Is Russia European or Asian?
俄羅斯如今由強人普京大帝執政掌權,企圖東山再起,建立新的俄羅斯聯邦帝國,搞成蘇聯共產黨的進化2.0版的新共產世界?
如果彼得大帝在天之靈有知,俄羅斯後繼有人,就會復活,重出江湖,爭服歐洲一統江山?
俄羅斯帝國橫跨歐洲大陸與亞洲大陸是各名副其實的歐亞大帝國.俄羅斯國土覆蓋整個亞洲北部及東歐大部，橫跨11個時區，涵蓋廣泛的環境和地形。
俄羅斯歷史始於歐洲的東斯拉夫民族，聚集區域自公元3世紀至8世紀逐漸擴大。
在9世紀，源自北歐的瓦良格人武士精英建立了基輔羅斯這個中世紀國家並開始統治。公元988年，國家從拜占庭帝國採納了東正教會，隨後由此開始，千年拜占庭與斯拉夫文化的融合成為了今日的俄羅斯文化]。
基輔羅斯最終解散分化為眾多公國，被蒙古人逐一擊破，並均在13世紀成為了金帳汗國的一部份。
莫斯科大公自14世紀起逐漸崛起並統一周邊俄羅斯諸侯國，在15世紀成功從金帳汗國獨立，且成為了基輔羅斯文化和政治的繼承者。
在18世紀，俄羅斯沙皇國通過征服、吞併和探索而擴張。彼德一世稱帝成立了俄羅斯帝國，最終成為史上領土第三大帝國，疆域最大曾自中歐的波蘭連綿至北美的阿拉斯加。
俄羅斯帝國：Россійская Имперія；俄語：Российская империя），亦簡稱為沙皇俄國、沙俄、帝俄或俄國，是1721年彼得大帝加冕為皇帝起至1917年尼古拉二世退位為止的俄羅斯，
她們的國徽雙頭鷹,東張西望的告訴世人,俄羅斯是一個偉大的歐亞大帝國.
俄羅斯大地國東西直線距離約為7500公里,南北直線距離約為2000公里,.其人民種族多樣化,雖然在舊制沙皇尼古拉時代,因皇權主管俄羅斯全境以斯拉夫民族為主幹.
It’s a tricky question, with 77 percent of the country located in Asia while the vast majority of the population lives in the European portion. Russians themselves argue about where they belong; some claim they have a very special identity which is non-European, non-Asian – but rather a specific mix.
Russia certainly doesn’t lack monuments marking the border between Europe and Asia. There are around 50 of them and some can be misleading. For example, a famous “Europe – Asia” obelisk in Orenburg (1400 km east of Moscow) was built on the idea that the Ural River (which Orenburg straddles) separates the two parts of the world. This train of thought is now considered wrong.
Traditionally, most scientists now suppose that the eastern side of the Ural Mountains roughly set the border between Europe and Asia in Russia. Anyway, it’s easy to define the correlation between Russia’s European and Asian territories: About 23 to 77 percent respectively. What’s much harder to find out is whether Russia in general considers itself European or Asian.
Europe’s domination?
Although the biggest country in the world predominantly lies beyond the Ural Mountains its population is concentrated in Europe to a great extent. Around 75 percent of Russians live in the European part of the country with vast spaces of Siberia and the Far East still generally underpopulated due to the harsh climate.
As Vladimir Kolosov, president of the International Geographical Union, told Russia Beyond, “the population in Russia there [in its Asian part] stands at two people per square kilometer.” The two biggest cities (Moscow and St. Petersburg) also are in Europe, as well as all federal authorities so many claim the European part is more important. On the other hand, it’s Asia where the most natural resources are concentrated, so it’s not wise to underestimate its importance.
Culture quarrels
The main question concerning Russia’s identity in relation to the outside world could be formulated as “Is Russia a European country or not?” The issue sparked serious debate in the 19th century when the two most influential groups among Russian intellectuals were the Slavophiles and the Westernizers.
Back then, the Slavophiles believed that Russia should have relied on its unique heritage (traditions, Orthodox Christianity, rural life) while the Westernizers supported the idea of European-style modernization and individualism. Put on pause by the Russian revolutions of 1917 when the radical Socialists came to power, the dispute between Westernizers and their opponents still continues. What are the key arguments?
‘Yes, we are Asians’
Those opposing the idea that Russia belongs to the Western world usually emphasize that the Russians throughout history have been living “at the crossroads” of civilizations and have therefore embraced cultural values from both Europe and Asia.
As Lev Gumilev, a Russian historian and one of the most authoritative Eurasianists (those who consider Russia a Eurasian, Western-Eastern country), said, “Russia is a distinctive country which unites elements from West and East.”
Moreover, the troubled history of Russia’s controversial relations with European countries and the West in general adds fuel to the fire, making many patriotic thinkers claim: “We’re not European for Europe will never embrace us.” Alexander Blok, a famous Russian poet of the early 20th century in 1918 wrote an angry poem called “Scythians” dedicated to Europeans denying Russia as Europe: “Yes, we are Scythians, yes, we are Asians, with slanted and greedy eyes! Try and take us on!”
An integral part of the West
On the other hand, in the very same poem Blok calls for unity among the Russians and their European neighbors: “Comrades! We shall be brothers!” And that’s an example of thought that cultural ties between Russia and Europe prevail over differences and political misunderstandings. Since Peter the Great (ruled Russia in 1682 – 1725) who brought European values, habits, and even clothes to Russia in the early 18th century, this viewpoint has many supporters.
