Why Is Moscow So Weird?
3 days ago
- #Geopolitics
- #Russian History
- #Urban Development
- Moscow's strategic location as Russia's capital is due to its position between the northern cold and southern steppe hordes, making it defensible yet agriculturally viable.
- The city's defenses were bolstered by natural barriers like the Moskva River and constructed fortifications, including the Great Abatis Line, to deter nomadic raids.
- Russia's expansion was driven by the fur trade in the north and east, where competition was minimal, unlike the heavily contested Baltic and Black Sea regions.
- Moscow's growth was supported by its control over the Volga River Basin, which provided access to trade routes and resources, while avoiding direct conflict with powerful European states.
- The historical threat of steppe nomads, such as the Crimean Khanate, shaped Russia's military and societal structures, including the origins of serfdom.
- Moscow's location allowed it to become a political and economic hub, attracting people from across the expanding Russian Empire.
- Future challenges for Russia include managing its vast Siberian territories and potential geopolitical tensions with neighboring powers like China.