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Oct 2024
1h 13m

Explaining 17th Century Eastern Europe

Turpentine
About this episode

In this episode of History 102, 'WhatIfAltHist' creator Rudyard Lynch and Erik Torenberg dive deep into the fascinating yet often overlooked realm of 17th century Eastern Europe.


Join Rudyard and Erik as they bring this pivotal era to life: unravel the rise and fall of Poland-Lithuania, Russia's emergence as a great power, and Sweden's surprising dominance, and discover how Cossacks, Ottoman Turks, and visionary leaders shaped the region's destiny.


With a blend of scholarly insight and engaging storytelling, Rudyard uncovers the absurdities, triumphs, and tragedies that defined this transformative century


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FOLLOW ON X:

@whatifalthist (Rudyard)

@eriktorenberg (Erik)

@SamoBurja (Samo)

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HIGHLIGHTS:

Rudyard's Personal Connection to 17th Century Eastern Europe

The Three Great Frontiers of Western Civilization

Eastern Europe as a Frontier

Serfdom and the Role of the Church in Eastern Europe

The Time of Troubles in Russia

The Rise and Fall of Poland-Lithuania

The Cossacks and the Deluge

The Rise of the Romanovs and the Conquest of Siberia

Sweden and the Rise of Gustavus Adolphus

The Turkish Empire and the Siege of Vienna

The Khanate of Crimea and the Saratov Line

Peter the Great, Charles XII, and the Great Northern War


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BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS:

"Europe's Steppe Frontier: 1500-1800" by William H. McNeill

"The Rise of the West" by William H. McNeill

"Poland: A History" by Adam Zamoyski

"Russia: A History" by Olli Vares

"The Age of Reason Begins" by Will Durant

"The Age of Louis XIV" by Will Durant

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