HISTORICAL AND GEOGRAPHICAL ASPECTS OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF LAND RELATIONS AND FORMS OF OWNERSHIP IN AGRICULTURE OF THE VOLYN REGION

Abstract

The article examines the historical evolution of agrarian relations in the territory of Volyn region within the broader context of Ukraine’s socio-economic transformations. The study covers the transition from primitive communal land use to feudal ownership, the development of serfdom, and the subsequent shift towards capitalist and market-oriented agricultural structures. The research proposes an original periodization of agrarian changes in the region, identifying seven key stages, each shaped by distinct institutional, political, and socio-economic conditions. It substantiates the main drivers of transformation in Volyn’s agrarian sector, including changes in land tenure systems, state intervention, technological development, demographic factors, and external market influences. The analysis is based on a comprehensive set of historical documents, statistical materials, and scholarly publications, allowing for a multidimensional assessment of the agricultural transition. Special emphasis is placed on the shift from extensive to intensive land use, the role of state-controlled collective farming, and the gradual re-emergence of private ownership and entrepreneurship. The Volyn case serves as a representative model for understanding regional patterns of agrarian modernization in Ukraine and highlights the long-term continuity and disruptions in land relations. The study contributes to the historical geography and agrarian history of Ukraine and offers analytical tools for interpreting present-day rural development challenges.