I was very surprised finding out that Lithuania was part of Russia in 13-th century. I think you shall replace this misleading map (published as per wikipedia in 1905) with something more historic...

Feel free to replace it with a different map if you find something better/nicer. You just have to first upload it (see top right: upload attachment), and then edit the article to show the correct map.

Yes, I have found two good maps - Europe 1200: http://info.euratlas.net/history/en_europe_1200_640.html and Europe 1300: http://info.euratlas.net/history/en_europe_1300_640.html Asked Euratlas permission to include them here. Will see what they reply.

So we have permission from Euratlas-Nüssli to use their maps - here is their conditions:

You can use these maps to the following conditions : 1. You can use the maps 1200 and 1300 only to illustrate the online novel publishing site www.mongoliad.com 2. You have to mention under or next to the maps the copyright with the credit line : "©2003, Euratlas-Nüssli, www.euratlas.net"

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Euratlas, thank you!

Nice! Good job.

The change from 1200 to 1300 is really quite amazing.

The change from 1200 to 1300 is really quite amazing.

What is Kipchak (see the 1300 map)? Is it really a country, or just something generic?

The mapmaker would have been better advised to term the Western Kipchaks "The Golden Horde."

The Kipchaks were one of many, many Turkic peoples that inhabited the steppes in medieval times. They were closely associated w/ the Cumans to the degree that the Russians and Ukrainians often did not distinguish between the two peoples. If you have heard Borodin's "Polovetzian Dances," these were meant to evoke these steppe people in some way. (Polovetzi was used to describe both peoples.)

The Wikipedia entry leaves something to be desired, but that's not surprising given the number of medieval Turkic groups, their sometimes transient identities, and the paucity of records.