In this episode of A Brief History of Russia, David Clark tackles a compelling question: What does it mean when we say Russia carries "Mongol genes"? It’s not just about bloodlines—though many Russians (including figures like Lenin, Dostoevsky, and Mendeleev) have Mongol ancestry, and Tatars (descendants of the Mongol world) are Russia’s second-largest ethnic group. Instead, the focus is on the deeper, lasting impact of over 200 years of Mongol rule on Russia’s political DNA, mindset, and governing logic.