The History of Crimea: Coveted, Converted, Contested
21 October 2026
11:00am-12:30pm
Online or Rewley House 1 Wellington Square, Oxford, OX1 2JA
Event status:
Applications being accepted
Location:
Online or Rewley House 1 Wellington Square, Oxford, OX1 2JA
Dates:
21 October 2026 - 25 November 2026
Study Format:
Online - live
Fees:
From £75.00 to £90.00
The Crimean Peninsula is truly one of the great crossroads of history – where East met West, where Islam encountered Christianity, where the maritime world met the steppe, and where empire confronted nationalism. Few parts of the world have witnessed more – or more diverse – human traffic. It has been home to the Scythians, Persians, Greeks, Ostrogoths, Mongol Tatars, and Genoese, each leaving behind traces of their presence.
For millennia, Crimea was perceived as a glittering prize of blue seas and sunbaked hills, a striking contrast to the vast continental plains beyond. In the eighteenth century, it became the focal point of struggle between the expanding Russian Empire and the declining Ottoman Empire. After 1783, this 'earthly paradise' became a favoured retreat of the Romanov emperors. Following their fall, its incorporation into Soviet rule was among the bloodiest episodes of the Russian Civil War.
In the Second World War, Crimea fell into German hands, with fateful consequences that long outlasted the conflict. Later, it became a pawn contested between Russia and the newly independent Ukraine. Was Putin’s takeover in 2014 a land grab or a restoration of national rights? For the past several years, the Russo-Ukrainian War has kept Crimea firmly in the headlines for all the wrong reasons.
Is this the last time Crimea might conceivably change hands – or merely another chapter in its long history of being coveted, converted, and contested?
Please note: this event will close to enrolments at 23:59 on 18 October 2026.
Book this course
You can opt to attend this teaching event either online (via a livestream) or in person at Rewley House, Oxford. You will be given the option of how you wish to attend during the enrolment process. You can only pick one option. If your preferred attendance format is fully booked, you can email us to be put on the waiting list. For those who wish to attend online, please read the IT requirements below before enrolling.
Accommodation
If you wish to stay with us before and/or after the event, please contact our Residential Centre for availability and discounted rates.
Call +44 (0) 1865 270362 or email res-ctr@conted.ox.ac.uk
Our accommodation in Wellington Square has been rated as 4-Star Campus Accommodation under Visit England. All bedrooms are modern, comfortably furnished with tea/coffee making facilities, Freeview television, private bath/shower rooms and free WiFi. For more details see our accommodation information.
IT requirements
We will be using Zoom for the livestreaming of this lecture series, and you will be able to submit questions via the Zoom interface. Joining instructions will be sent out prior to the start date. We recommend that you join the session at least 10-15 minutes prior to the start time – just as you might arrive a bit early at our lecture theatre for an in-person event.
Please note that this series will not be recorded.
Recommended reading
Ascherson N. The Black Sea, Penguin, 1992
Woodham-Smith, C. The Reason Why, Penguin, 1952
Kent N. The Crimea: a History, Hurst 2015
Programme details
Lectures take place on Wednesdays, 11.00-12.30pm (GMT)
Wednesday 21 October
Crimea before the Romanovs: Pre-History to 1783
Wednesday 28 October
Crimea under the Ottomans: 1443 – 1783
Wednesday 4 November
Crimea under the Romanovs: 1783 – 1917
Wednesday 11 November
Crimea under the Soviets 1917 – 1990
Wednesday 18 November
Crimea at War: 1853 – 1941
Wednesday 25 November
Crimea in the Putin Era: 2000 – Present Day
How and when to watch
Each lecture will last approximately 1 hour, followed by questions.
For online attendees, please join in good time before each lecture to ensure that you have no connection problems. We recommend joining 10-15 minutes before the start time.
Event lunch
There will be a lunch following the final lecture taking place at Rewley House restaurant on Wednesday 25 November 2026 which can be booked via the webpage.
Fees
| Description | Costs |
|---|---|
| In-person event fee (includes tea/coffee and a pastry) | £90.00 |
| Virtual event fee | £75.00 |
| Event lunch (25th November) | £22.40 |
Funding
If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit or are a full-time student in the UK, you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of the event fee. Please note that the discount does not apply to catering or accommodation.
Christopher Danziger
Christopher Danziger M.A., M.Ed., was formerly Head of History at St Edward’s School, Oxford and a lecturer at the Universities of Durham and Cape Town. He has been a Tutor for Oxford Lifelong Learning for over 15 years. He teaches European History, with a special interest in Napoleonic France and Romanov Russia, on both of which he has written extensively.
Please use the ‘Book’ button on this page. Alternatively, please contact us on events@conted.ox.ac.uk to obtain an application form.
You can opt to attend this teaching event either online (via a livestream) or in person at Rewley House, Oxford. You will be given the option of how you wish to attend during the enrolment process. You can only pick one option. If your preferred attendance format is fully booked, you can email us to be put on the waiting list. For those who wish to attend online, please read the IT requirements below before enrolling.
