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    Rivers, Raiders, and Silver: The Forgotten Origins of Russia

    12 min
    |
    |
    22 sept. 2025
    HistoryBiographyPolitics

    Discover how medieval trade networks along ancient waterways shaped Russia's birth. Drawing from Orlando Figes, Serhii Plokhy, and groundbreaking DNA studies in Nature, this episode reveals how Viking entrepreneurs, Slavic tribes, and Byzantine influence created a multiethnic state that still fuels today's geopolitical tensions.

    Rivers, Raiders, and Silver: The Forgotten Origins of Russia

    Meilleure citation de Rivers, Raiders, and Silver: The Forgotten Origins of Russia

    “

    The medieval past is shared—Kyivan Rus is indeed part of the heritage of Russians, Ukrainians, and Belarusians. But the modern nations that emerged from this common root followed different paths.

    ”

    Cette leçon audio a été créée par un membre de la communauté BeFreed

    Question posée

    How did Viking traders and ancient waterways shape the birth of Russia?

    Voix des présentateurs
    Niaplay
    Jacksonplay
    Sources de connaissances
    The Story of Russia
    link
    https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62595326-the-story-of-russia
    The Emergence of Rus 750–1200
    link
    https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-emergence-of-rus-750-1200-simon-franklin/1116989891
    Medieval Russia: 980–1584
    link
    https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23045567-medieval-russia
    The Gates of Europe: A History of Ukraine (Revised edition)
    link
    https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/serhii-plokhy/the-gates-of-europe/9780465050918/
    The Cambridge History of Russia, Volume 1: From Early Rus’ to 1689
    link
    https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/the-cambridge-history-of-russia/F527C755BDC941F3CA7B68032259F1AB
    The Making of the Slavs: History and Archaeology of the Lower Danube Region, c. 500–700
    link
    https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/making-of-the-slavs/AFD2FC388080F2ADC408D15C2230E5E4/listing

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    Points clés

    1

    From Vikings to Empire: Navigating Russia's Origins

    0:00
    0:17
    0:32
    2

    Rivers, Raiders, and Silver: The Economic Foundation

    0:57
    1:03
    0:32
    1:24
    1:27
    1:45
    1:53
    2:13
    2:18
    3

    Cultural Crossroads: Baptism and Byzantine Influence

    2:38
    2:45
    2:58
    3:19
    0:32
    3:43
    3:50
    4:09
    4:11
    4

    From Kyiv to Moscow: The Shifting Center

    4:33
    4:37
    4:52
    4:58
    5:16
    5:27
    5:47
    5:57
    5

    DNA, Dirhams, and Modern Discoveries

    6:18
    6:22
    6:40
    6:46
    6:59
    7:02
    7:20
    7:30
    6

    Myths, Memory, and Modern Politics

    7:47
    7:54
    8:12
    6:22
    8:41
    8:53
    9:14
    9:17
    7

    Rivers Still Flow: Why This History Matters Now

    9:43
    10:02
    10:15
    10:24
    10:37
    10:46
    8

    Navigating Today's Waters: Three Takeaways

    11:06
    11:11
    11:23
    11:37
    11:47
    8:53
    12:09
    12:17

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