Movie Theater Timothy Snyder: The Making of Modern Ukraine

[steve podleski]

For those interested in a fascinating history of Ukraine which includes the Iranic tribes (Scythians), Greek, Jewish, Rus Vikings, Turkic tribes, Mongols, Lithuanians, Poles, Cossack, and Russian contributions to the resident slavic people; given in a series of 12 hour-long lectures.

 

[steve podleski]

Interesting fun fact: Way back when before Christianity, Slav pagan religion requires the cremation of the dead. If a dead male is not cremated he will return as a vampire. Once the Slavs aristocracy was converted by Christianity, the dead had to be buried and not cremated according to Christian religion but many slav recent converts still held to some of pagan beliefs so to make sure the dead did not rise as vampires, a stake was driven into their hearts. This is the genesis of the vampire lore.