1)200 years under mongol/tatar domination changed their culture (look up the tsar crown and what it was inspired by) 2)they lived at total periferies of europe, in preindustrial period economic conditions were spartan at best 3)they had/have? strange "we wuz only real christans" attitude - thinking of itself to be superior and exceptional when you are even slightly backward is extremly dangerous to a nation - see the examples of poland, chinese empire and now india...
Poland