The city of Polazk

Polazk, the oldest city in today's Belarus, was one of the most important economic and cultural centers of the Kyyiv Rus in the 12th century – alongside Kyyiv and Novgorod. Through Scandinavian influences and Polish contacts, the city was under Latin European influence for many centuries. It was only in the late 18th century that Polazk became part of the Tsar's Empire as a result of the division of Poland-Lithuania. This was followed by a Russi…