Russia's Turn to its Asian Past

WSJ ^ | July 6, 2018 | Yaroslav Trofimov

[CondoleezzaProtege]

Less than a decade ago, it seemed self-evident that Russia was reclaiming its rightful place as part of the Western world.

Now Russia is increasingly looking East, toward an uneasy alliance with an illiberal and much more powerful China, and—in recognition of the country’s increasingly Muslim makeup—with nations such as Turkey and Iran. But even more pronounced is a sentiment that Russia, so unique in its vastness, must remain a world unto itself, a country that should expect kinship from no one.

Some Russian nationalists now herald this Mongol-Turkic state, governed by descendants of Genghis Khan’s oldest son, as the foundation of Russia’s own eternal empire. Long expunged from memory, the Horde is trending in Russia again, the subject of movies and a popular TV series. There is even a theme park at the site of the Horde’s razed 15th-century capital Sarai Batu—a former film set of faux palaces and mosques where visitors ride camels, practice archery skills and take photos in Mongol dress.

Russia’s official historians and the Orthodox church long viewed the Horde’s rule over Moscow as a barbarian “yoke,” responsible for Russia’s underdevelopment compared with the West; studying its history was banned by the Kremlin in 1944. But modern revisionists, inspired by the “Eurasianist” ideology that sets Russia apart from the West, see the Russian state as the heir and beneficiary of that Mongol empire. They admire its ruthless centralism, its desire for conquest, its ability to maintain law and order—and its religious tolerance, which allowed Christianity and Islam to coexist.

Indeed, the medieval Russian state adopted much of the Golden Horde’s administrative system. Russian words for money (den’gi), treasury (kazna) and customs (tamozhnia) are all of Mongol-Turkic origin, and the Mongols’ system of yam postal relay networks became the backbone of the Russian empire...

[DUMBGRUNT]

From the comments at the link.

Perhaps Russia is turning away from Western Civilization because the West itself (via political correctness) is turning away from Western Civilization. Just a thought.

[SunkenCiv]

This topic was posted 7/29/2018, thanks CondoleezzaProtege.

The rest of the Genghis Khan keyword, sorted, edited:

