Critique of Normanist theory
Here's a very good critique of the infamous "Normanist theory" about the origins of Kievan Rus. To those who don't know, the "Normanist theory" contends that Kievan Rus was founded by Vikings as opposed to the native Slavic population. This is the common view held by Western historians. Yet early in the 20th century, the Ukrainian historian and nationalist leader Mykhailo Hrushevsky exposed this theory in his 10-volume work The History of Ukraine-Rus. Hrushevsky contends that the very documents pro-Normanists rely on were written several centuries after the fact. Orest Subtelny also exposed many Normanist arguments in his monumental Ukraine: A History, contending that archeological evidence shows that the Viking presence and influence in Kiev was very minimal.
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