Belarus Vs Bella Russia: Are They The Same Country?

Belarus, officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by Russia to the east and northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. The country has a population of 9.1 million and is home to an ethnic group known as Belarusians, who speak Belarusian, an East Slavic language.

Historically, the term White Russia or White Ruthenia was used to refer to the area of Polotsk in the Middle Ages, which later became associated with the White movement during the Russian Civil War. After gaining independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, the country became known as Belarus, derived from the term Беларусь (Belarus).

So, to answer the question, Belarus and Bella Russia are the same, with the latter being an alternative name for the country.

Belarusians: who are they?

Belarusians are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Belarus, a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. They speak Belarusian, an East Slavic language, and the majority adhere to Eastern Orthodoxy.

During the Soviet era, Belarusians were referred to as Byelorussians or Belorussians, derived from the name "Byelorussia". Before that, they were typically known as White Russians or White Ruthenians. However, upon Belarusian independence in 1991, they became known as Belarusians, sometimes spelled as Belarusans, Belarussians, or Belorusians.

Belarusians constitute the majority of Belarus' population, with nearly 7.99 million residing in the country. Significant populations can also be found in the United States, Russia, Ukraine, Poland, the Russian Federation, and Lithuania.

The history of Belarus has been marked by endless wars, which has shaped the patience and peacefulness of its people. Belarusians are known for their kindness, friendliness, and good humour, and they are welcoming to visitors interested in their culture and traditions.

Belarusians, like most Europeans, descend from three distinct lineages: Mesolithic hunter-gatherers, Neolithic farmers, and Yamnaya steppe pastoralists. The country has a rich history of traditional arts and crafts, with national and international festivals held regularly to celebrate its culture.

In terms of demographics, Belarus has a population of about 9.1 million, with ethnic Belarusians making up about four-fifths of the population. Russians form the second-largest ethnic group, accounting for about one-tenth, followed by smaller minorities of Poles, Ukrainians, Jews, Lithuanians, and Tatars.

Is there a difference between Belarus and Russia culturally?

There are several cultural differences between Belarus and Russia. While both countries share similarities, they also have distinct cultures.

Firstly, in terms of folk culture, Belarus and Russia differ significantly. Russians assimilated the Finno-Ugric tribes around them, centralising their culture and religion. In contrast, Belarus has dozens of accents, with some so distinct that they are considered separate languages. Belarus also has unique folk music, holidays, and burial practices.

Secondly, Russia underwent westernisation, creating a cultural gap between those who embraced European culture and those who remained traditional. Belarus, on the other hand, did not force itself into Europe, and its heritage is mostly rural, with high culture only appearing in the 20th century.

Thirdly, the Soviet era left a different legacy in each country. Belarus was the most devastated country during World War II, so its people value peace and tend to have a more pessimistic worldview. Russians, on the other hand, are known for their imperialistic tendencies.

Fourthly, Belarus has a higher proportion of Catholics, with nearly half the population in some regions holding Polish national identity cards. In contrast, Russia is a multi-ethnic and secular country with a diverse range of religions, including Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Shamanism, and Atheism.

Finally, there are behavioural differences between the people of Belarus and Russia. Belarusians are perceived as calmer, more polite, and more law-abiding. They are also less likely to steal and are generally quieter in public spaces.

What is the origin of the name Belarus?

The name Belarus is closely related to the term Belaya Rus', meaning 'White Rus'. There are several theories as to the origin of the name 'White Rus'. One ethno-religious theory suggests that the name was used to describe the part of old Ruthenian lands within the Grand Duchy of Lithuania that had been populated mostly by early Christianized Slavs, as opposed to Black Ruthenia, which was predominantly inhabited by pagan Balts. Another explanation for the name comments on the white clothing worn by the local Slavic population. A third theory suggests that the old Rus' lands that were not conquered by the Tatars (Polotsk, Vitebsk, and Mogilev) were referred to as White Rus'. A fourth theory suggests that the colour white was associated with the west, and Belarus was the western part of Rus' in the 9th to 13th centuries.

The name Rus' is often conflated with its Latin forms Russia and Ruthenia, thus Belarus is often referred to as White Russia or White Ruthenia. The name first appeared in German and Latin medieval literature; the chronicles of Jan of Czarnków mention the imprisonment of Lithuanian grand duke Jogaila and his mother at "Albae Russiae, Poloczk dicto" in 1381. During the 17th century, the Russian tsars used the term to describe the lands added from the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.

