Description
By Patrick Chouinard
Imagine yourself transported to a mesmerizing realm where the old Slavic gods, cultures and racial fabric interweave with Russia and Eastern Europe’s rich medieval and ancient Paleolithic and Neolithic people. In A Short History of the Slavic Race, you’ll also discover the illuminating traditions, myths and beliefs of the Slavic peoples who lived in the territory that today includes the vast forest-covered terrain of Russia and across the broad plains of Central Europe. For millennia, the Slavic peoples revered a pantheon of gods representing the elements, fertility, conflict and fate. Thus this pagan religion profoundly impacted their lives as they endeavored to comprehend and placate them through ceremonies, melodies and stories. These efforts are demonstrably shown in their finely crafted grave goods and the expanding archeological record. This primer, however, is more than a collection of folktales and myths. It also sheds light on the rich and varied Bronze Age and Iron Age cultures of medieval and ancient Russia and Eastern Europe. We follow the growth and decline of the great Kievan and Novgorod empires of the past, the collision of cultures, and the lasting influences that still permeate the area today. Eastern Europe and Russia’s social, political and cultural landscapes were shaped by the interactions and struggles of various peoples, including Slavs, Balts and Finno-Ugric tribes, among others, and we explore the depths of their history, as well. We also delve into the lasting effects of the Mongol conquests, the impact of Byzantine Christianity and the development of powerful medieval kingdoms. —PATRICK CHOUINARD
