How Russian Pseudohistory Took Root in America

Debunking the Tartaria Conspiracy: Russian Pseudohistory, American Erasure

The Russian Origins of Modern "Tartaria"

The word “Tartary” itself is historical—an outdated European term used from the Middle Ages to the 19th century to describe a vast, largely unknown region stretching across Central Asia, including parts of modern-day Russia, Mongolia, and China. Western maps once labeled this ambiguous expanse as "Tartaria" due to limited knowledge of the interior.

But the modern conspiracy theory of a hidden global Tartarian empire emerged after the fall of the Soviet Union, in the 1990s and early 2000s, particularly on Russian-language forums and blogs that sought to reimagine Russia’s role in global history. Nationalist and revisionist thinkers began to claim that Russia had once been home to a peaceful, technologically advanced civilization—one allegedly wiped from memory by a global elite (often the Vatican, the British Empire, or "Western powers").

These ideas gained traction among Russian nationalist circles, often intersecting with anti-Western propaganda, New Age mysticism, and anti-globalist views. Some of the earliest digital discussions were hosted on platforms like LiveJournal.ru, Runet forums, and websites connected to fringe pseudohistorians.

RationalWiki - Tartaria

Early Spread and Individuals Involved

Common Misrepresented Photo Of "Les Halles" In Paris

One of the earliest and most influential figures in spreading the modern Tartaria narrative was Anatoly Fomenko, a Russian mathematician who developed the “New Chronology” theory in the late 20th century. Though not directly responsible for the modern Tartaria conspiracy, his rewriting of world history—including claims that much of what we know about ancient civilizations was fabricated—heavily influenced later Tartaria believers.

By the early 2000s, these theories began to leak into the English-speaking internet through translations, conspiracy forums, and a few key blogs. Some notable early content creators who helped popularize it in the West include:

Philip Druzhinin (Филипп Дружинин) – Russian YouTuber whose early videos (2015–2017) were subtitled or mirrored in English.
The Wild Heretic – A blogger who combined Tartaria, mud flood, and flat Earth theories in the early 2010s.
Flat Earth and Mud Flood Forums – Reddit, YouTube, and flat earth communities adopted Tartaria content by 2016–2018.
Jon Levi, UAP Channel, Autodidactic – From 2018 onward, English-speaking creators made highly edited videos about “hidden” history, often ignoring real historical sources.

YouTube Search: Jon Levi - Tartaria

Why It Clashes With Real American History

The United States has extensive historical documentation of its architectural and civic development from the 1800s onward. Railroads, industrialization, labor unions, municipal building permits, city planning commissions, and immigrant laborers—all are part of the historical record.

From Andrew Carnegie’s steel empire, to architects like Daniel Burnham and Frederick Law Olmsted, and laborers—both white and nonwhite—who built these structures, we have photographs, blueprints, payrolls, correspondence, and eyewitness records for virtually every major American building project.

Believing these buildings were simply “found” erases the lived experience of millions of Americans, including Black freedmen, Indigenous communities, immigrants, sharecroppers, and skilled craftspeople who built, worked in, and passed down knowledge of these spaces.

The Problem With the Logic

Nearly every so-called “Tartarian” building has ample documentation:

Photographic Evidence: Construction photos, newspapers, blueprints, engineering records, and lawsuits are widely available in archives.
Oral Histories: Many families still have living members who built or visited these sites. These are not ruins—they're functioning civic buildings.
Community Celebrations: These buildings were often points of civic pride with ribbon-cuttings, dedication ceremonies, and newspaper coverage.
No “Advanced Tech” Ever Found: These buildings used steam, coal, gas, and early electrical systems—no free energy, plasma domes, or hidden tech.

Why This Narrative Is Dangerous

Though it may seem like an innocent or whimsical theory, the Tartaria myth feeds into larger anti-intellectual and anti-historical sentiments. It replaces real historical struggles—those of enslaved people, Indigenous nations, immigrants, and the working poor—with a fantasy empire that erases them entirely.

It also contributes to broader distrust in schools, libraries, universities, and journalism—accusing all of them of conspiring in a global cover-up with no credible evidence.

Worse, the theory often flirts with xenophobic, anti-Semitic, or racist tropes, sometimes subtly, sometimes overtly, as part of its narrative about "global elites" hiding the truth.

In Short

The modern Tartaria theory began in post-Soviet Russian internet culture, migrated into Western alternative history communities, and was amplified by online creators seeking clicks, mystique, or contrarian fame. It does not hold up to scrutiny and often disrespects real people and families with provable histories going back generations.

To believe it is to deny the reality of American industrialism, migration, Black and immigrant labor, and civic pride—all of which are foundational to actual U.S. history.

Sources and Discussions

What is Confirmation Bias?

Confirmation bias is a cognitive phenomenon where individuals tend to favor information that confirms their preexisting beliefs or hypotheses while disregarding or minimizing evidence that contradicts those beliefs. This bias can manifest in various ways, including selective exposure to information, interpretation of ambiguous evidence in a way that supports existing views, and the memory recall of information that aligns with one’s beliefs.

Examples of Confirmation Bias in Tartaria/Mudflood Conspiracy Theories

Selective Evidence Gathering

Advocates may focus exclusively on historical photographs or architectural styles they believe support the existence of Tartaria while ignoring substantial historical records or archaeological findings that contradict their claims. For instance, they might highlight images of grand buildings with unusual designs as “Tartarian architecture” but dismiss similar structures worldwide as mere coincidences or products of different cultures.

Misinterpretation of Historical Events

When discussing events like the Great Chicago Fire or other urban disasters, proponents may argue these were cover-ups for mudfloods rather than acknowledging them as well-documented historical incidents. They reinterpret these events to fit their narrative without considering the broader context provided by historians.

Echo Chambers

Online forums and social media groups dedicated to Tartaria theories often reinforce confirmation bias by creating echo chambers where only supportive viewpoints are shared. Members may share articles, videos, or memes that align with their beliefs while dismissing any critical analysis or opposing viewpoints as “mainstream propaganda” or “disinformation.”

Citing Anecdotal Evidence

Supporters frequently rely on personal anecdotes or unverified claims to bolster their arguments about Tartaria and mudfloods. For example, someone might claim they found “evidence” in their local area—such as buried structures—that they interpret as proof of a mudflood event without scientific validation.

Ignoring Counterarguments

When faced with credible counterarguments—such as explanations from historians about architectural styles being influenced by various cultural exchanges—believers may simply ignore these points or label them as part of a larger conspiracy to suppress the truth about Tartaria.

In Summary

The common tendencies observed within Tartaria/mudflood conspiracy theorists and religious fanatics reflect broader psychological phenomena related to belief formation and maintenance in the face of contradictory evidence. Understanding these tendencies can provide insight into why such theories persist despite lacking credible support from established historical scholarship.

Tags:
Tartaria conspiracy, Russian pseudohistory, American history, architectural debunking, historical denialism, 1800s construction, World’s Fair, immigrant labor, field museum history

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