Belarus

With an estimated population of almost 9.1 million people, Belarus—formally known as the Republic of Belarus—is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. Belarus’s strategic location—that of the junction of Europe and Asia—has affected its historical development, cultural identity, and geopolitical relevance. Ranked 13th in Europe by land mass, the nation boasts an area of 207,600 square kilometers (80,200 square miles). Russia to the east and northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest all round Belarus. The country’s development and its historical interactions with surrounding states have been much influenced by its geographical location.

Acting as the political, commercial, and cultural hub of Belarus, Minsk is the capital and biggest city in the nation. Minsk is run as a city with special status, so stressing its importance for the government and economy of the country. Originally in the 11th century, the city has evolved into a modern urban center combining Soviet-era architecture with modern innovations.

Belarus has a hemiboreal climate, with cool summers and freezing winters. Between temperate and subarctic zones, this climate type acts as a transitional one that influences national agriculture, ecosystems, and way of life. Belarus’s topography is marked by level stretches mostly composed of large plains and mild hills. The nation’s ecology and economy have been much shaped by its vast forests, many lakes, and thorough river system.

Belarus is divided administratively into six regions with different governance structures and features. The areas described as voblasts are Brest, Gomel, Grodno, Mogilev, Minsk, and Vitebsk. This administrative division promotes improved governance and development especially matched with the particular needs of every region.

Belarus’s history shows a complicated interaction of several factors and changing political environment. Over millennia, several states and empires have ruled over the area that is modern Belarus. Kievan Rus’, a federation of East Slavic tribes founded the basis for the distinct cultural and linguistic identity of the Belarusian people, emerged in the Middle Ages. Renowned early East Slavic state the Principality of Polotsk flourished in modern-day northern Belarus, so influencing the political and cultural development of the area.

Belarus first became rather important in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, a major and powerful state in Europe in the 14th and 15th centuries, during the Middle Ages. Under Lithuanian rule, the Belarusian language and culture flourished during this time of marked cultural and economic growth. The founding of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1569 brought about major changes in the area since Belarus was included into a sizable multicultural and multi-ethnic entity spanning the Baltic to the Black Sea.

Eastern Europe’s political dynamics underwent major changes in the 18th century, leading to the divisions of Poland-Lithuania. Later on, the Russian Empire took over the territories of modern Belarus. From the late 18th century to the early 20th century, Russian rule greatly shaped Belarusian society, culture, and language. Often undercutting local customs and identities, the Russification policies passed during this time sought to absorb Belarus into the Russian imperial system.

Early in the 20th century, the Russian Revolution of 1917 spurred significant changes in Belarus. Many political entities fought for control in the area after the revolution and the consequent civil war. The Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic (BSSR) emerged in 1919 as the result of the period of ambiguity and conflict. Established as one of the founding republics of the Soviet Union in 1922, the BSSR started a seven-decade period of Soviet rule that greatly shaped the course of the country.

For Belarus, the interwar years brought more territorial changes. Belarus lost almost half of its territory to Poland following the Polish-Soviet War of 1918–1921, so altering its borders and demographic pattern. Following the Soviet invasion of Poland at the start of World War II, these areas were once more included into the Byelorussian SSR in 1939. Reflecting the geopolitical circumstances of the post-war era, the modern borders of Belarus were mostly set following World War II.

Belarus was greatly changed by World War II, so changing its national identity, population, and terrain. With almost 25% of the country lost and 50% of its economic resources destroyed during the war, the country suffered great casualties. Extensive destruction, mass deportations, and almost total Holocaust extermination of Belarus’s Jewish population defined the war years. A strong and varied anti-Nazi partisan movement also emerged during this time, which had a major impact on national identity and post-war politics of the country.