Konstantin Sheiko Libri

This astonishing book explores the delusional imaginings of Russia`s past by the pseudo-scientific `Alternative History´ movement. Despite the chaotic collapse of two empires in the last century, Russia`s glorious imperial past continues to inspire millions. The lively movement of `Alternative History´, diligently re-writing Russia`s past and `rediscovering´ its hidden greatness, has been growing dramatically since the collapse of Communism in 1991. Virtually unknown in the West, these pseudo-historians have published best-selling books, attracted widespread media attention, and are a prominent voice in Internet discussions about Russian and world history. Alternative History claims that Russia is much older than Ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome; that the medieval Mongol Empire was in fact a Slav-Turk world empire; and that, in the twentieth century, duplicitous foreign powers stabbed Russia in the back and stole its empire. For its followers the key to Russia`s greatness in the future lies in ensuring that Russians understand the true wealth of their past. Alternative history has become a popular therapy for Russians still coming to terms with the reality of Post-Soviet life. It is one of the forces shaping a new Russian nationalism and an important factor in the geopolitics of the twenty-first century.

Anatolii Fomenko, a prominent Russian mathematician and popular history writer, is the founder of the New Chronology school, part of a surge of alternative historical narratives emerging in post-Soviet Russia. His controversial assertions include claims that the Old Testament was written after the New Testament, that Russia predates Greece and Rome, and that the medieval Mongol Empire was actually a Slav-Turk world empire, a Russian Horde that received tribute from Western and Eastern powers. While mainstream historians often label Fomenko as a dangerous ethno-nationalist or a post-modern clown, his works consistently outperform those of traditional historians in sales. Just as Putin has rekindled faith in Russia's future, Fomenko and a cohort of alternative historians aim to instill pride in Russia's past. For Fomenko, understanding this past is crucial for Russia's future greatness. He builds on existing Russian identity notions, emphasizing the virtues of empire and Russia's unique mission. His ideas draw from historical attempts to shape Russian identity, including Slavophilism, Stalinism, and Eurasianism. Despite their fantastical nature, Fomenko's pseudo-historical narratives resonate with many Russian readers, who view them as equally valid as the distortions of Communist propagandists, Tsarist historians, and church chroniclers.