00:00 This episode discusses the founding of Russia, the first czars, and features a guest, Seabag Montefiore, who has written extensively about Russian history.

04:40 The story of Russian history begins with Rurik, a semi-legendary Viking who traded and merged with the Slavic people, leading to the establishment of the Rurikid dynasty that ruled Russia until 1598.

09:20 Moscow is founded in 1147 by Yuri Dolgoruki, a Rurikid prince, and becomes the most important principality in Russia, but is later conquered by the Mongols in 1238 and ruled by the Golden Horde for the next 200 years.

14:07 Ivan the Great, a fascinating and ruthless leader, rises to power in Moscow after a traumatic childhood and aims to expand and dominate, positioning himself as the head of the Orthodox Church and the third Rome.

18:36 Ivan the Great marries Sophie Peleologus, the niece of the last emperor of Constantinople, and she becomes influential in improving and rebuilding the Kremlin, bringing Italian craftsmen and architects to Moscow. This marks the rise of Muscovy as a rising power and the expansion of the empire.

23:08 Ivan the Terrible succeeds his father as Grand Prince of Muscovy at the age of three, grows up feeling neglected and disrespected, and develops a sense of ambition and theatricality, leading to his hatred of the powerful Boyar families and his desire to make the empire greater.

27:42 Ivan the Terrible raises an army, creates the first artillery, and conquers the Mongol carnates of Kazan and Astrakhan, massacring everyone there, but also incorporating many Mongols into his court; however, bad things start happening in Moscow, including fires and riots, and when Ivan falls ill and people refuse to swear allegiance to his son, he sees it as a trial of loyalty and begins to distrust everyone, resorting to brutal punishments for disloyal boyars.

32:51 In the 1560s, Ivan the Terrible's wife dies, leading him to distrust everyone and launch the Oprichnina, a state within a state, with an elite group of henchmen called the Oprichniki, who engage in brutal methods of torture and murder to crush disloyalty and traitors.

37:43 In 1570, Ivan the Terrible attacks Novgorod, massacring thousands of people and pushing half the population under the ice, while also facing a threat from the Crimean Tatars who take advantage of the chaos and capture Moscow in 1572, burning the city and enslaving 150,000 people.

42:35 The Strogonov family builds forts and expands into Siberia, hiring Yermak, the Cossack, who defeats the Khan of Siberia and takes over Siberia, leading to the expansion of Muscovy, Russia across Siberia.