Greetings! I'm sure such cultures as Trypillia, Scythians, Rus', Cossack Hetmanate and Ukraine would be a great addition to the Humankind game. I will do my best to explain why each of them deserve the attention and representation in this game.

Short description

Trypillia

Existed circa 5500 to 2750 BCE. Trypillia culture was spread throughout the territories of modern Moldova, northeastern Romania, and southwestern Ukraine. Trypillia's settlements were very large and the most developed ones (up to 15000 people in the largest one) seemed to be the largest in the world in that time period. Also, Tripillia culture is well known for its pottery. While hand-coiled pottery was common for the cultures of that time, there is some evidence that Tripillia culture has been using a primitive slow-turning potter's wheel, an invention that did not become common in Europe until the Iron Age. Interesting enough that they believed in something like a life cycle of death and rebirth, and such belief included not only living beings, but material items and houses as well. There is evidence that their houses have been burnt and rebuilt anew several times with a preservation of the building's previous alignment and size.

Scythians

Existed from 800 BCE to 400 AD. Scythians were spread in between Carpathian Mountains and the Don river, throughout the territories of modern southern Belarus, Moldova, Ukraine, and southwestern Russia. Although Scythians' language was in iranian language family, the Scythian culture itself wasn't nomadic. Such misconception could appear due to the fact that Scythian warriors and herdsman have been using horses much earlier than ancient Greece, so Herodotus could think that an entire scythian culture is nomadic. As for scythian skills in battle, they are well known for mastering a mounted archery. This, and their knowledge of tactics served them a good job during the war with Persia by the late 6th century BC when scythians used a "scorched earth strategy" along with cutting off persian supplies.

Rus' (Also known as Kievan Rus' or Ruthenia)

Existed approximately from 800 to 1240 AD. Rus' held territories in between Carpathian Mountains and the Don river, with Novgorod as its farthest northern city (Veliky Novgorod nowadays), therefore - holding the territories of modern Ukraine, Belarus, and southwestern Russia. Rus' was the most powerful country during the early medieval period. Thanks to its vast territories and convenient location, Rus' had a serious benefit from the trading. Also, its military force was strong enough to threaten Byzantium. For example, there was a crusade in which Rus' sent 200 ships (by the way, twice as large as the largest viking fleet) to raid Constantinople. To be fair, there was no battle, but after some negotiations, Byzantium had to pay off with a decent sum of money because their own army was too far away at the moment. Also, Rus' is well known for lots of political connections (such as marriages and treaties) with western european monarchies, and its knyaz' (title similar to the "king" in english) Yaroslav the Wise sometimes referred as the "Father-in-law of Europe".

Cossack Hetmanate (Also known as Zaporizhian Host)

Existed from 1648 to 1764 AD. Cossack Hetmanate held central territories of modern Ukraine and a small part of Russian territories to the north. Founded by the hetman (title similar to the "head of state" in english) Bohdan Khmelnytsky, Cossack Hetmanate was a power to reckon with. It was capable to fight against Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, Tsardom of Muscovy (Russian Empire later), and Crimean Khanate in different times of its history. Cossacks themselves were excellent and quick-witted soldiers well known and appreciated (as mercenaries) even beyond ukrainian land. One of the most iconic tactic in cossack warfare was arranging a wagon train in a ring formation in order to make a simplest fortification even on the plain terrain. But what is even more important, Cossack Hetmanate was a rare example of democracy in that time period. Their hetmans always has been elected by the government called "Sich Rada" (can be approximately translated as "general council" in english). Furthermore, Cossack Hetmanate was one of the first states in Europe with its own constitution (!) which has been created on 5 April 1710 by the hetman Pylyp Orlyk.

Ukraine

The name "Ukraine" has been mentioned and used quite a lot during medieval and early modern periods. During the 20th century, there was Ukrainian People's Republic existent from 1917 to 1921 AD. At 22 January 1919 Ukrainian People's Republic united with the West Ukrainian People's Republic and therefore controlled all territories of modern day Ukraine, including several regions to the north. Also, UPC had an intent to unite with Kuban People's Republic (Kuban region in Russia nowadays), but all negotiations has beed cancelled due to soviet invasion and annexation of KPR.

During the time of being a part of USSR, there were lots of ukrainian high-level specialists in soviet electronics and space industry. After the fall of Soviet Union at 1991 AD, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic declared its independence and became the Ukraine which exists till this day. Ukraine is the largest country in Europe, and even with all of its current flaws and problems, has a lot to offer. Ukraine is one of the biggest exporters of grain in the world and its IT specialists are ones of the best. Also, ukrainian culture is well known for its self-organization during crisis - when government cannot handle the problem or threat, ukrainian people can take responsibility on their own.

