ — Svitlana Arabadzhy

This talk examines the history of the Greek community in the Azov region following its resettlement from the Crimean Peninsula in the late eighteenth century to the mid-twentieth century. It analyses the internal dynamics and external forces that shaped the community's development and resilience, with particular emphasis on the emergence of Mariupol as its economic and cultural centre. The lecture situates the community's history within the broader frameworks of international maritime trade, imperial colonisation policies, and Soviet social and political transformations.

Svitlana Arabadzhy is a Researcher in the Department of Archaeology, Conservation and History at the University of Oslo and an Associate Professor in the Department of History and Archaeology at Mariupol State University. Her research focuses on the history of the Greek minority in Ukraine and on maritime economic and social history, with particular attention to the Azov and Black Sea region.