Belarus can be proud of Maksymilian Ryllo who was a pioneer and the first researcher of ancient Babylon’s ruins.

Maksimilian Ryllo was born on December 31, 1802 in Padarosk (now Svislach area, Grodno region) in poor gentry family. He graduated from high school in the rural municipality Lyskava then studied in Polatsk Jesuit Academy where he got a degree of Master of Philosophy.

The Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences was founded in 1968. Belarus can be proud of one of the first winners in this category Simon Smith Kuznets who was awarded by the Nobel Committee in 1971.

Simon Smith Kuznets was born in Pinsk (present-day Brest region, Belarus) in 1901. Simon was a middle son in the family.

His father Abram Kuznets, who was a fur trader, left the family in 1907 and went to the USA to search better job. He wanted to invite the family but the First World War broke his plans.