Historical Eras

Considering that the Humankind game has several historical Eras, I will put these cultures in their respective time periods:

Ancient - Trypillia.

Classical - Scythians.

Medieval - Rus'.

Early Modern - Cossack Hetmanate.

Industrial - none, because Cossack Hetmanate has been conquered by the Russian Empire.

Contemporary - Ukraine.

Focus of cultures. Emblematic units and quarters

Trypillia

Focus - Builder or Aesthete.

Emblematic unit - Any melee or ranged infantry.

Emblematic quarter - Any pottery-related building or something that reflect culture's so vast belief in renewal cycle.

Scythians

Focus - Agrarian or Militarist.

Emblematic unit - Light ranged cavalry.

Emblematic quarter - Kurgan (means "mound" in english. A burial place for scythian nobles).

Rus'

Focus - Merchant or Expansionist.

Emblematic unit - Druzhina (means "squad" or "brigade" in english. Royal guards who were protecting knyaz'), heavy swordsmen or heavy cavalry.

Emblematic quarter - Kiev Pechersk Lavra (means "Kiev Monastery of the Caves" in english. A massive and elaborate Orthodox Christian monastery).

Cossack Hetmanate

Focus - Militarist.

Emblematic unit - Serdyuk (mercenary infantry and hetman's guard), gunner.

Emblematic quarter - Sich (Its name derived from ukrainian verb "sikty" which means "to chop" in english. A wooden fortress and symbol of cossack presence in regions).

Ukraine

Focus - Agrarian or Scientist.

Emblematic unit - An-225 Mriya (means "Dream" or "Aspiration" in english. The largest and most powerful transport aircraft in the world), aircraft.

Emblematic quarter - Dnieper Hydroelectric Station (or just DniproHES. The largest hydroelectric power station on the Dnieper River).

Afterword

Ukraine has a long rich history and can offer a lot to the Humankind game in matters of mechanics and historical depth. As for this thread and post, I will appreciate any support and critique for these cultures, as well as your own suggestions.

This is all for now. Thank you for the attention! 

AprilTaurus wrote:
knyaz' (title similar to the "king" in english)

Title «Knyaz» similar to the "Prince". This is how this title is usually translated into English.

AprilTaurus wrote:

Rus'

Focus - Merchant or Expansionist.

Rus' is better to be a Merchant than an Expansionist. Rus' did not expand much at that time, but had control over several trade routes.

AprilTaurus wrote:
Druzhina (means "squad" or "brigade" in english. Royal guards who were protecting knyaz'), heavy swordsmen or heavy cavalry.

I would prefer to see the Druzhina  as a hybrid of heavy cavalry and horse archers, since they often had to use a composite bow against horse archers Cumans and Pechenegs.

AprilTaurus wrote:
Emblematic quarter - Kiev Pechersk Lavra

As I understand it, developers for Emblematic quarter do not use particular objects, but something generalizing. Lavra may be a symbolic quarter (but it is more of a Greek origin). In my opinion, white-stone churches are better suited for this role.

AprilTaurus wrote:
Emblematic unit - Cossack strilets'

Maybe the Zaporozhian Host as cossack cavalry?

DNLH wrote:

KonungBalt wrote:

Maybe the Zaporozhian Host as cossack cavalry?

For Cossack Hetmanate, the infantry unit is, imo, much better suited. While in later years, mostly due to Russian employment of them, Cossacks became renowned for being cavalrymen (though not only, Pol-Lit Commonwealth was utilizing 'Cossack Riders', that, funnily enough, became type of cavalry and wasn't necessarily consisting of Cossacks at all times), I'd say the Hetmanate infantry would be much better suited, as they were the backbone of their resistance during that era.

I have to agree with you about the predominance of infantry in the Hetmanate. But the zaporozhian cavalry began to form during the Khmelnytsky Uprising, they used Dragoon tactics and conducted some diversionary actions. Although they rarely engaged in battle as cavalry, giving this role to Tatar mounted mercenaries or Moscow cavalry.

btw, if you are interessed to check my fanmade card for Rus'/Kievan Rus'/Ruthenian.

On the Creation sub-forum, I made a thread for fanmade cards, I have put my sources, alternatives choices (for emblematic quarter for exemple), if you will add some propositions or criticism (I'm not a slavic expert, so I surely made mistakes !).

I would really like to have an additional slavic culture for medieval era (or more if possible :3) in the game and some slavic citystates (Novgorod, Prague, etc...)