Historically, in English, Belarus was sometimes referred to as "White Russia" or "White Ruthenia", a literal translation of its name. This literal translation is also used in a number of other languages, e.g., "Wei�russland" in German, "Witrusland" in Dutch and "Baltarusija" (Baltarus, today) in Lithuanian. The name "Byelorussia" is considered derogatory by some, as it is perceived as remnant of Russian and Soviet imperialism and policies of russification (the full title of the Russian tsar was "Emperor of All the Russias - Great, Minor, and White"). The name "Belarus" is now favoured by these individuals for this reason.

In English, Belarus and Belarusian are the common terms: they refer to the historical connection with the people known as Rus' that predated Russians, Ukrainians or Belarusians.

The names, Russia Alba, Russija Alba, Wit Rusland, Weiss Reussen, White Russia, Weiss Russland, may be found on ancient maps predating the Russian Empire. Not less often could be found Ruthenia Alba, Ruthenie Blanche and Weiss Ruthenien for example. However there is much confusion as to the location of this territory: in addition to the approximate territory of modern Belarus quite a few ancient maps put "Ruthenia Alba" over the territory of Muscovy. The explanation may be found in Rerum Moscoviticarum Commentarii by Sigismund von Herberstein First Muscovian tsars wore white robes -- to distinguish themselves from Byzantine emperors that wore purple and Persian rulers that wore red -- in accordance with the Third Rome doctrine of Russian tsars. So, the Muscovian ruler was called "White Tsar": Sunt qui principem Moscovuiae Album Regem nuncupant. Ego quidem causam diligenter quaerebam, cur Regis Albi nomine appellaretur, or Weisse Reyssen oder weissen Kh�nig nennen etliche unnd w�llen damit ain underscheid der Reyssen machen (from Rerum Moscoviticarum Commentarii). This appellation, together with the solemn wording "White Tsardom", was in use till the very end of the Russian Empire. Ultimately, this colour was transferred onto the name of White Army, that fought against the Red Army.

It still remains unclear how the name "White Russia" has ultimately become applied to Belarusans. There are a number of speculative hypotheses, however no conclusive documentary evidence has been found for any of them. One such theory is based upon the accepted fact that the Belarusian ethnos is formed primarily by the historical interactions amongst Slavic and Baltic ethnicities. The root "balt-" means "white" in languages and dialects of Baltic group, e.g., in Lithuanian and Latvian. Hence "Baltic Sea" (Balta jura in Lithuanian) is literally "white sea". Thus "Balta Rusija" could have been the original self-denotation, rather than a later secondary derivative from "Russia". Another theory suggests that Belarusan ethnos is of blond hair, being close to the Baltic and Scandinavian ones. Still another one is that Belarusians are named after the predominant colour of their traditional (uncolored linen) clothes.

Similar examples of "colored" names in the Slavic ethnos are: White Serbs and White Croats; and in China: Red, Black and Green Miao.

History

Main article: History of Belarus

Politics

Main article: Politics of Belarus

Administrative subdivision

Main article: Subdivisions of Belarus

At the higher administrative level, Belarus is divided into 6 voblasts and one municipality (horad, i.e., "city"); the latter one is the capital of Belarus.

Minsk, the horad
Brest voblast (Brest)
Homyel voblast (Homyel')
Hrodna voblast (Hrodna)
Mahilyow voblast (Mahilyow)
Minsk voblast (Minsk)
Vitsebsk voblast (Vitsebsk)
(Note: Administrative centers are named in parentheses.)

Voblasts are further subdivided into rayons (usually translated as districts).

Geography

Main article: Geography of Belarus

Belarus is an independent country in Eastern Europe. It borders Poland and Lithuania on the west, Russia on the east, Ukraine on the south and Latvia on the north. Belarus has an area of 207,600 km². Although landlocked, it has 11,000 lakes. Three major rivers run through it: the Neman River, the Pripyat River, and the Dnepr River. Belarus is relatively flat and marsh-rich. The largest marsh territory is Palesse. Its highest point at Dzyarzhynskaya Hara (Dzyarzhynsk Hill), 346 m, and its lowest point on the Neman river, 90 m. The natural resources of Belarus are forests, peat deposits, small quantities of oil and natural gas, granite, dolomitic limestone, marl, chalk, sand, gravel, and clay.

List of cities in Belarus

Economy

Main article: Economy of Belarus

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Belarus

Symbols from earlier history

The images show the white-red-white flag (бел-чырвона-белы сцяг) and the Chase (Пагоня, Pahonya) coat of arms. These historical symbols were adopted as the official national symbols of the Republic of Belarus from the time it got its independence in July 1991 and until the Referendum of 1995.

Religion

Historically Belarusians enjoyed a variety of religious confessions: Russian Orthodox, Catholicism, Protestantism. Ever since president Lukashenka came to power he consistently gave a lot of official support to the Russian orthodox church in Belarus, especially on financial terms, giving them tax breaks (nowadays Russian Orthodox church became a large-scale exporter of tax-free vodka and cigarettes). According to various estimates 60-70% of Belarusians consider themselves Russian Ortodox, about 15-20% are Catholics, and 5-10% are Protestants or other religions. Catholics and Protestants as well as other believer complain that the new religion law of Belarus discriminates them, giving many preferences to Russian orthodox church. (See also Kalvaryja).