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Russians have long questioned their relationship to the West: whether they are European or something intrinsically different. This dilemma arises from thirteenth century Mongolian invasion of early Rus. Accordingly, the conquerors brought with them lasting and temporary changes to the lives of the early Rus people.

The Mongol invasion had various effects on the emerging Russian empire; the effects were both good and bad. However, historians have argued over the extreme stances that either the “Mongol Yoke” was completely detrimental to the rise of the Russian empire, or that it was helpful in ways, such as it regimented a fragmented region into a united force (Marlies). Conventional narrative has supported this approach, and traditionally, Russian scholars have related the “Tartar Yoke” to the “Dark Ages” in Europe (Marlies); they often use the invasion as a way to explain the early Russian technological and economic inferiority to Europe, and it also results in alienating the current Tartar populations of Russia.

Many Western scholars have taken a different approach and supported the review that the Mongol influence may have had a positive or “civilizing” effect on the Russian culture and highlight Mongol’s policy of relegating control to Russian elite over the population instead of installing Mongolian leaders (Marlies). Furthermore, these historians delineate that the Mongols mainly sought financial gain from their conquered territories. The Mongols installed a head tax, which was alien to the Russian people. Instead of removing the local authorities, the Mongols let the Russian principalities retain their leaders. However, instead of serving themselves, the dukes and princes served the Khan of the Golden Horde. By collectin...

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...ories considered themselves superior to ethnic Russians, the Soviets also considered their way of life and themselves to be superior to the culture and people of Eastern Russia (Beatrice). Furthermore, the push toward Russification also united the Central Asians thorough their remembrance of their historical past. Tajiks and Uzbeks remembered that they had lived close to each other and shared the educated classes, while Uzbeks and Kazakhs remembered their historical and linguistic bonds. The rift caused by the permeation and the subsequent reversion of Mongolian influence has been remembered by Russians and even used by the Russian elite to scapegoat as a reason for the delayed Russian Renaissance. However, by remembering the influence, the Central Asians have been continuingly reminded of their history that defines their distinct identities, even today (Beatrice).