Kształtowanie się państwowości i gospodarki Białorusi

The main goal of this article is to present is to present the process of shaping the statehood of Belarus and the issues of economic development of the Belarusian lands. The aim of the work was achieved by analyzing source materials in Russian relating to Ruthenian chronicles and the results of archaeological research carried out in the territory of Minsk and Grodno. The article draws attention to the fact that in the 12th century, Minsk became the capital of the Principality of Minsk, separated from the Principality of Polotsk, and in the 15th century it was already a large craft and trade center. The history of Grodno, which was the capital of an independent principality on the Russian border, was also presented. Its inhabitants created an extremely valuable material culture in the period from the 11th to the 13th century. Thanks to their efforts, a small stronghold, and then a castle, grew into a rich trade and crafts city.