Why are events of a thousand years ago so bitterly contested in the present? Why is early Rus a factor in current events?
Both in Ukraine and in Russia, stories of historical, cultural and national identity begin in early Rus. It, too, is disputed territory. Rus figures in the speeches both of Volodymyr Zelensky and of Vladimir Putin. There are massive monuments to Prince Volodymyr/Vladimir both in Kyiv and in Moscow.
This illustrated talk by Professor Simon Franklin explores the relationships between the history and the ideologies. Stripping away the polemical myths, it introduces Rus itself, before exploring what lies behind the conflicting modern claims to ownership of the remote past.
With the purchase of an online ticket, you will be able to watch the event live or access the recording on-demand afterwards.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Simon Franklin is emeritus professor of Slavonic Studies at the University of Cambridge. He is a leading authority on early Rus history and culture, author of several books on the subject. He is also a Trustee, and former Chair, of Pushkin House.