In this episode of A Brief History of Russia, David Clark reveals a surprising truth: Russia’s real origin isn’t the once-glorious Kievan Rus, but the humble Grand Duchy of Moscow. Follow Moscow’s epic rise — from a bottom-ranked principality under Mongol rule to the powerful Tsardom that laid the groundwork for a Eurasian empire, spanning six pivotal centuries.

Why did this unremarkable state outshine rivals like Novgorod? The story starts with Ivan I, a ruler often overlooked yet critical to Moscow’s fate....