Old Belarusian is an early form of the Belarusian language that was spoken from the 14th to the 17th centuries. It developed from the East Slavic languages and was influenced by neighboring languages, including Polish and Lithuanian. This period saw the emergence of written texts, which were primarily religious and legal documents. The language gradually evolved into Modern Belarusian, which is spoken today. Old Belarusian is significant for understanding the historical and cultural development of Belarus and its people. It reflects the linguistic changes that occurred due to political and social influences in the region during that time.