Playground of the Autocrats Triptych 1: The Most Exposed Terrain on Earth . 24" x 48"
For an introduction to this topic, see What is Playground of the Autocrats?
I named my series of triptychs Playground of the Autocrats in part because a playground is typically flat. Sure, there are vertical structures built on it. But the ground itself is usually flat, providing unhindered opportunity to play.
The foundation of Russian society was literally its ground: the endless, flat Russian steppes. We often don’t give enough consideration to the ways in which different landscapes can shape the societies that live on them. We’re all aware that given natural resources are available only in particular geographic areas. Given crops can grow only in certain latitudes. Rivers facilitate travel. Coastlines and good harbors present opportunities that don’t exist for landlocked countries.
Beyond that, though, the very shape of the landscape can have a profound impact on how people live on it. We see this most easily in extreme landscapes. In the eons before motorized transportation, extremely rugged mountains often produced uncohesive social systems made up of very independent subunits. When it’s hard to get to the neighboring village because there are steep ravines and cliffs between you, there will be less communication and joint activity than if the intervening ground were flat.
Mountains also form barriers that protect against enemies. For most of human history – before we had motorized vehicles and airplanes – a high mountain chain made it very hard to get your army up and over to attack people on the other side. Even today, we see the impact of rugged terrain in Afghanistan: it has defeated many modern foreign armies that have sought to control it.
Throughout history, armies have chosen the highest points in the landscape for their forts and castles. Think the ubiquitous Italian hilltop castles. Think Masada. Think Dracula’s Bram Castle.
In the millenia before airplanes, the highest point in a landscape enabled inhabitants to see the approach of invaders from far off. The enemy would have a hard time trying to climb up a cliff to attack people ensconced above. Heights gave gravitational advantage to the residents whose arrows and hot oil could gather momentum falling downward, while the enemies’ arrows had to fight gravity on their way up.
At the other extreme, what about countries where the land is completely flat? What if you had no mountains forming a protective barrier around your country? What if there were no high cliffs to build your forts atop? In those cases, the inhabitants had to devote great energy and resources to coming up with other means of defense.
Of course there have been many castles and forts built all over the world on level ground when there was no other choice. This high-ground thing is a matter of degree, not absolutes. But in general terms, a vast, flat landscape was harder to defend than a mountainous one.
And if we look at relief maps of the world, we can easily see that Russia encompasses by far the largest flat expanse on earth: 3500 miles of open land.
In case you doubt this particular relief portrayal, here’s a different one:
And another:
Westerners often mistakenly think the Urals formed a barrier protecting European Russia. But in fact the Urals are for the most part low and easily-traversed. In addition, their southern end peters out in the open steppes: it’s easy to enter European Russia via the steppes at the southern end.
I believe that the openness of Russia’s terrain has had a profound impact on its development of a highly centralized state, beginning with the traumatic 13th century Mongol invasion and centuries-long occupation. I’ll talk more about the reasons why in another post.
[…] find War and Tragedy in my first triptych, The Most Exposed Terrain on Earth. The second triptych, Home Security at Any Crazy Price, features Terror and Manipulation. In […]
[…] if we lived in a land so vulnerable that we had a 9/11 every year for over five […]
[…] is by far the largest wide-open plain on earth. Glance at the world maps toward the end of this post if you have any doubts. No mountain barrier protected the Russians. For their state to survive, […]
[…] Russia’s government and society was its southern frontier. This frontier was perhaps unique in all the world in its vast size, combined with its nomadic Tatar inhabitants who lived largely by raiding and […]
Proxy Store
I found a great…
Facebook Proxy
I found a great…
BEST PRIVATE PROXIES – Top level top quality, Limitless data transfer useage, 1000 mb/s superspeed, 99,9 uptime, No step by step IP’s, Absolutely no application standards, Numerous subnets, USA or The european union proxies – Purchase At this point – https://DreamProxies.com
In the grand pattern of things you actually secure a B+ for hard work. Where exactly you confused me ended up being on the particulars. You know, as the maxim goes, the devil is in the details… And that couldn’t be much more correct here. Having said that, let me inform you what exactly did deliver the results. Your writing is actually pretty powerful and this is probably why I am taking the effort in order to opine. I do not really make it a regular habit of doing that. Second, despite the fact that I can certainly see a leaps in reason you make, I am not really sure of just how you appear to unite your details which in turn make the actual final result. For right now I will, no doubt subscribe to your issue but wish in the foreseeable future you connect your facts better.
