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History
The first human settlement took place in present Latvian territory soon after the end of the Ice Age ~ 9,000 BC. Around 2,000 BC the Baltic ethnic groups settled the norther territories. Active migration made Baltic tribes became the determinant power in the area. The present Latvian nation formed of Baltic people – Latgallians or Letts (latgaļi), Selonians (sēļi), Cours or Couronians (kurši), Semgallians (zemgaļi) and now almost the extinct Livs (lībieši) - fishermen and hunter tribes of Finno-Ugric origin. The independent development was interrupted by arrival of crusaders at the turn of the 12th century. Due to Latvia’s strategic location between East and West it has been coveted through the ages by foreign kings and conquerors. Following papal calls for a crusade against the northern heathen Latvia was subjugated and converted by force to Christianity by the Crusaders. The new German overlords gradually subjected local people to serfdom. By 1282 Riga Town was part of the Hanseatic League along with a number of other towns. German merchants settled in Livonia (the former new name given by Germans for the present Latvia territory and southern part of neighbour Estonia lands) and dominated main trading activities. The Germans were followed by successive conquerors - Swedes, Poles and Russians, leaving their imprint on the country. The Livonian War (1558-1583) started with Russian attempt to overlord Livonia, but later turned into division of these lands between Sweden that got Vidzeme, and Polish-Lithuanian Empire that ruled Latgale. The independent Courland Dukedom in present Kurzeme region had colonies in Africa and Carribean Tobago Island in the 17th century. Later the Zemgale region was separated from Courland Dukedom as other independent state. So the historical division of present Latvia was created - Kurzeme (western part of Latvia), Zemgale (southern part), Vidzeme (middle and northern parts including Riga) and Latgale (eastern part). The expansion of Russian Empire started in 1700 and leaded to the complete incorporation of the lands in 1795. Political fights between new Russian government and local German landed gentry for their “historical rights” for self-governed land estates and influence on local economic took place especially in the 19th century. Meanwhile the Latvians considered themselves as separated nation. Russian government used a program of deliberate Russification in the 80s of the 19th century and even elementary education was allowed only in the Russian language. Revolutionary unrests of 1905-07 were turned more against German landowners and Russian policy of national oppression, less the fight simply better social life. For the time of 1st World War as Germans occupied West-Latvia 1/5 of all 2.5 million inhabitants became refugees and practically all-local industry was moved to Russia. The collapse of the Russian Empire after Word War I provided the opportunity to establish an independent state. Finally, on November 18th 1918 Latvia declared itself as independent Republic. After the last Freedom Fights against German troops under General Bermont in 1919 Latvians enjoyed two decades of statehood. At the time of Word War II the Soviet Union forcefully annexed Latvia after the Soviet-German Molotov-Ribbentrop pact (signed August23, 1939) in 1940. Genocide against Latvian Nation as bloody terror and massive deportation to Siberia took place in 1941 and 1949. Half a century later in 1991 Latvians asserted their independence and broke away from the crumbling Soviet State. Since that time the Communist mismanagement has been replaced by thriving market economy creating various tourist facilities and services. Latvians see the future of their country within the ranks of EU and NATO to ensure their independence and prosperity.
2004-09-15 |