History of Moscow | Serhii Plokhy and Lex Fridman
Summary
TLDRThis transcript delves into the complex history of the Russian Empire, tracing its origins from the medieval Kievan Rus' to the rise of Moscow as its center under Mongol rule. It highlights how the concept of 'Russian lands' evolved, culminating in the Soviet Union's expansion in 1945. The narrator also explores the linguistic and cultural diversity among Slavic peoples, questioning whether they can be considered a single nation or a collection of distinct groups with shared yet divergent histories and traditions.
Takeaways
- 😄 Moscow rose to prominence as the center of the Russian Empire in the late 15th century, replacing the city of Vladimir, after overthrowing Mongol control with the help of the Lithuanian state.
- 🤔 The term 'Russian Empire' was a creation of the 18th century, while the people earlier referred to themselves as 'Rus', encompassing multiple groups in the region.
- 🌍 The 'Gathering of the Russian Lands' was a 19th-century idea that aimed to unite the former lands of Kievan Rus' and the Mongol Empire under Moscow's control, culminating in 1945.
- 🗣️ The Slavic peoples share a common linguistic history but have distinct languages like Russian, Ukrainian, Polish, and Czech, indicating their separate identities.
- 🏛️ While sharing some political traditions, the Slavic nations have also developed different loyalties to their respective political institutions over time.
- 🌍 The Russian Empire eventually expanded its control to the Pacific Ocean before reaching the lands of Kievan Rus'.
- 🕰️ The city of Vladimir, with its architectural monuments like the 'Golden Gates', was the capital before Moscow's rise to prominence.
- ⚔️ Moscow's ascendancy was facilitated by its struggle for favor from the Mongol Tatar Horde during their control over the region.
- 🇺🇦 The inclusion of Transcarpathian Ukraine into the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic in 1945 marked the fulfillment of the 'Gathering of the Russian Lands' concept.
- 🌐 Despite linguistic unity, the Slavic peoples are considered distinct nations and peoples, much like Americans and Australians with their variations of English.
Q & A
What is the significance of the term 'Kievan Rus' in the context of the Russian Empire?
-The term 'Kievan Rus' refers to the medieval East Slavic state centered around the city of Kiev. It is important to note that the Kievan Rus is not the same as the modern Russian Empire, which emerged much later in the 18th century. The Kievan Rus was a collection of Slavic principalities, and its people referred to themselves as 'Rus,' which is distinct from the modern term 'Russia.'
When did Moscow first come into prominence as a significant city?
-According to the transcript, the first reference to Moscow dates back to the 12th century when it was founded by one of the princes of the Kievan Rus. However, Moscow did not become the capital and rise to prominence until much later, in the context of the Mongol rule over the former Rus territories.
How did Moscow become the center of the Russian Empire?
-Moscow's rise to prominence is closely tied to the Mongol rule over the former Rus territories. After the Mongol control was overthrown in the late 15th century, Moscow emerged as the new capital, replacing the city of Vladimir. This was a result of Moscow's struggle for favor with the Mongols and its eventual control over the territories of the former Mongol Empire.
What is the significance of the term 'Gathering of the Russian Lands' in relation to the Russian Empire?
-The term 'Gathering of the Russian Lands' refers to the project undertaken by Moscow after the Mongol rule was removed. It involved an effort to bring back the lands of the former Kievan Rus and the territories of the former Mongol Empire under Moscow's control. This process, as conceived by 19th-century Russian historians, aimed to unite the 'Russian lands' under a single rule, and it was completed in 1945 with the incorporation of Transcarpathian Ukraine into the Soviet Union.
How does the linguistic diversity among Slavic peoples reflect their ethnic and cultural differences?
-The linguistic diversity among Slavic peoples, such as the separate languages spoken by Poles, Ukrainians, Russians, and Czechs, is a clear indication that they are distinct peoples with different ethnic and cultural identities. While they share some common linguistic roots, the differences in their languages suggest that they have evolved as separate nations with distinct political traditions and loyalties to different political institutions.
How is the concept of a unified 'Slavic people' addressed in the transcript?
