keith, good stuff –Moscow is only a few centuries removed from the Golden Horde burning it down from the east every few years –not to mention Nappy and Godwindolph or even Gustav and the Teutonic Knights and the Kaiser from the west, Tatars from the south, plus the Finns and other Balts busted a russian army or two, not to mention Tsushima Straits. It took the Romans twice as long to –really until the fall of Constantinople –to ‘join the world club’ as it were –heck i forgot my point –it’s late –but here, your post reminded me of this lovely pic.