Shared Proxy
I found a great…
Some recreational drugs called poppers also contain nitrates, such as amyl nitrite and butyl nitrite cialis price
Free spins on deposit, penn gaming online crypto gambling – how to increase gambling skill in san andreas.
Mega hit poker update, karl stark poker – grosvenor live casino.
Coin master free spins hack 2022, just click the next website – pace 5 cent slot machine.
Queens nights slot machines, suggested studying – pacanele slots online.
Tips for winning on the pokies, just click the next webpage – investment poker meaning.
Top poker real money sites, click the next internet page – intervention for gambling.
Illegal gambling usa, linked site – win casino money.
Spirit winds casino, see this website – silver slipper casino waveland ms.
Best slots lake charles, additional resources – age of caesar slot strategy tips and tricks.
Casinos near dallas, his comment is here – 1001 great gambling tips.
Is gambling illegal in many states, full survey – return of kong casino.
All slots bonus code, full write-up – the princess bride slot machine.
I came to this site with the introduction of a friend around me and I was very impressed when I found your writing. I’ll come back often after bookmarking!
OKBet
There exists a dude trying to get elected to Congress in Cali named Joe E Collins 3 that desires to give a 25 to enhance in compensation for teachers and correct our education and learning system! Our primary or secondary schools are overfull, our school staff are burnt out, and our children are falling far. Joe E Collins 3 Education and learning program claims it’s supposed to finance to rebuild our primary or secondary schools, cut class sizes, boost backing for special education courses and Not any of these other regretful politicians have blueprints to facilitate our teenagers, we need to give this person a opportunity! His site is https://joecollinsforcongress.com CHECK HIM OUT!
Your explanation is organized very easy to understand!!! I understood at once. Could you please post about casino online ?? Please!!
buy levofloxacin generic purchase levofloxacin without prescription
This was super awesome to read. Thanks for creating it. You made a long-term reader and I’ll return to see more. Thanks for sharing.
Hi my friend! I want to say that this article is awesome, great written and come with approximately all significant infos. I would like to look more posts like this.
These are really wonderful ideas in on the topic of blogging.You have touched some nice things here. Any waykeep up wrinting.
That is a good tip particularly to those new to the blogosphere.Simple but very precise information… Appreciate your sharing this one.A must read post!
It’s nearly impossible to find knowledgeable people on this topic, however, you seem like you know what you’re talking about! Thanks
Im grateful for the blog.Much thanks again. Cool.
I do accept as true with all the ideas you’ve presented in your post.They are very convincing and can definitely work. Still, the posts are very short for novices.May you please extend them a little from subsequent time?Thank you for the post.
Awesome article.Much thanks again. Really Great.
Major thankies for the blog.Really thank you! Great.
afyon hava durumu; afyon için hava durumu en güncel saatlik, günlük ve aylık tahminler.
Very efficiently written story. It will be helpful to anyone who employess it, including myself. Keep doing what you are doing – for sure i will check out more posts.
I appreciate you sharing this blog post.Really looking forward to read more. Fantastic.
Tremendous things here. I am very glad tosee your post. Thanks so much and I’m having alook ahead to contact you. Will you please drop me a mail?Review my blog post :: 1 ace333
I really liked your post.Really looking forward to read more. Awesome.
You’ve made your point pretty clearly!!writing the personal essay research paper professional writing services rates
Very neat blog post.Thanks Again. Really Cool.
Good article and straight to the point. I am not sure if this is really the best place to ask but do you guys have any ideea where to get some professional writers? Thank you 🙂
Im obliged for the post.Really thank you! Much obliged.
I will immediately grasp your rss as I can’t in findingyour email subscription link or newsletter service.Do you have any? Please allow me recognize so that I could subscribe.Thanks.
Im grateful for the blog post. Fantastic.
When I originally commented I clicked the « Notify me when new comments are added » checkbox and now each time a comment is added I get three e-mails with the same comment. Is there any way you can remove people from that service? Many thanks!
Thanks-a-mundo for the blog. Fantastic.
This is my first time visit at here and i am genuinely happy to read all atsingle place.
Im not certain where you are getting your information, but great topic. I must spend a while finding out more or understanding more. Thanks for magnificent information I used to be looking for this information for my mission.