Upon Belarusian independence in 1991, the country's inhabitants became known as Belarusians (from Belarus, derived from 'Беларусь'), sometimes spelled as Belarusans, Belarussians or Belorusians.

What is the history of Belarus?

The history of Belarus dates back to the Stone Age, with the first signs of settlements in ancient Belarus dating back some 250,000 years. In the early centuries AD, the colonisation of Belarus by the Slavs began, and over the next few centuries, they settled over the entire region, replacing the earlier Baltic culture.

In the 6th to 9th centuries, East Slavs formed the first political associations – unions of tribes. The first recorded accounts of Polotsk and the Polotsk Duchy in the territory of modern Vitebsk and the northern part of the Minsk region appeared in the 9th century. It remained the dominant force in the region until the 13th century.

In the 13th century, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Rus and Samogotia, a powerful state spanning Belarus, Lithuania, Ukraine, and western Russia, began its rise to power under the reign of Mindovg (Mindaugas). The Duchy only began to lose its authority after a number of wars in the 16th century. In 1569, the Duchy and the Kingdom of Poland signed the Union of Lublin, uniting in a federative state – Rzecz Pospolita. This signified the start of a new chapter in Belarusian history.

Rzecz Pospolita was a turbulent time in Belarusian history. The state was drawn into wars in Europe and with Russia, which weakened it and eventually led to the loss of its independence. In 1772, the western provinces of Belarus were annexed to the Russian Empire, and in 1795, Rcecz Pospolitsa was divided between Russia, Austria, and Prussia. As a result of the division, Belarus land became part of the Russian Empire, and the Russian government started to pursue a policy of Russification.

In March 1918, the Belarusian People's Republic declared independence, but this lasted until the German withdrawal later that year. In January 1919, the Belarusian Soviet Socialist Republic was created, and in 1921, the Riga Peace Treaty resulted in the partitioning of Belarus between the Belarusian Soviet Socialist Republic and Poland. In 1922, the Belarusian SSR became a part of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR).

During World War II, Belarus was fully occupied by the German army, and invaders established a "new order" based on terror. The partisan movement in Belarus became the biggest movement in Europe before 1944. In 1944, the Belarusian SSR was liberated by the Red Army from fascist invaders.

In 1990, the Supreme Council of the Belarusian SSR adopted the Declaration of State Sovereignty of the Belarusian Soviet Socialist Republic. The following year, on 25 August, Belarus gained independence from the Soviet Union. The country's first presidential election was held in 1994, and Alexander Lukashenko became the first President of the Republic of Belarus. Lukashenko has been the president of Belarus since then, heading a highly centralized and authoritarian government.

What is the geography of Belarus?

Belarus is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordering Russia to the east and northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Belarus is relatively flat, with an average elevation of 160m (525 ft) above sea level. The country's highest point is Dzyarzhynskaya Hara (Dzyarzhynsk Hill) at 345m (1,132 ft) and its lowest point is on the Neman River at 90m (295 ft). Belarus has a temperate continental climate, with mild to cold winters and cool, moist summers. The country is home to thousands of species of plants and animals, and its landscape is characterised by flat lowlands, hills, and uplands.

The Belarusian Ridge, a swathe of elevated territory, runs diagonally through the country from west-southwest to east-northeast. Northern Belarus has a hilly landscape with many lakes and gently sloping ridges created by glacial debris. In the south, about a third of the country's territory is made up of the low-lying swampy plain of Palyessye, shared with Ukraine, Poland, and Russia. Belarus has over 3,000 streams and 4,000 lakes, which are used for floating timber, shipping, and power generation. Major rivers include the west-flowing Western Dvina and Nyoman, and the south-flowing Dnieper, which is fed by its tributaries, the Berezina, Sozh, and Pripyat rivers.

Nearly a third of Belarus is covered by forests, which host a variety of wildlife, including red deer, wild boar, and elk. The Białowieża Forest, shared with Poland in the far west, is the oldest and most magnificent of the forests. The country also has four UNESCO-designated World Heritage Sites: the Mir Castle Complex, the Nesvizh Castle, the Belovezhskaya Pushcha, and the Struve Geodetic Arc.

The southeast of Belarus was contaminated by the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster in neighbouring Ukraine, receiving about 70% of the radiation. This rendered vast amounts of territory in the Gomel and Mogilev regions uninhabitable, with soil contaminated by radiation to levels that deemed it unsafe for human use indefinitely.

Frequently asked questions