Disadvantages of the geographical location of the Eastern Slavs.

The Eastern Slavs originally inhabited the more western part of the European Plain, but pressed by the barbarian tribes, they retreated to the east. This geographical location had controversial aspects. On the positive side, there was a trade route and fertile land nearby. The disadvantages of the geographical position of the Slavs were that they lost some ties with the Western states. They were also susceptible to raids by nomads from the east and west. They practically had no access to the Mediterranean Sea.