Russia and the Golden Horde: The Mongol Impact on Medieval Russian History [Paperback]

Charles Halperin (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0253204453 | ISBN-13: 978-0253204455 | Publication Date: July 22, 1987

"... an imaginative and dispassionate re-examination of the significance of the Mongol Conquest and its aftermath for Russia's historical development." —Slavic Review

"On all counts Russia and the Golden Horde infuses the subject with fresh insights and interpretations." —History

"Combining rigorous analysis of the major scholarly findings with his own research, Halperin has produced both a much-needed synthesis and an important original work." —Library Journal

"Halperin's new book combines sound scholarship and a flair for storytelling that should help publicize this all too unfamiliar tale in the West." —Virginia Quarterly Review

"It is a seminal work that will be repeatedly cited in the future... " —The Historian

"... ingenious and highly articulate... " —Russian Review

Editorial Reviews

Review

" ... An imaginative and dispassionate re-examination of the significance of the Mongol Conquest and its aftermath for Russia's historical development." oSlavic Review "On all counts Russia and the Golden Horde infuses the subject with fresh insights and interpretations." oHistory "Combining rigorous analysis of the major scholarly findings with his own research, Halperin has produced both a much-needed synthesis and an important original work." oLibrary Journal "Halperin's new book combines sound scholarship and a flair for storytelling that should help publicize this all too unfamiliar tale in the West." oVirginia Quarterly Review "It is a seminal work that will be repeatedly cited in the future ... " oThe Historian " ... Ingenious and highly articulate ... " oRussian Review

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Indiana University Press (July 22, 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0253204453
• ISBN-13: 978-0253204455
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #397,467 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Scholarly, detailed, objective, September 19, 1997

By 

[e-mail] (Gaithersburg, MD) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Russia and the Golden Horde: The Mongol Impact on Medieval Russian History (Paperback)

Not a quick read, this book will probably tell you lots more than you wanted to know if you have just a casual interest in the subject. That aside, it covers its subject thoroughly. Analyzing word etymology, documents, and institutions, Halperin shows that the Russians borrowed quite a bit from the Mongols -- and that the 300-year "Tatar Yoke" was far from being a dark age for Russia. One thing that particularly grabbed me: Halperin indicates that pre-conquest Russian scribes attributed nomad raids to punishments from God. So, how did the scribes handle the situation after the conquest, when Christians were under the domination of infidels? By denying the conquest had occurred!

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Poor Introduction to the Subject, January 29, 2009

By 

HistoryGradStudent (Whittier, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Russia and the Golden Horde: The Mongol Impact on Medieval Russian History (Paperback)

What was the impact of the Mongol invasion on Russia? That is the subject of this book. Historians have attempted to answer this question for centuries, and the historiography of the Golden Horde has always been a mixed bag positions. Charles Halperin's belief that an "ideology of silence" limited the impact of the Golden Horde leaves the reader confused as to whether or not Halperin believes that the Mongols had an impact on Russia.

The confusion is a result of Halperin's "defensive" tone throughout the book. Halperin is definitely a revisionist historian whose thesis rubbed off many entrenched Russian historians the wrong way. Halperin's book spends far too much time attempting to discredit previous historical interpretations that have been tested through time. Indeed, the book seems like a long list of historiographical axes to grind.

Furthermore, Halperin's inability to present evidence that suggests that Orthodox Christians had an ideology of silence does not help prove his argument. The lack of primary sources-due to the destruction of limited Mongol writings, as well as the limited written texts of Golden Horde Russia-is not really taken into consideration as to Halperin's argument. Therefore, Halperin's arguments are a variety of "maybe" or "could have" happened events, rather than strong documented interpretations. Halperin himself, despite knowing the limitations of the written record, still encourages readers to "read between the lines" in order to support his argument. However, nowhere does any Russian document state or infer that writers of Russia were in an unified effort of ideological silence. Halperin would want us to assume that each writer of the time was on the same ideological position as the other without ever writing, mentioning or recording it! There is no evidence to support this or Halperin's argument.

Unfortunately, while I don't agree with Halperin's arguments, the book is still used in Universities to introduce students to the Russia and The Golden Horde. In a sense that is the only positive of this book. The historiographical lists throughout the book, and the axes Halperin wants to grind, help provide some knowledge into Mongol Ruled Russia. I would advise that further reading be done to fully appreciate the era, and to make a judgment on Halperin yourselves.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Nice try, but no cigar, October 27, 2008

By 

Benjamin Trovato (Alexandria, VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Russia and the Golden Horde: The Mongol Impact on Medieval Russian History (Paperback)

There is little here that is not found in more general histories. He thinks that Russian historians have underestimated the Mongol impact on Russia, so specialists may want to check his interpretation. It can be read as a history of the period, but most general histories will work about as well.