The development of statehood on the territory of modern Ukraine is a complex and multidirectional process with deep historical roots. Among the key stages of this process, a special place is occupied by the period of the first half of the first millennium AD, the time of the existence of the Gothic statehood in the Northern Black Sea region. Despite their relatively temporary nature, the Gothic political entities had a significant impact on the formation of proto-state structures of the Slavic tribes and the overall evolution of statehood in the region. However, the lack of written and archaeological sources leaves a number of questions about the political and legal nature, social structure, and historical influence of the Goths on Ukrainian lands.

The purpose of the study is to reveal the content of the political and legal nature, social structure and historical influence of the Gothic political traditions on the formation of Ukrainian statehood. To achieve this goal, the following research methods were used: the historical and legal method for analyzing political and legal phenomena, the comparative method for comparing the political organization of the Goths with Slavic structures, and the archaeological method for reconstructing the social structure of Gothic society. The source study approach allowed us to critically comprehend ancient written sources, and the interdisciplinary approach provided a comprehensive study of the problem.

The author analyzes the political and legal nature of the Gothic formations, which functioned as early forms of statehood (chiefdoms) with elements of military democracy. It is determined that the Gothic legal culture was based on customary norms with sacred elements that influenced social and political relations. The study confirms the existence of social stratification among the Goths, which included military leaders, nobility, free community members and slaves. Particular attention is paid to the influence of Gothic political traditions on Slavic tribes, in particular in the field of military organization, social hierarchy, and the formation of legal norms. It is established that the interaction of the Goths with the Slavic tribes contributed to the exchange of cultural, legal and military traditions, in particular in the field of government organization, military structure and social hierarchy.

The conclusions emphasize that the analysis of Gothic statehood allows us to deepen our understanding of the historical processes of statehood formation on Ukrainian lands and to assess the significance of these territories in the pan-European historical context. Further study of this issue will allow for a deeper understanding of the origins of Ukrainian statehood in the context of the interaction of different peoples and cultures.

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Edited and translated books

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