The Cultural Legacy of Cossack Rule in Ukraine The Cossack rule in Ukraine, particularly during the 16th to 18th centuries, left a lasting cultural legacy. The Cossacks fostered a unique sense of Ukrainian identity, emphasizing freedom, military prowess, and self-governance. Their democratic Cossack assemblies, or "rada," influenced later Ukrainian political structures. The Cossacks also played a key role in preserving Ukrainian traditions, language, and Orthodox Christianity, shaping the cultur