Based on more than 80 years of historical and archaeological research of Polotsk (1928-2011), the earliest pages of the history of Polotsk are revealed, facts are given, hypotheses are put forward and real events are demonstrated. The author considers the origin of Polotsk, the mechanisms of its formation and development, interprets a number of historical events and assesses the economic, socio-political and cultural significance of Polotsk at different stages of the Middle Ages and early modern times.