• Mystery of Genghis Khan’s Death Considered Solved [02/06/2021]
• Report: Xi Jinping Ordering Erasure of Genghis Khan from Chinese History [11/11/2020]
• Archaeology breakthrough: 'Significant' Genghis Khan discovery ends decades-old debate [07/14/2020]
• Brutal 13th-Century death pit from Russian 'city drowned in blood'...murdered by Mongols [tr] [09/06/2019]
• Finding DNA results in Germanic People [10/15/2018]
• Russia takes a new look at an old enemy: Genghis Khan [08/20/2018]
• Russia's Turn to its Asian Past [07/29/2018]
• How Genghis Khan Defeated Islam and saved the world [12/11/2016]
• It's the anniversary of the death of Genghis Khan, climate change hero. [08/18/2016]
• Chinese archaeologists find evidence of the fabled imperial home of Kublai Khan's Yuan dynasty [06/12/2016]
• Mongol Hordes Gave up on Conquering Europe Due to Wet Weather [05/28/2016]
• Half Of Western European Men Descended From One Bronze Age 'King' [04/30/2016]
• 13th century Mongolian ship Kublai Khan sent to invade Japan found [07/03/2015]
• ‘Hundreds of Millions’ of Asian Men Descended From 11 Dynastic Leaders [03/12/2015]
• Genghis Khan's genetic legacy has competition [01/29/2015]
• Crowdsourcing used in Genghis Khan tomb search [01/10/2015]
• Global Warming and the Rise of the Mongolian Empire [03/12/2014]
• How Climate Change Drove the Rise of Genghis Khan [03/10/2014]
• Yurts: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know But Were Afraid to Ask [06/21/2013]
• Genghis Khan the GREEN: Invader killed so many people that carbon levels plummeted [04/20/2013]
• Genghis Khan Found Guilty (Convicted of Cocaine and Marijuana Possesion) [03/27/2013]
• Genghis Khan the GREEN: Invader killed so many people that carbon levels plummeted [01/15/2013]
• The Hunt for Genghis Khan’s Tomb [12/04/2012]
• Rethinking the Thundering Hordes [05/06/2012]
• Girl Traces US Presidents' Family Tree, All Related But One [04/02/2011]
• Genghis Kahn's Unintended Green Legacy [02/23/2011]
• Carnegie Institution Study: Genocide Reduces Global Warming (All hail to Genghis Khan!) [01/28/2011]
• Genghis Khan--environmentalist (Mass slaughter appears to be an environmental plus) [01/26/2011]
• Was Genghis Khan history's greenest conqueror? (Mongol invasion scrubbed 700 million tons of carbon) [01/25/2011]
• Was Genghis Khan history's greenest conqueror? [01/24/2011]
• Vatican Reveals Secret Archives [01/02/2010]
• Vatican reveals Secret Archives (including letter from Genghis Khan's grandson) [01/02/2010]
• Beneath the ruins of Genghis Khan's capital city in Central Asia, archaeologists discovered artif... [04/10/2009]
• Restoring Order: Conquering Iraq in the 13th and 21st Centuries. Could Genghis Khan teach the US? [03/26/2009]
• Recently Uncovered Skeleton Offers Clues on Chinggis Khaan Era [12/15/2008]
• Mongolian conqueror Genghis Khan banned gay sex, experts say [09/01/2007]
• China claims Genghis Khan as its own [12/29/2006]
• Gengis Khan Basecamp Found In China [12/28/2006]
• Mural Of Genghis Khan's Funeral Found [12/27/2006]
• Celebrating Genghis Khan's Big Year [10/13/2006]
• Keep Genghis Khan off toilet paper: Mongolian lawmaker [10/06/2006]
• Genghis misunderstood [10/03/2006]
• China says Genghis Khan catalyst for Renaissance [07/22/2006]
• Genghis Khan, Law Giver, Free Trader And Diplomat, Is Back With A New Image [07/10/2006]
• Research identifies accountant as descendant of Genghis Khan [05/31/2006]
• How I am related to Genghis Khan [05/29/2006]
• Scientist Discover Most Fertile Irish Male [01/17/2006]
• Sons of Genghis Khan roll out the red carpet for Bush [11/21/2005]
• Y Chromosomes Reveal Founding Father (Giocangga) [10/25/2005]
• FReeper Canteen ~ Conclusion of The Mongols ~ January 11, 2005 [01/10/2005]
• FReeper Canteen ~ Part IX of The Mongols ~ January 4, 2005 [01/03/2005]
• FReeper Canteen ~ Part V of the Mongols ~ December 7, 2004 [12/06/2004]
• Has Genghis' Tomb Been Found? [11/26/2004]
• The Hidden History Of Men (Anthropology) [11/21/2004]
• Archeologists Unearth Remains of Genghis Khan's Palace on Mongolian Steppe [10/06/2004]
• Who is Ghengis Khan? [09/02/2004]
• Genghis Khan's Pen As Mighty As His Sword [08/23/2004]
• Free meal promotion for relatives of Genghis Khan [07/05/2004]
• Genghis Khan: Father To Millions [06/22/2004]
• History rehabilitates the tyrants of old in Central Asia [10/26/2003]
• The Last Great Mystery: The Hunt for Genghis Khan [05/28/2003]
• Ghengis Khan a Prolific Lover, DNA Data Implies [02/15/2003]
• A Prolific Genghis Khan, It Seems, Helped People the World [02/13/2003]
• Genes of history's greatest lover found? [02/07/2003]

[oldvirginian]

Never knew you had such a list of articles on my favorite barbarian.
I watched a documentary once on the mass murderers of history. They ranked them by number of people killed, territory conquered and a long list of things. It seems Ghengis Khan came in low on the list of blood thirsty dictators because if a city/state surrendered he only killed off the ruling class. If they made him assault their city he killed everyone except a handful he pushed towards his next target. Chances were that next target surrendered without a fight.
Interesting fellow.

[Greetings_Puny_Humans]

Now Russia is increasingly looking East, toward an uneasy alliance with an illiberal and much more powerful China, and—in recognition of the country’s increasingly Muslim makeup—with nations such as Turkey and Iran. But even more pronounced is a sentiment that Russia, so unique in its vastness, must remain a world unto itself, a country that should expect kinship from no one.

I don't understand these takes. I imagine it can only come from people who have not been paying attention. There is nothing new whatsoever with Russia's alliance with Iran and China. Russia has been setting the stage for a nuclear Iran for a very long time. The same for North Korea.

Although the author is full of shit with reference to Turkey. Turkey is the only country to shoot down a Russian jet for crossing into its airspace.

[dfwgator]

Turkey wants Russia out of the way so it can rebuild the Ottoman Empire.

[SunkenCiv]

Interesting is one way to put it. :^)