Conversation so far:
What was the early history of Ukranians like?
Ukraine has had a very turbulent history, a fact explained by its geographical position.
How did Ukraine obtain distinctive statehood?
In the 16th – 17th centuries, with the establishment of the Zaporizhian Sich, the notion of Ukraine as a separate country with a separate ethnic identity came into being.
What else did Ukrainians do in their early history besides the establishment of the Zaporizhian?
The Ukrainian language appeared in the 14th – 16th centuries, but at that time, it was mostly known as Ruthenian, like its brothers.

Question: Did it become widely used?
Self-contained rewrite: Did the Ukrainian language become widely used?