The Russian society has been influenced by the Byzantine Empire in many ways, and the main reason for this was that there was constant contact through trade between the two, as well as Byzantium being far ahead in numerous aspects. One of the big influences was the religion, as the Russians became Orthodox Christians under the influence of Byzantium, which was detrimental for their future development. Another influence was the literacy, as the Russians were literate and did not had their own alphabet. The Macedonian brothers Cyril and Methodius created a Slavic alphabet, and under the order of the emperor of Byzantium they spread out among the Slavic people, including the Russians. The running of the state was also influenced, as the Russians used the basis of the Byzantine code of laws.
