The earliest evidence of occupation within the region that makes up Belarus goes back towards the Stone Age, and the Slavs arrived between the 6th and 8th centuries AD. The region fell under the control of Kievan Rus in the 9th century, and this state brought Orthodox Christianity. Following a spell as Tartar vassals within the 13th century, Belarus was taken over by Lithuania.

Within the 400 years prior to the country came under Russian control, Belarus developed its own language and culture. The name means ‘white Russia’, even though it isn’t particular whether this refers towards the peoples’ complexions or their dress. Lithuania came increasingly under the control of Poland, and when it was carved up within the 18th century, all of Belarus was absorbed into Russia. As part of Soviet Union history the Tsars wanted everybody to be Russian just as much as their Soviet successors did, and they sought to wipe out any sense of national identity.

A lot of World War I was fought on Belarusian soil, and below German occupation an independent republic was declared. It didn’t last long – in 1921 the Treaty of Riga allotted part of Belarus to Poland, and also the rest became one of the founding Soviets (councils) of the USSR. The country was overrun again during World War II – Minsk was almost completely flattened and one in four of the population was killed.

The post-war Soviet five-year plan restored much from the destruction and, with Russian immigration; Belarus became one of the most prosperous republics Soviet Union history. Nevertheless, the 1986 Chernobyl disaster, which hit Belarus particularly badly, helped to crystallize anti-Soviet feeling, and by 1991 when the Soviet Union collapsed, the Republic of Belarus was ready to take its place.