Comments by "Tadas Blindavicius" (@tadasblindavicius8889) on "Understanding the Russian mindset" video.

  1. (Rerum Moscoviticarum Commentarii), "Notes on the Moscovites", also known as the "Notes on Russia", has been universally acknowledged as the most important historical and ethnographical work on early 16th c. Russia. It is an account by the German aristocrat Baron Sigismund von Herberstein (1486-1566) of his two diplomatic missions to Russia. He was sent to Russia by the Austrian Habsburg Emperor Maximilian I, in 1517, and in 1526, to negotiate a peace settlement between Grand duke of Lithuania and King of Poland Sigismund I (1467-1548) and the Russian Tsar, Vasily III (1479-1533). Prior to Herberstein's missions, the West was virtually ignorant of Muscovy's geography, history, and customs. Russia had lain buried from Western eyes for a quarter of a Millennium under the 'Mongol Yoke' (1237-1480) and contacts with the West during that time were severed. This resulted in a society largely unknown to the rest of Europe and believed to be a strange land of exotic beasts and barbaric men. Herberstein wrote: "I was shocked by the Russians’ apparent love of their enslavement and their submission to it. Even the mightiest Boyars viewed themselves as the Grand Prince’s slaves. His gentle but poignant humour often seeps into the narrative. For example, he mentions the custom of the Grand Prince to send a loaf or piece of bread to a select few during a meal as an indication of special favour. Herberstein observes that the bread was baked in the shape of a horse-collar and that those who enjoyed it “have earned it by heavy toil and hard service.” "This bizarre love of submissiveness extended into family life. A wife would feel neglected and unloved unless her husband occasionally beat her. The same 'preferential treatment' extended to the servants: “they think their master does not love them if they go unthrashed."
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  2. "The Slave Soul of Russia: Moral Masochism and the Cult of Suffering", by Daniel Rancour-Laferriere, American historian. This book explores a little-remarked-upon but essential part of the Russian character and historical depth. It is among the most interesting and illuminating books available on Russia and Russians. Dostoevsky’s books are filled with aggression and suffering, and now we can understand their essence – Dostoevsky described the Russian genetic code. I would recommend this book for anyone studying Russian history, politics, psychology or literature. Anyone dealing with Russians in practical matters (e.g. business or other negotiations) will also benefit from it. This book is a must-read for all, especially for politicians. Here is a compelling portrait of the Russian people's psychology. "The Slave Soul of Russia: Moral Masochism and the Cult of Suffering", by Daniel Rancour-Laferriere, American historian. Available on Amazon.
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  3.  @mixerD1-  Whoever it was written by it is true. Lots of writers wrote about it in the past. Lev Tolstoy wrote about Russian slave mentality a lot.
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