Natasha's Dance (179 page)

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Authors: Orlando Figes

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Scratching the surface of Komi life Kandinsky had revealed its Asian origins. For centuri
5
6
Kalevala,
7
kantele
Kalevala
kantele,
gusli,
8
Kandinsky’s exploration of the Komi region was not just a scientific quest. It was a per
Kandinsky’s exploration of the Komi region was not just a scientific quest. It was a per
Kandinsky’s exploration of the Komi region was not just a scientific quest. It was a per
proud of his Mongol looks and he liked to boast that he was a descendant of the seventeenth
proud of his Mongol looks and he liked to boast that he was a descendant of the seventeenth
proud of his Mongol looks and he liked to boast that he was a descendant of the seventeenth
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Many Russian families had Mongol origins. ‘Scratch a Russian and you will find a Tatar,’ N
Many Russian families had Mongol origins. ‘Scratch a Russian and you will find a Tatar,’ N
Many Russian families had Mongol origins. ‘Scratch a Russian and you will find a Tatar,’ N
(qutuz
* The name Turgenev derives from the Mongol word for ‘swift’ (tiirgen); Bulgakov from the
* The name Turgenev derives from the Mongol word for ‘swift’ (tiirgen); Bulgakov from the
* The name Turgenev derives from the Mongol word for ‘swift’ (tiirgen); Bulgakov from the
(tiirgen);
(bulgaq);
godon
qorsaq,
Hope Abandoned
22. (opposite) Vastly Kandinsky: sketches of buildings in the Komi region, including a ch
22. (opposite) Vastly Kandinsky: sketches of buildings in the Komi region, including a ch
22. (opposite) Vastly Kandinsky: sketches of buildings in the Komi region, including a ch
Vastly Kandinsky: sketches of buildings in the Komi region, including a church with a Mong
Diary of 1889
Diary of 1889
Diary of 1889
Diary of 1889
stuff. Families of mixed Slav and Tatar ancestry made up a third category. Among these we
stuff. Families of mixed Slav and Tatar ancestry made up a third category. Among these we
stuff. Families of mixed Slav and Tatar ancestry made up a third category. Among these we
gogul-a
aqsaq,
10
Adopting Turkic names became the height of fashion at the court of Moscow between the fif
Adopting Turkic names became the height of fashion at the court of Moscow between the fif
Adopting Turkic names became the height of fashion at the court of Moscow between the fif
11
After Kandinsky had returned from the Komi region he gave a lecture on the findings of his
After Kandinsky had returned from the Komi region he gave a lecture on the findings of his
After Kandinsky had returned from the Komi region he gave a lecture on the findings of his
23. Masked Buriat shaman with drum, drumstick and horse-sticks. Note the iron on his robe. E
23. Masked Buriat shaman with drum, drumstick and horse-sticks. Note the iron on his robe. E
23. Masked Buriat shaman with drum, drumstick and horse-sticks. Note the iron on his robe. E
Masked Buriat shaman with drum, drumstick and horse-sticks. Note the iron on his robe. Early
this time, when the culture of the West was widely seen as spiritually dead and intellec
this time, when the culture of the West was widely seen as spiritually dead and intellec
this time, when the culture of the West was widely seen as spiritually dead and intellec
In its defining myth Russia had evolved as a Christian civilization,
In its defining myth Russia had evolved as a Christian civilization,
In its defining myth Russia had evolved as a Christian civilization,
Its culture was a product of the combined influence of Scandinavia and Byzantium. The n
Its culture was a product of the combined influence of Scandinavia and Byzantium. The n
Its culture was a product of the combined influence of Scandinavia and Byzantium. The n
In the final decades of the nineteenth century, however, cultural attitudes shifted.
In the final decades of the nineteenth century, however, cultural attitudes shifted.
In the final decades of the nineteenth century, however, cultural attitudes shifted.
(byliny),
12
13
14
’evil eye’. Russian peasants from the Petrovsk region of the Middle Volga had a custom rem
’evil eye’. Russian peasants from the Petrovsk region of the Middle Volga had a custom rem
’evil eye’. Russian peasants from the Petrovsk region of the Middle Volga had a custom rem
figurine of the infant and bury it together with the placenta in a coffin
figurine of the infant and bury it together with the placenta in a coffin
figurine of the infant and bury it together with the placenta in a coffin
underneath the family house. This, it was believed, would guarantee a long life for the chil
underneath the family house. This, it was believed, would guarantee a long life for the chil
underneath the family house. This, it was believed, would guarantee a long life for the chil
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about the identity of the Russians. Were they Europeans or Asians? Were they the subjects
about the identity of the Russians. Were they Europeans or Asians? Were they the subjects
about the identity of the Russians. Were they Europeans or Asians? Were they the subjects
2
2
2
2
2
In 1237 a vast army of Mongol horsemen left their grassland bases on the Qipchaq steppe to t
In 1237 a vast army of Mongol horsemen left their grassland bases on the Qipchaq steppe to t
In 1237 a vast army of Mongol horsemen left their grassland bases on the Qipchaq steppe to t
It is hard to overstress the sense of national shame which the ‘Mongol yoke’ evokes in the R
It is hard to overstress the sense of national shame which the ‘Mongol yoke’ evokes in the R
It is hard to overstress the sense of national shame which the ‘Mongol yoke’ evokes in the R
was no great migration by the Russian population from the southern regions closest to
was no great migration by the Russian population from the southern regions closest to
was no great migration by the Russian population from the southern regions closest to
16
According to the national myth, the Mongols came, they terrorized and pillaged, but then th
According to the national myth, the Mongols came, they terrorized and pillaged, but then th
According to the national myth, the Mongols came, they terrorized and pillaged, but then th
Russian Culture,
17
History of the Russian State,
18
History of Russia.
In fact the Mongol tribes were far from backward. If anything, particularly in terms of the
In fact the Mongol tribes were far from backward. If anything, particularly in terms of the
In fact the Mongol tribes were far from backward. If anything, particularly in terms of the
they mastered for so long. The Mongols had a sophisticated system of administration and
they mastered for so long. The Mongols had a sophisticated system of administration and
they mastered for so long. The Mongols had a sophisticated system of administration and
dengi
tamozbna
and kazna (treasury). Archaeological excavations near the Mongol capital of Sarai (n
and kazna (treasury). Archaeological excavations near the Mongol capital of Sarai (n
and kazna (treasury). Archaeological excavations near the Mongol capital of Sarai (n
kazna
settlements with palaces and schools, well laid-out streets and hydraulic systems, craft works
settlements with palaces and schools, well laid-out streets and hydraulic systems, craft works
settlements with palaces and schools, well laid-out streets and hydraulic systems, craft works
without rich pastures or trade routes, the northern forest lands were of little benefit to
without rich pastures or trade routes, the northern forest lands were of little benefit to
without rich pastures or trade routes, the northern forest lands were of little benefit to
The Mongol occupation left a profound mark on the Russian way of life. As Pushkin wrote
The Mongol occupation left a profound mark on the Russian way of life. As Pushkin wrote
The Mongol occupation left a profound mark on the Russian way of life. As Pushkin wrote
Of course the schism separated us from the rest of Europe and we took no part in any of the g
Of course the schism separated us from the rest of Europe and we took no part in any of the g
Of course the schism separated us from the rest of Europe and we took no part in any of the g
1
Pushkin’s willingness to embrace this legacy was exceptional, given the taboo which Asia r
Pushkin’s willingness to embrace this legacy was exceptional, given the taboo which Asia r
Pushkin’s willingness to embrace this legacy was exceptional, given the taboo which Asia r
The Negro
of Peter the Great (1827), and in the opening chapter of Eugene Onegin he appended a long fo
of Peter the Great (1827), and in the opening chapter of Eugene Onegin he appended a long fo
of Peter the Great (1827), and in the opening chapter of Eugene Onegin he appended a long fo
of Peter the Great
Eugene Onegin
20
21
The Asiatic character of Russia’s despotism became a commonplace of the nineteenth-cen
The Asiatic character of Russia’s despotism became a commonplace of the nineteenth-cen
The Asiatic character of Russia’s despotism became a commonplace of the nineteenth-cen
22
As the Golden Horde broke up and the Tsarist state pushed east, many of the Mongols who had s
As the Golden Horde broke up and the Tsarist state pushed east, many of the Mongols who had s
As the Golden Horde broke up and the Tsarist state pushed east, many of the Mongols who had s
court and risen through its ranks to become a retainer of Ivan IV (‘the Terrible’). Ivan set
court and risen through its ranks to become a retainer of Ivan IV (‘the Terrible’). Ivan set
court and risen through its ranks to become a retainer of Ivan IV (‘the Terrible’). Ivan set
boyars’
oprichnina.
23
It was not just Mongol nobles who settled down in Russia. The Mongol invasion involved a h
It was not just Mongol nobles who settled down in Russia. The Mongol invasion involved a h
It was not just Mongol nobles who settled down in Russia. The Mongol invasion involved a h
The Mongol influence went deep into the roots of Russian folk culture. Many of the most b
The Mongol influence went deep into the roots of Russian folk culture. Many of the most b
The Mongol influence went deep into the roots of Russian folk culture. Many of the most b
loshad
bazar
ambar
sunduk
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tration, where the descendants of the Golden Horde dominated. By the fifteenth century th
tration, where the descendants of the Golden Horde dominated. By the fifteenth century th
tration, where the descendants of the Golden Horde dominated. By the fifteenth century th
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‘davai’
davai poidem’
‘ davai posidim’
‘ davai popem’
Russian customs were equally influenced by the Tatar immigration, although this is eas
Russian customs were equally influenced by the Tatar immigration, although this is eas
Russian customs were equally influenced by the Tatar immigration, although this is eas
26
From my place at table I would suddenly see through one of the west windows a marvellous ca
From my place at table I would suddenly see through one of the west windows a marvellous ca
From my place at table I would suddenly see through one of the west windows a marvellous ca
27
There is also reason to suppose that the shamanistic cults of the Mongol tribes were inco
There is also reason to suppose that the shamanistic cults of the Mongol tribes were inco
There is also reason to suppose that the shamanistic cults of the Mongol tribes were inco
Kandinsky and his fellow anthropologists had argued at the end of the nineteenth century
Kandinsky and his fellow anthropologists had argued at the end of the nineteenth century
Kandinsky and his fellow anthropologists had argued at the end of the nineteenth century
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The Holy Fool (yurodivyi) was probably descended from the Asian shamans, too, despite his
The Holy Fool (yurodivyi) was probably descended from the Asian shamans, too, despite his
The Holy Fool (yurodivyi) was probably descended from the Asian shamans, too, despite his
(yurodivyi)
The Tolstoy family retained the services of a Holy Fool at Yasnaya Polyana. In his semi-
The Tolstoy family retained the services of a Holy Fool at Yasnaya Polyana. In his semi-
The Tolstoy family retained the services of a Holy Fool at Yasnaya Polyana. In his semi-
Childhood,

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