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Where did Russia come from? - Alex Gendler

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Russia is the biggest country in the world, spanning one-eighth of the earth’s landmass. But where did it all begin? Alex Gendler explores the epic history of the Kievan Rus, where characters ranging from Viking raiders and Western crusaders to Byzantine missionaries and Mongol hordes all played a role to create a unique civilization standing at the crossroads of culture and geography.


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TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Alex Gendler
  • Director Draško Ivezić
  • Composer Jure Buljević
  • Narrator Addison Anderson
Additional Resources for you to Explore
Interested in learning a bit more about Kievan Rus and East Slavic history? Read a translation of Nestor’s ‘Primary Chronicle’, one of the main sources of East Slavic history, or check out the interactive timeline. Love Crash Course and John Green? Watch as he discusses: Russia, the Kievan Rus, and the Mongols. Watch it and learn more!

To learn more about Kievan Rus life, law, and society, take a look at the legal code known as ‘Russkaya Pravda’ or this description of their trade and crafts. Then, check out this overview of how the Mongol invasion changed Rus society, language and culture. Lastly, read a discussion of how different interpretations of this history persist into modern times.

Customize this lesson

Create and share a new lesson based on this one.

About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Alex Gendler
  • Director Draško Ivezić
  • Composer Jure Buljević
  • Narrator Addison Anderson

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