the crossroads of the orient and the oxidant europe and asia. greeks came from across the mediterranean founded cities and opened up trade routes to europe. nomadic tribes from the steps of asia conquered crimea well the mongols of the golden horde established a slave trade here conquerors became settlers tradesmen and artisans farmers and citizens until new conquerors came and new cultures. for centuries crimea belongs to the empire of the crimean tatars and the ottomans. under catherine the great it became russian and remained so for one hundred fifty years. then in one thousand nine hundred fifty four the peninsula became part of ukraine.