Describe in your own words the interaction between Dante and the lady who comes to visit him in canto 2

Dante is standing at the mouth of hell with Virgil and he feels a great sense of dread and apprehension about continuing. Virgil then tells him that a women told him to find Dante and be his guide in hell, this lady was Beatrice. She came down from Heaven to tell Virgil of Dante's story and ask him to help Dante. Beatrice was Dante's true love (in real life and in the story) who died and is now counted among the blessed in Heaven. She had learned of Dante's plight from St. Lucia, also in Heaven, who in turn heard about the poor poet from the Virgin Mary. Beatrice symbolizes divine love and is sent by Mary and Lucia to help Dante by enlisting Virgil's help. Beatrice also knows that Dante will listen to Virgil if he knows that she has intervened and still loves him and that he is being watched over.  

the conditions that made the byzantine empire vulnerable to attacks by the muslin turks were the sack of constantinople by western crusaders, the conquests of the sultanate of rum, presence of rival kingdoms and finally the set up of fiefdoms at the empire which were owned by the ghazis (turkish warriors).

the national congress's powers over the states were specific and definite: it had the sole power to negotiate treaties, declare war, and make peace. all powers not granted to congress were reserved for state governments. congress had no power to levy taxes, for example.