The article is devoted to the analysis of the formation of statehood of the early Scythian state formations on the territory of Ukraine, which is an important stage in the formation of state and legal traditions on the Ukrainian lands. The importance of the study lies in determining the place and role of Scythian statehood in the history of Ukrainian statehood. The study of archaeological, ethnographic and historical sources allows us to reconstruct the features of Scythian statehood, in particular its state and legal system, social structure and military organization.

The state and legal system of the Scythians is shown, and the features of their statehood as one of the first early state formations on the Ukrainian lands are also determined. The article reveals the influence of internal and external factors on the formation of socio-political, as well as the interaction of Scythian society with Greek city-colonies.

It is noted that the Scythian statehood had clearly expressed signs of an early state formation, including territory, centralized public power, hierarchical social structure, developed military organization and a specific legal system. The social organization of the Scythians was based on a clear division of the population into separate groups, in particular into the ruling class, free community members and slaves. The ruling class concentrated the main material wealth and power, while free community members constituted the largest part of the population and ensured the performance of military and economic functions. It is emphasized that the socio-legal situation of Scythian society demonstrates the transition from a tribal system to a proto-state, which was manifested in the formation of property inequality, the concentration of power in the hands of the militarypolitical elite and the emergence of early forms of monarchical rule. Scythian statehood was based on military power, which ensured external stability and integration of the conquered tribes into a single political entity.

The conclusions emphasize the importance of Scythian statehood for the further development of legal and social institutions in the Ukrainian lands. The state and legal experience, cultural heritage of the Scythians became an important factor in the formation of early statehood in the Ukrainian lands. The Scythian state was not only a key stage in the development of early statehood, but also became an example of a unique combination of customary legal traditions with elements of centralized administration, which contributed to the formation of a stable social order and an effective political and legal system.

Bibliography

Authored books

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2. Boiko I, Kryminalni pokarannia v Ukraini (IX–XX): navchalnyi posibnyk (Ivan Franko National University of Lviv 2013).

3. Boiko I, Pravove rehuliuvannia tsyvilnykh vidnosyn v Ukraini (IX–XX): navchalnyi posibnyk dlia studentiv vyshchykh navchalnykh zakladiv (Atika 2012).

4. Boiko O, Istoriia Ukrainy: posibnyk (Akademiia 2002).

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6. Havrylenko O, Istoriia derzhavy i prava Ukrainy. Starodavnia doba: navchalnyi posibnyk (Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs 2011).

7. Havrylenko O, Syroid T, Istoriia mizhnarodnoho prava: starodavnia doba: navchalnyi posibnyk.

8. Hrushevskyi M, Istoriia Ukrainy-Rusy, vol 1 (2nd edn, 1904).

9. Ivanov V, Istoriia derzhavy i prava Ukrainy: pidruchnyk (Interregional Academy of Personnel Management (IAPM) 2007).

10. Kulchytskyi V, Tyshchyk B, Istoriia derzhavy i prava Ukrainy: pidruchnyk dlia studentiv vyshchykh navchalnykh zakladiv (In Yure 2008).

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13. Zakharchenko P, Istoriia derzhavy i prava Ukrainy: pidruchnyk (Atika 2005).

Edited books

14. Bandurka O, Yarmysh O (eds), Istoriia derzhavnosti ukrainy: Eksperymentalnyi pidruchnyk (Odissei 2004).

15. Herodot iz Halikarnasu, Skifiia: naidavnishyi opys Ukrainy z V stolittia pered Khrystom (B Hnatiuk red, Dovira 1992).

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17. Usenko I (ker kol), Sudova vlada v Ukraini: istorychni vytoky, zakonomirnosti, osoblyvosti rozvytku (Naukova dumka 2014).

Journal articles

18. Boiko I, ‘Vstanovlennia daty zasnuvannia Ukrainskoi derzhavy: istoryko-pravovi aspekty’ [2017] 1 ScienceRise: Juridical Science 19–31.

19. Havrylenko O, ‘Osnovni rysy prava skifskykh rannoderzhavnykh utvoren’ [2007] 1 Chasopys Kyivskoho universytetu prava 17–22.

 20. Havrylenko O, ‘Zarodzhennia prava na terytorii Ukrainy v antychnu dobu’ [2020] 1 Pravo Ukrainy 64–84 DOI: 10.33498/louu-2020-01-064.

21. Hutiv B, ‘Mala Skifiia – osoblyvosti derzhavnoho ustoroiu ta osnovni rysy prava’ [2023] 4 Yurydychnyi naukovyi elektronnyi zhurnal 31–3 DOI: 10.32782/2524-0374/2023-4/4.

22. Nikolaienko T, ‘Zvychaieve pravo skifskoi derzhavy’ [2014] 8 Biuleten Ministerstva yustytsii Ukrainy 51–6.

 Dissertations

23. Hrytsiuk V, ‘Viiskova orhanizatsiia ta voienne mystetstvo skifiv’ (dissertation 2004).

Encyclopedias

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