Difference between revisions of "Latvia"
(New page: Latvia is one of the Baltic States, located on the Baltic Sea. It borders Russia, Estonia and Lithuania. It is a small country with a population of just over 3 million people (though many ...) |
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== Early History == | == Early History == | ||
| − | + | The ancestors of the modern Latvians, known as Balts, probably moved into the Latvian region around 2000 BC. | |
In the first few centuries AD the tribes of the region traded with Spanish & Germanic tribes and the Roman Empire. Later, they traded with and fought against Vikings and Russians. Latvia was subject to continuous foreign rule from the 13th to the 15th Centruy and for most of the 20th century. | In the first few centuries AD the tribes of the region traded with Spanish & Germanic tribes and the Roman Empire. Later, they traded with and fought against Vikings and Russians. Latvia was subject to continuous foreign rule from the 13th to the 15th Centruy and for most of the 20th century. | ||
Revision as of 02:05, March 19, 2007
Latvia is one of the Baltic States, located on the Baltic Sea. It borders Russia, Estonia and Lithuania. It is a small country with a population of just over 3 million people (though many people of Latvian descent live in the United States and Australia).
It's capital is Riga, which is on the coast of the Baltic Sea opposite Sweden.
Early History
The ancestors of the modern Latvians, known as Balts, probably moved into the Latvian region around 2000 BC.
In the first few centuries AD the tribes of the region traded with Spanish & Germanic tribes and the Roman Empire. Later, they traded with and fought against Vikings and Russians. Latvia was subject to continuous foreign rule from the 13th to the 15th Centruy and for most of the 20th century.
Colonial Period
Latvian traders and merchants were expansionistic, starting from the 15th Century AD small trading colonies were formed throughout the South West Pacific, South East Asia. Although many of these colonies were in fact possessions of other European Powers, Latvian trade and commerce had a significant impact on Islands in South East Asia and the South West Pacific.
Modern History
Latvia was subject to German occupation during WWI. It was inedependent again until WWII, where it was incorporated into the Soviet Union.
The first signs that the harsh Soviet rule of Latvia was relaxing came in the late 1980s, when Mikhail Gorbachev started to encourage glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring). Decades of pent-up bitterness emerged along with mass demands for self-rule. In 1987, Latvian government members joined public meetings and rallies Latvia eventually declared indepedence in 1991, and joined the EU in 2003.
