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., "Weißrussland" in German and "Baltarusija" (Baltarus, today) in Lithuanian. The name "Byelorussia" is considered derogatory by some, as it is perceived as remnant of Russian and Sovietimperialism 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 Khünig nennen etliche unnd wöllen 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 Belorusians 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.
At the higher administrative level, Belarus is divided into 6 voblasts and one municipality (horad, i.e., "city"); the latter one is the capial 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 sq km. 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 march 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.
Belarus Inside! Photos of modern Belarus (nature, castles, churches). Some thoughts about life in Belarus. Life in Belarus as far as Belarusian citizen can see it. Aquarelle picture gallery. In English, Russian. http://eka.8m.com/main_en.html
Minsk Center for Gender Studies Affiliated with Women's Non-State College ENVILA, and concerned with carrying out research in women's and gender issues. http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Agora/9237/eng/gender.html
Belarusian Heritage A comprehensive site including tradition clothing, country museum, heraldry, famous Belarusians, towns, cities,and architecture. http://www.belarusguide.com/as/heritage/heritage.html
History of Belarussian Jewry Web project on the history of Belarussian Jewry. Includes census, information about Jewish tradition and practices, pictures of Belarussian synagogues, Jewish history of individual cities and shtetls. http://beljewhist.virtualave.net
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