As far as remote antiquities are involved in the same darkness with those of other nations, a calamity peculiar to the Byelorussian (White Russian) nation has thrown almost an equal obscurity over even more recent events. This was occasioned by the malicious imperialistic policies of Polish and Russian governments. To justify their imperialistic expansion they call in question the existence of the Byelorussian nation; pretending that the Byelorussian territory historically was always part of Poland or Russia (Preface, fragment).