РОЛЬ КОЗАЦТВА У СТАНОВЛЕННІ ЕТНІЧНОЇ СВ&#1030...

Ethnic consciousness involves a system of views and ideas of the people regarding themselves, based on the commonality of language, culture, and historical fate and manifested through interaction with other peoples. This progress is more clearly can be traced in the periods of changes in the dominant stereotypes of ethnic behavior and its outlook. The article highlights the role of the Cossacks in the development of ethnic consciousness during the cultural and educational rise of the second half of the XVI -- middle of XVII centuries. It is noted that the changes in the dominant stereotypes of the behaviour of Ukrainians, their ideological principles, were provoked by the spread of Renaissancehumanistic outlook and reformist ideology. The theoretical basis for the rethinking of the historical realities of that time constituted the works of polemic writers such as Gerasim and Meletiy Smotrytsky, Khristophor Filalet, Laurentiy Zizania, Zacharya Kopistensky, Iov Boretsky, and all those works in which the concept of «Rusian people» was formulated. Such works outlined the continuousness of Rusian history from Kyivan Rus times, the commonality of language and culture of ethnos. In defending these positions, the Cossacks became the reliable companions of thinkers of the early modern era, which was manifested in their involvement in the protection of the Orthodox Church. This led to the heroization of Cossack figures in folk and historical songs - Samiylo Kishka, Peter Sahaidachniy, Olifer Golub, emphasizing their typical features -- patriotism, courage, and bravery. During the Cossack rebellions, which involved representatives of different social groups, the right to defend the «sacred antiquity» and «Orthodox faith» was crystallized. The use of the term "Ukraine" regarding the Dnieper region, the area of the most armed rebellion, became natural. At the same time, the habitat of the ethnic group and its differences from neighbours were determined. This gives the reason to acknowledge the leading role of the Cossacks in the formation of ethnic consciousness of Ukrainians of this era. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]