The great Russian historian Karamzin (1766-1826), known as the spiritual father of Slavism, wrote a 12-volume history of the Russian state, from ancient times to the 17th century, and is still being reprinted to this day.
Karamzin once said a thought-provoking quote: "Russia is great thanks to the Mongol Tatars." ”
Why is Russia's success linked to the Mongolian Tatars?
In the 13th century, Russia's loose city-state principalities were attacked by the Mongol Tatars and eventually submitted to the Golden Horde established by Genghis Khan's descendants for 238 years.
The invading Mongol armies, including archers, heavy infantry, light cavalry, heavy cavalry, and siege equipment, were a real nightmare for the Russian scattered principalities. Russian infantry, which did not know much about tactics, and poorly defended wooden cities, collapsed in the face of the world's most powerful army.
Thereafter, the grand dukes of the Russian principalities had to go to the capital of the Golden Horde, kneel down and pray for holy will, and bow down to their subjects.
It was an unheard-of humiliation, but it also contributed to the formation of a unified Russian state.
Russia's strength began with being ruled by the Mongol Tatars.
If there were no Mongol Tatars, it is doubtful whether there would be a country like Russia.
Since then, Russia's great success in expanding its territory has been largely the result of the involuntary learning experienced by Russians during the reign of the Golden Horde.
What did Russia learn from the Mongol Tatars?
The 238-year reign of the Golden Horde has left a profound imprint on Russia's ideology, culture, and even the model of state governance.
During the occupation of the Golden Horde, the khanate system was introduced to Russia.
The ideas of authoritarianism, centralization and expansionism are deeply rooted in Russia.
At that time, there was a parliamentary tradition in Europe, and the power of the monarch was limited to varying degrees. In Russia, where the Tsar had supreme authoritarian power, the All-Russian Gentry Council was more like an instrument in the hands of the Tsar.
This apparent disagreement between the two began under the rule of the Golden Horde.
In 1649, with the promulgation of the National Assembly Code, serfdom was established.
Similarly, this began with the rule of the Golden Horde, ending the tradition of the town halls, and the rights of the citizens and peasants were gradually stripped away.
The Russians also inherited the bureaucracy, currency, and tariff system from the Golden Horde.
In Ancient Rus', military issues were decided at the Civic Assembly, a method that was inefficient compared to the decisive actions of the Mongols.
The Russians had to learn a lot from the Mongol system of military command, starting with the most basic things.
The Russians also learned to wear robes from the Mongols, which was very convenient for riding horses.
The post stations established by the Mongols were also inherited by Russia and continued until the beginning of the eighteenth century.
In addition, during the reign of the Golden Horde, it had an impact on the Vocabulary of Russia, with many Mongolian words for taxes, servitude, and daily necessities influencing the Russian language, including the "Ulla" shouted by Russian soldiers when they charged!
The custom of drinking tea also spread to Russia at this time. The Russians became keen on tea drinking and traded borders with the Qing Dynasty through the Treaty of Kyakhta, importing tea.
In fact, there are gains and losses. Gain and loss are like the two sides of a coin.
Success is also Xiao He, and defeat is also Xiao He.
Russia was great thanks to the Mongol Tatars; and vice versa, it failed
What negative legacies did the rule of the Golden Horde leave for Russia?
Historically, many nomadic peoples established regimes that "rose and flourished, and their demises."
The way of life of the nomadic people living by water and grass and relying on the sky to eat has formed a tradition of expansion, paying too much attention to epitaxial plunder, and the connotative development is obviously insufficient.
How similar the fate of the Soviet Union is to the Mongol Empire! In the past 70 years, there have been great ups and downs, and finally collapsed and fallen apart.
Russia has also failed to jump out of the fate of history.
The Economist argues that, in the final analysis, Russia is destined to be a "inactive" country.
Russia is unattractive to talent and hardly brings in any good talent. Russia, by contrast, is one of the largest exporters of highly educated immigrants.
Russia's population size has been stagnant for a long time.
Male life expectancy is only about 60 years.
Russia's economy is declining, and its GDP is roughly the same as that of Spain. Without the support of rising oil and gas prices, Russia's economic outlook would be bleak.
Russia lacks innovation and produces almost nothing else else is willing to buy, except oil, gas, and weapons, which will one day run out.
At best, Russia is only a regional power, a regional participant and saboteur. In terms of overall strength, Russia is small and weak, even inferior to South Korea.
People exaggerate the Russian threat, there is nothing to worry about him, history does not side with Russia.
The russians did all the mischief like the boring kid in the back row of the classroom.
In an era dominated by technological innovation, the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and globalized trade, Russia's conquest of Crimea and eastern Ukraine belonged to the 19th century precisely because of its weakness, not because of how powerful it was, self-defeating and anachronistic. Its obsessive ambition to restore the glory of the Soviet Empire will destroy itself.
Russia's vision is very short-sighted, constantly creating trouble for neighboring countries in order to win the applause of the people in exchange for short-term electoral benefits, without considering that doing so will backfire and trap Russia in a long-term disadvantage.
Russia inherited many of the military characteristics of the Mongols, especially the attitude towards war, which was markedly different from other civilizations.
The Russians do not respect their opponents and do not keep their promises.
All they have to do is kill the enemy and loot the spoils.
They believe that to fight a war is to hunt, to kill the prey, not to defeat, and there is no need to talk about morality with the prey.
This is very special.
Benevolence and righteousness are not applied, and the offensive and defensive forces are different!