Began Great Course, cursory exploration of Russia
Before Russia existed, as far as we know, there were people known as the Eastern Slavs (9th century) in the territory of what is now Central Russia. They had a trade network between Scandinavia and the Byzantine. Vikings became interested and trade became challenging.
They had a need for security, and the earliest settlements acquired this security through, so they turned to the Rus for help. In exchange for protection and order, the Slavs offered the Rus land and rulership. Kievan Rus’ was born.
Great Steppe is a geographical are without mountains or waterways – they are flatlands that dominate the Eurasian region.
Russian identity – traditional and instinctive security