History of Russia Part 1 | Epic History Reaction

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Welcome to my history reaction channel. Today we kick off a 5-part deep dive into Epic History's masterpiece on Russia, with part 1 starting from the Varangians and Kievan Rus to the brink of the Romanov era.

The original video is linked below—please show Epic History some love!

What we cover in this episode:
Varangian debate: Were they Scandinavian, Finnic, or broader Germanic? What the Primary Chronicle (Nestor) really says.
Vladimir’s conversion: politics, faith, and Byzantine ties (Hagia Sophia, royal intermarriage).
“Third Rome” idea after Constantinople falls.
Mongol invasion / Golden Horde: why Novgorod & Moscow survived and rose.
Alexander Nevsky & the “Battle on the Ice”—what likely did (and didn’t) happen.
Ivan III (the Great), Vasili III, Ivan IV (Grozny ≠ “Terrible”)—context, reforms, Siberian push, Arkhangelsk.
Time of Troubles: Boris Godunov, famine, False Dmitris, Polish & Swedish occupations, and how Minin & Pozharsky saved the state and inspired National Unity Day.

Chapters (approx):
00:00 Intro & why Russian history
03:00 Steppes, Scythians, Slavs
06:10 Varangians & the Primary Chronicle
09:45 Novgorod, Kiev, Kievan Rus
14:30 Vladimir & Orthodoxy
18:00 Mongol conquest / Tatar Yoke
20:40 Alexander Nevsky & the crusades
24:30 Moscow ascendant / Third Rome
27:00 Ivan IV (Grozny) in context
33:00 Arkhangelsk & Siberia
34:30 Time of Troubles to Romanov doorstep

If you’d like a full compilation later, let me know in the comments and if enough people want the full thing beginning-to-end, I’ll make it happen!

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Original video:    • History of Russia - Rurik to Revolution