The Byzantine Empire and the Russians, or rather Kievan Russ at the beginning, had very close ties, and the main reason was that they traded a lot between each other, and traditionally had good relations. Because there was constant contact, the Russians started to adopt numerous things from the Byzantines as they were much more advanced. The Russians were pagans, but that all changed with the introduction of the Orthodox Christianity by the Byzantines, which they accepted it as their religion, and has been very important part of their identity ever since. The politics also got influenced, as the Russians started to use the code of laws from Byzantium, which resulted in much better organized and structured society. The literacy also came from Byzantium, as the emperor ordered the Macedonian brothers Cyril and Methodius which created a Slavic alphabet, to spread it among the Slavic people, including the Russians.
Strengths
They could borrow money,
Congress could declare war, and start an army and navy. could make peace and sign treaties. They can organize a post office
Weakness
They had no power to draft soldiers.
They couldn't raise taxes to pay borrowed money back.
They had no chief executive (president)
No court system
<span> <span>ALL I could see from where I stood</span>Was three long mountains and a wood;I turned and looked the other way,And saw three islands in a bay.<span>So with my eyes I traced the line 5</span>Of the horizon, thin and fine,Straight around till I was comeBack to where I’d started from;And all I saw from where I stood<span>Was three long mountains and a wood. 10</span>Over these things I could not see:These were the things that bounded me;And I could touch them with my hand,Almost, I thought, from where I stand.<span>And all at once things seemed so small 15</span>My breath came short, and scarce at all.But, sure, the sky is big, I said;Miles and miles above my head;So here upon my back I’ll lie<span>And look my fill into the sky. 20</span>And so I looked, and, after all,The sky was not so very tall.The sky, I said, must somewhere stop,And—sure enough!—I see the top!<span>The sky, I thought, is not so grand; 25</span>I ’most could touch it with my hand!And reaching up my hand to try,I screamed to feel it touch the sky.I screamed, and—lo!—Infinity<span>Came down and settled over me; 30</span>Forced back my scream into my chest,Bent back my arm upon my breast,And, pressing of the UndefinedThe definition on my mind,<span>Held up before my eyes a glass 35</span>Through which my shrinking sight did passUntil it seemed I must beholdImmensity made manifold;Whispered to me a word whose sound<span>Deafened the air for worlds around, 40</span>And brought unmuffled to my earsThe gossiping of friendly spheres,The creaking of the tented sky,The ticking of Eternity.<span>I saw and heard and knew at last 45</span>The How and Why of all things, past,And present, and forevermore.The Universe, cleft to the core,Lay open to my probing sense<span>That, sick’ning, I would fain pluck thence 50</span>But could not,—nay! But needs must suckAt the great wound, and could not pluckMy lips away till I had drawnAll venom out.—Ah, fearful pawn!<span>For my omniscience paid I toll 55</span>In infinite remorse of soul.All sin was of my sinning, allAtoning mine, and mine the gallOf all regret. Mine was the weight<span>Of every brooded wrong, the hate 60</span>That stood behind each envious thrust,Mine every greed, mine every lust.And all the while for every grief,Each suffering, I craved relief<span>With individual desire,— 65</span>Craved all in vain! And felt fierce fireAbout a thousand people crawl;Perished with each,—then mourned for all!A man was starving in Capri;<span>He moved his eyes and looked at me; 70</span>I felt his gaze, I heard his moan,And knew his hunger as my own.I saw at sea a great fog bankBetween two ships that struck and sank;<span>A thousand screams the heavens smote; 75</span>And every scream tore through my throat.No hurt I did not feel, no deathThat was not mine; mine each last breathThat, crying, met an answering cry<span>From the compassion that was I. 80</span>All suffering mine, and mine its rod;Mine, pity like the pity of God.Ah, awful weight! InfinityPressed down upon the finite Me!<span>My anguished spirit, like a bird</span></span>