-The transcript acknowledges that while the Slavic peoples share some common linguistic history and political traditions, there are also significant differences that distinguish them as separate nations and peoples. The idea of a unified 'Slavic people' is not fully supported, as the linguistic diversity, political loyalties, and cultural traditions indicate a collection of distinct peoples rather than a single, homogeneous group.
What is the significance of Vladimir as a city in the context of the Russian Empire?
-Vladimir was the capital of the Rus territories before Moscow rose to prominence. It is notable for its architectural monuments, including the Golden Gates of Vladimir, which are among the oldest and most significant architectural landmarks in Russia. The transcript highlights Vladimir's central role and importance as the capital prior to Moscow's ascendance.
How did the Mongol rule influence the development of the Russian Empire?
-The Mongol rule had a significant impact on the development of the Russian Empire. After the overthrow of Mongol control in the late 15th century, Moscow emerged as the new capital, replacing Vladimir. The struggle for favor with the Mongols and the eventual control over the territories of the former Mongol Empire laid the foundation for Moscow's rise as the center of the Russian Empire.
What is the significance of the year 1945 in the context of the 'Gathering of the Russian Lands' project?
-The year 1945 marks the completion of the 'Gathering of the Russian Lands' project, as conceived by 19th-century Russian historians. In that year, the Soviet Union compelled the Czechoslovak government to cede Transcarpathian Ukraine to the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, thereby bringing the last remaining territories under Moscow's control and fulfilling the vision of uniting the 'Russian lands.'
How does the transcript compare the concept of a unified nation with the diversity among Slavic peoples?
-The transcript draws a parallel between the diversity among Slavic peoples and the diversity observed in other linguistic and cultural groups, such as the different variants of English spoken by Americans and Australians. While acknowledging a common linguistic history and some shared political traditions among Slavic peoples, the transcript emphasizes that linguistic differences, political loyalties, and cultural traditions suggest distinct nations and peoples, rather than a single, unified Slavic identity.
Outlines
🏛️ The Rise of Moscow as the Center of the Russian Empire
This paragraph discusses the emergence of Moscow as the capital of the Russian Empire, replacing the city of Vladimir. It traces the origins of Moscow in the 12th century, founded by one of the princes of the Kievan Rus. The paragraph highlights the context of the Mongol rule over the former Rus lands, and how Moscow rose to prominence under the Mongols. After the Mongol rule ended, Moscow embarked on the project of 'Gathering of the Russian lands,' which was a 19th-century conception of uniting the former territories of Kievan Rus and the Mongol Empire under Moscow's control. This process continued until 1945 when the Soviet Union acquired Transcarpathian Ukraine.
🗣️ The Linguistic and Political Diversity of Slavic Peoples
This paragraph explores the theme of whether Slavic people are a single group or a collection of multiple peoples. It acknowledges the linguistic differences between Slavic languages like Russian, Ukrainian, Polish, and Czech, indicating distinct identities. However, the paragraph also notes that language alone is not the sole determinant of nationhood, as political traditions, loyalties, and historical experiences also shape national identities. It highlights that while there may be some shared linguistic roots and cultural elements among Slavic nations, they are ultimately distinct peoples with their own unique histories and identities, much like other groups of nations around the world.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Russian Empire
💡Kievan Rus'
💡Moscow
💡Mongol rule
💡Gathering of the Russian lands
💡Slavic peoples
💡Language
💡Political tradition
💡Vladimir
💡Soviet Union
Highlights
Moscow does not exist at the time when Kiev emerges as the capital of the Kievan Rus'.
The first reference to Moscow comes from the 12th century when it was founded by one of the Kievan princes.
Moscow comes to prominence in the context of the Mongol rule over former Rus' lands.
The part of the former Rus' eventually overthrows the Mongol control with the help of the Lithuanians.
Western and central Russia stayed under Mongol control until the late 15th century.
Moscow rises as the new capital replacing Vladimir, the former capital of the Rus' lands.
After the Mongol rule, Moscow embarks on the project of 'Gathering of the Russian lands'.
The 'Gathering of the Russian lands' ends in 1945 when the Soviet Union acquires Transcarpathian Ukraine.
The speaker questions whether the Slavic people are one people or a collection of multiple peoples.
Language is one clear indicator that Slavic people are different, with separate languages like Polish, Ukrainian, and Russian.
