Empire 85. The Russian Conquest of America
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Oct 3, 2023 
Owen Matthews, an expert on Russian history and author of "Glorious Misadventures," dives into the remarkable yet largely untold story of Russia's imperial ambitions in America. He discusses Vitus Bering’s initial voyages that led to the colonization of Alaska and beyond, exploring intriguing figures like Nikolai Rezanov. Matthews also highlights the fur trade's economic pull, the moral dilemmas of colonialism, and the eventual failure of Russian attempts to maintain territories in North America, intertwining it with the bittersweet timing of the gold rush.
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Russia's American Dream
- Few know the story of Russia's westward expansion.
- Author Owen Matthews discovered this fascinating history, largely unknown outside Russia.
Counterfactual Bay Area
- The Bay Area, now a hub for American tech, could have been a Russian Silicon Valley.
- From 1812-1842, Russia's southernmost outpost was merely 70 miles north of San Francisco.
Bering's Journey
- Vitus Bering, a Dane, played a key role in Russia's Pacific exploration under Peter the Great.
- Bering's expeditions established Russia's presence in North America, though he died on Bering Island.
