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#### Russia's war against Ukraine took us by surprise. But a quick look at Russia's history should have left us less surprised: war and violence are constant companions of Russians. * Conflicts, as in the past, revolve mostly around the interpretation of history. Surprisingly few historians have described the country's history and historical practices. This book, written by history professor Claes-Goran Carlsson, is an essential reference for anyone who wants to understand Russia's path. This book depicts the entire history of Russia, and how the Russians exploited it - glorifying, improving, distorting, silencing, and denying. The book dates back to Kievan Rus in the ninth century, and links it directly to Sweden, as the Russians strongly deny that the Eastern Slavs used Swedish Vikings to build their kingdom. From there, we move on to other controversial groups, such as the Mongols, the Byzantines, and the emperors who sought to destroy the West, all the way to the decisive uprisings of 1917 and 1991, which in turn are invoked in all possible contexts and narratives. The conclusion is clear: history is a weapon. Interpretations and uses of the past mobilize Russians and justify the war of history that Putin and his authoritarian apparatus are waging in the 2020s against their neighbor and against the entire Western world.