Great article. It seems to downplay the importance of the Mongol conquest and the subsequent “yoke” imposed on Russian civilization. It furthered Russia’s isolation from the West at a crucial time and reinforced the authoritarianism of the culture by providing both the model and the need for strong centralized leadership. Minimizing the impact of the Mongols on the character of modern Russia is similar to omitting the influence of the Muslim conquests on the subsequent development of Spain and Greece.
Yes, there are some odd gaps in Quigley’s work. I’ve puzzled over that myself.