SLAVONIC RELIGIOUS AND POLITICAL SYSTEMS In speaking of this eastern half of Europe as _Russia_, we have been borrowing from the future.

At the time we have been considering there was no Russia.

The world into which Christ came contained no Russia.
The Roman Empire rose and fell, and still there was no Russia.

Spain, Italy, France, and England were taking on a new form of life through the infusion of Teuton strength, and modern Europe was coming into being, and still the very name of Russia did not exist.

The great expanse of plains, with its medley of Oriental barbarism, was to Europe the obscure region through which had come the Hunnish invasion from Asia.
This catastrophe was the only experience that this land had in common with the rest of Europe.