The Horde's Silver: How Mongol Currency Reshaped Medieval Russia

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the economic legacy of the Golden Horde in medieval Russia, focusing on the introduction of the silver som and the tanga system. They discuss how Mongol taxation demanded payment in silver, forcing Russian principalities to develop mining and trade networks. The episode traces the flow of silver from Central Asian mines like those at Tashkent and Kulja through Sarai to Novgorod and Moscow, and how this currency underpinned the rise of Moscow's power. It also covers the spread of Mongol administrative terms into Russian, such as 'tamga' (customs duty) and 'altyn' (a coin). Lucas explains the role of the Horde's monetary reform under Khan Janibeg and how the resulting silver famine after the Horde's decline contributed to the economic crises of the 15th century. The conversation touches on the archeological evidence of Mongol coins in Russian hoards and the shift to Moscow's own coinage under Dmitry Donskoy. This episode offers a fresh look at how economic integration under the Horde shaped Russian state formation. #GoldenHorde #MongolCurrency #SilverSom #Tanga #MedievalRussia #Sarai #JanibegKhan #Novgorod #MoscowCoinage #Tamga #Altyn #EconomicHistory #MongolAdministration #SilverFamine #Numismatics #History #FexingoHistory #CentralAsia #MongolEmpire #BatuKhan Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo