Golden Horde

In this episode, we explore the Golden Horde, the Mongol-Turkic khanate that ruled across the Eurasian steppe from Eastern Europe to Siberia between the 13th and 16th centuries. The episode traces its origins as the northwestern branch of the Mongol Empire, its rise into an independent power, and its Golden Age of military strength, trade, tribute collection, and Islamic cultural influence. We also examine how the Horde governed Russian principalities, managed relations with the Orthodox Church, and shaped the political development of the region. Finally, the episode looks at the effects of internal conflict, the Black Death, and fragmentation into smaller khanates, showing how the decline of the Golden Horde opened the way for Moscow’s rise and left a lasting cultural and genetic imprint on the peoples of the Eurasian steppe.