What do Spain and Russia have in common?

Both Russia and Spain:

• came into "existence" in the late 15th century, early 16th century.
• use the name of an older, larger entity: Russia got its name from Medieval Rus, while Spain got its name from Roman Hispania. However, Medieval Rus included what is now Ukraine and Belarus, and Roman Hispania included what is now Portugal. Interestingly, both Rus and Hispania had regions now named Galicia.
  
• have descendants of the Iranic Alans. In Russia they are now called Ossetians and live mostly in North Ossetia-Alania. In Hispania the Alans were defeated by the Visigoths in the 5th century and were eventually forgotten by most.

Read other answers by

Natalia Nezvanova on Quora:

• What are the most significant contributions of the Soviet Union in sciences?
• Who were the great Russian soldiers and leaders who fought in WW2?
• Given that Russia has large areas of reduced infrastructure and notoriously harsh winters, I would expect Russian companies to dominate the off-road vehicle and outdoor clothing markets. So why not?

Read more answers on Quora.

from Quora http://ift.tt/23f4KkO