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From the History of Belarus

Belarus is a new, sovereign state the history of which goes back to …. The first human being appeared on its territory about 120-140 thousand years ago. There are sites on the territory of Belarus dating 26 000 years ago. The … of Belarusians who settled on the territory of present Belarus between the 6^th and 12^th centuries were Krivichi, Radimichi and Dregovichi. They lived in the basins of the Dnieper and the Zapadnaya Dvina rivers. They hunted, fished and farmed. These tribes were separate, but they needed in a united state. It was Kievskaya Rus that appeared at the beginning of the 9^th century.

In the 13^th century the Belarusian territories were swallowed by the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. During this time Belarus was largely in peace, but the Lithuanian duchy was at war and by the 15the century the Grand Duchy of Lithuania spanned from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea.

Later, at the end of the 17^th century Belarusian people were placed in … to the Polish feudal lords who exploited them cruelly.

It was also … by the troops of the Swedish King Charles XII. In 1708 the Russian troops under the command of Peter the Great routed the Swedish troops and by the end of the 18^th century Belarus was … by Russia until the 18th of January 1919 when the Byelorussian Socialist Republic was proclaimed.

In 1922 it became a number of the … USSR. In 1939 Western Belarus, occupied by Poland, joined Byelorussia. During that period new plants and factories were built, national arts and literature, science and education developed ….

But World War II broke out and in 1941 Byelorussia was occupied by Nazi Germany. Over one million buildings were destroyed and the human losses totaled over two million Belarusians. The occupation … till 1944. In post-war years Belarusian people restored ruined cities and towns, rebuilt plants. During that time Belarus became a major manufacturing center in the Western region of the USSR.

Belarus … itself sovereign on the 27^th of July 1990 and the former BSSR became the Republic of Belarus on the 25^th of August 1991, attaining full independence.

5. Work in pairs. Speak of the main steps in the history of our country to your partner matching the dates and the events and arranging the facts in the right order.

7. Work in pairs. Restore the dialogue between Mike, a student from Belarus and Alex, a student from Australia. They are speaking about the history of the name “Belarus “.

Alex: Hello, Mike. You know, people in our country know too little about your country. I’m interested in the history of it. Is Belarus the original name of your country?

Mike: No, it isn’t. Once it was called “White Russia” or “Belaya Rus”.

Alex: …

Mike: Surely. According to chronicles it was first mentioned in the 12^th century. And the English “White Russia” was first used in the 16^th century.

Alex: …

Mike: You know there are different versions of the name. Some researchers associate it with the direct meaning of the colour “belyi” or “white”. Of course, there are also other versions.

Alex: …

Mike: In the 19^th century, for example, it was called “Belorussia”. And then the official name of the country was “Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic”, when the country was the part of the former USSR.

Alex: …

Mike: On 27^th of July 1990 our declared itself sovereign and became an independent state. Now its official name is the Republic of Belarus.

Alex: …

… Oh, thank you. I’ve learned interesting facts about your country.

…And what’s the origin of the name?

… Has your country been always called “Belaya Rus?”

… Do you know when the term “Belaya Rus” was first used?

… When did it become Belarus?