Editing Belarusians (section)

=== Early Middle Ages ===
[[File:Slavic tribes in the 7th to 9th century.svg|thumb|Slavic tribes in the 7th-9th century]]In the [[Iron Age]], the south of present-day Belarus was inhabited by tribes belonging to the [[Milograd culture]] (7th–3rd century BC) and later [[Zarubintsy culture]]. Some considered them to be Balts.{{Sfn|Shved|Grzybowski|2020|p=54}} Since the beginning of [[Common Era|common era]], these lands were penetrated by the Slavs, a process that intensified during the [[Migration Period|migration period]] (4th century).{{Sfn|Shved|Grzybowski|2020|p=54}} A peculiar symbiosis of Baltic and Slavic cultures took place in the area, but it was not a fully peaceful process, as evidenced by numerous fires in Balts' settlements in the 7th-8th centuries.{{Sfn|Pankowicz|2004|p=90}} According to Russian archaeologist {{Ill|Valentin Sedov|ru|Седов, Валентин Васильевич}}, it was intensive contacts with the Balts that contributed to the distinctiveness of the Belarusian tribes from the other [[East Slavs|Eastern Slavs]].{{Sfn|Shved|Grzybowski|2020|p=55}}

The Baltic population gradually [[Slavicisation|became Slavic]], undergoing assimilation, a process that for eastern and central Belarus ended around the 12th century.{{Sfn|Shved|Grzybowski|2020|p=55}} Belarusian lands in the 8th-9th centuries were inhabited by 3 tribal unions: the [[Krivichs]], [[Dregoviches]] and [[Radimichs]]. Of these, the Krivichs played the most important role; [[Polotsk]], founded by them, was the most important cultural and political center during this period. The principalities formed at that time on the territory of Belarus were part of [[Kievan Rus']]. The process of the beginning of the East Slavic linguistic community and the separation of Belarusian dialects slowly took place.{{Sfn|Shved|Grzybowski|2020|p=55}}