Despite linguistic unity, political traditions and loyalty to political institutions vary among Slavic nations.
The Kievan Rus' referred to themselves as 'Rus' rather than 'Russia', which was a 19th-century term.
Vladimir was the place of the oldest architectural monument, the 'Golden Gate of Russia', before Moscow.
The Russians reached the Pacific Ocean before they reached Kiev, historically.
The Slavic peoples share a common linguistic history but have different languages, political traditions, and national identities.
Transcripts
so in one perspective and narrative KV
is at the center of this Russian
Empire at which point does Moscow become
come to prominence as the center of the
Russian Empire well the Russian Empire
is a term and really creation of the
18th century uh what we what we have for
the caveen we call it Caven Rous again
this is a term of the 19 Century they
call themselves Rose R and there was
Metropolitan of rose and there was Rose
principalities so very important to keep
in mind that Rus is not Russia because
that was a selfname for all multiple
groups on that on that
territory and U Moscow doesn't exist at
the time when cave emerges as as the
capital uh the first the first reference
to Moscow
comes from the 12th century when it was
founded by one of the Caven one of the
Caven
princes and uh Moscow comes to
prominence really in a very different
context and with a very different Empire
running the show in the region the story
of Moscow and the rise of Moscow this is
the story of the Mongol rule over over
former R lands and former R
territories um uh the the part of the
former Russ eventually overthrows the
the Mongol control with the help of the
small group of people called
lithuanians which which had a young Yan
State and Yan Dynasty and and United
this lands which were mostly in today's
terms Ukrainian and belarussian so they
separate early and what is today is
Russia mostly Western Russia Central
Russia stays under the Mongol control up
until late 15th century and that was the
story when Moscow mosco Rises as the new
capital of that realm replacing the city
of
Vladimir uh as as that Capital uh for
those who ever went to Russia uh they
they familiar with the with of course
Vladimir as the place of the oldest uh
uh architectural Monument
uh the so-called the golden R of Russia
and so on and so forth Vladimir is
Central and there is so many
architectural monuments there because
before there was Moscow there was
Vladimir eventually in this in this
struggle over over control of the
territory struggle for favors uh from
from the Mongols and and the TT horde
Moscow emerges as as the center of that
particular realm under Mongols after the
Mongol rule is uh removed Moscow embarks
on the project that historians Russian
historians of the 19th century called
the Gathering of the Russian
lands uh using Russian now for Rus and
and and and trying to to uh bring back
the the the lands of of former cave and
Rus but also the lands of the former
Mongol
Empire uh the Russians get to the uh
Pacific before they get to
K uh historically uh and really the the
the quote unquote Gathering of the uh uh
quote unquote Russian lands ends only in
1945 when uh the Soviet Union uh bullies
the czechoslovak government into turning
what is today's trans carpatian Ukraine
to the Soviet Union it is included in
the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic
so that's that's the moment when that
Destiny the way how it was imagined by
the 19th century Russian historian was
eventually fulfilled Moscow was in
control of all this l so to what degree
are the Slavic people one people this is
a theme that will continue throughout I
think versus a collection of multiple
peoples whether we're talking about the
Kevan Roose or we're talking about the
19th century Russian Empire
conception well a number of ways to look
at that one the most obvious the most
clear is
language and um there is no question
that um polls speak a separate language
and their
slaves and there is no question for
anyone um going to Ukraine and here in
Ukrainian realizing that this is not
Russian the Lev of comprehension can be
different you can understand certain
words and you you you don't understand
others and the same would be with with
Polish and the same would be with Czech
so there is this linguistic uh
linguistic history that is in common but
languages very clearly indicate that
you're deal you're dealing with
different with different
peoples um we we know that language is
not everything Americans speak a
particular way of English Australians
speak a particular variant of English uh
but for reasons of geography history we
we pretty much believe that despite
linguistic Unity these are different
nations and different peoples and and
there are there are some parts of
political tradition are in common others
others are quite different so the same
when it comes to language the same when
it comes to political IAL tradition to
the loyalty to the political institution
applies to Slavic uh Nations so that's
that's again there is nothing particular
unique about the slaves in that
regard
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