Baltic countries
For disambiguation, see Baltic.The terms "
Baltic countries", "
Baltic Sea countries", "
Baltic states", and "
Balticum" refer to slightly different combinations of countries in the general area surrounding the
Baltic Sea.
Geographically, the
Baltic Sea countries are countries that have access to the Baltic Sea:
Denmark,
Estonia,
Finland,
Germany,
Latvia,
Lithuania,
Poland,
Russia, and
Sweden.
The Baltic Sea countries, together with
Norway,
Iceland and the
European Union form the
Council of the Baltic Sea States.
Balticum is the geographic term used in several languages, including
Scandinavian and
German, which usually denotes the territory corresponding to modern
Estonia,
Latvia, and
Lithuania. In some contexts, the term
Balticum includes the historically or culturally German-dominated lands, or provinces, of Estonia,
Livonia,
Courland and
Latgale (corresponding to modern Estonia and Latvia), as well as sometimes
East Prussia, while Lithuania is sometimes excluded.
The
Baltic states refer to
Estonia,
Latvia and
Lithuania. Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania were controlled by the Soviet Union during
1940-
1941 and
1944(
1945)-
1991, and have been members of the
European Union and the
NATO alliance since
2004. Today the three countries are
liberal democracies,
parliamentary republics, and very quickly growing market economies. Based on history (especially post-war history) and its political system,
Finland is seen as a
Nordic country rather than a Baltic state (though was often considered as such before the Second World War).
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A contemporary transnational Euroregion encompasses the islands of the Baltic countries. |
It is often indicated that Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia have little else in common other than their geographic proximity, similar small size, and to lesser degree, a shared recent history. Estonia aspires in direction of their
Finnic brethren and the
Nordic countries, while Lithuania focuses on its connection to
Poland and
Central Europe, and Latvia concentrates on the transit between
Russia and the Western countries. Some political scientists consider Lithuania as part of
Central Europe, due to its historical focus on the European mainland.
In the
Cold War context, the four Baltic States were considered to be a part of
Eastern Europe, but culturally and historically, it is more appropriate to view Estonia, Finland, and parts of Latvia as part of
Northern Europe, Lithuania and parts of Latvia as part of
Central Europe, where the historical impact of the
Hanseatic League, the
Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, the
Russian Empire, and the
German Empire have been of crucial importance. For Latvia, Estonia, and Finland, historical connections to
Denmark and
Sweden have also been important.
It should be noted that although politically the present-day Baltic countries are
republics, the term "
Baltic republics" often refers to something different: the
Soviet republics of Baltic countries.
The term "
state" is used as a synonym of "
sovereign country", which is distinct from
non-sovereign states (the kind to be found in
federations and
confederations). Before the
fall of the Soviet Union, the term "Baltic state" was used by some
English speakers to hint that the four countries were under Soviet influence or occupation. In Finland the term "
Finlandisation" was used to describe the heavy Soviet influence on her politics.
The Baltic states are the only three former Soviet Republics that are not affiliated in any way with the
Commonwealth of Independent States.
History of the Baltic states
The histories of today's Baltic countries took a first "common turn" in the 13th century when
Christianity and
feudalism were effectively introduced to the region by the invasion of the
crusaders from the west (
German Sword Brethren,
Denmark) and the conversion of Lithuania's rulers from
Paganism to Christianity. Over the subsequent centuries, these lands became a battlefield between the
Teutonic Order, the
Hanseatic League,
Poland,
Denmark,
Sweden,
Muscovy, and other Russian principalities. However,
Lithuania became the only of the current three to establish its own state as
Grand Duchy of Lithuania in 1252, which later evolved into a political superpower of the region (in
personal union with Poland).
By about
1582, almost the whole territory of the Baltic states (other than northern Estonia) was under the overlordship of the
Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
In the
18th and
19th centuries, the Baltic provinces (
Curonia,
Livonia,
Estonia and
Ingria) and
Lithuania in the
19th century, albeit with names and borders different from the present-day countries, were part of the
Russian Empire.
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania became sovereign nations in the aftermath of
World War I. They declared independence in
1918, fought
independence wars against German
freikorps and
Bolshevist Russia, and were recognized as independent countries in
1920.
Prior to
World War II,
Finland was occasionally considered a fourth Baltic state. For example, in the
Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact of August
1939, Finland was mentioned as one of the Baltic states when relinquished by
Nazi Germany to the Soviet "sphere of interest" (quotation required). Since 1917, after the country's independence, Finland and Scandinavia re-established their former connections and a community of similar states known in the English language as the
Nordic countries emerged.
Following the Nazi-Soviet pact of 1939, the Soviet Army entered eastern Poland as well as military bases in the Baltic states which were granted after USSR had threatened the three countries with military invasion. In June
1940, the
Red Army occupied the whole territory of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, and installed new, pro-Soviet governments in all three countries. Following rigged elections, in which only pro-communist candidates were allowed to run, the newly "elected" parliaments of the three countries formally applied to "join" USSR in August
1940 and were annexed into it as the
Estonian SSR, the
Latvian SSR, and the
Lithuanian SSR.
The Soviet control of the Baltic states was interrupted by
Nazi German invasion of the region in
1941. The German occupation lasted until late
1944 (in Courland, until early
1945), when the countries were re-occupied by the Red Army. In all three countries, Baltic
partisans, known colloquially as the
Forest Brothers, waged unsuccessful guerilla warfare against the Soviet occupation for the next eight years in a bid to regain their nations' independence.
The three Baltic nations re-declared their
independence between
1990 and
1991, and their independence was recognized by the
Soviet Union on
September 6, 1991. An integration with the
Western world and with
Western Europe was chosen as the main strategic goal.
Rather than new states, they declared themselves to be restorations of the pre-war republics, thus further emphasizing their contention (
adhered to worldwide, but contested by some Russian governments) that Soviet domination over the Baltic nations during the
Cold War period had been an illegal occupation and annexation.
In
2002 the Baltic nations applied to become members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (
NATO) and the European Union (
EU). Membership of NATO was duly achieved on
March 29,
2004, and accession to the EU took place on
May 1,
2004.
Language and Culture in the Baltic states
Despite the three nations' similarities in culture and history, their languages belong to two distinct language families. The
Latvian and
Lithuanian languages make up the group of
Baltic languages which belongs to the
Indo-European language family.
[Along with the defunct Old Prussian language, Latvian and Lithuanian can be linked to the Balto-Slavic group of the Indo-European languages. The student of both Slavic and Latvian or Lithuanian languages will find numerous common roots.] The
Estonian language, on the other hand, is a non-Indo-European language and instead belongs to the
Baltic-Finnic subgroup of the
Finno-Ugric languages, sharing close cultural and historical ties with the
Finnish language and culture.
The peoples of the Baltic countries also belong to different Christian denominations. Believers in Latvia and Estonia are mostly
Lutheran (except for
Russian minorities in these countries, which are predominantly
Orthodox), while Lithuania is principally
Catholic.
Due to a long period of Germanic domination, starting in the middle ages,
German language also has an important role. Its role diminished greatly after
World War II when the Baltic states were forcefully absorbed into the Soviet Union, but it remains one of three main foreign languages taught in schools (the other two being
English and
Russian).
[During the period of Soviet control, Russian became the most commonly studied foreign language at all levels of schooling, but knowledge of German remained fairly common among the older generations. After the Baltic states achieved independence in 1991, while German made a comeback as a language of study it was English that became the most commonly studied foreign language, and the role of Russian language in education fell sharply.] The
Baltic states have historically also been in the
Swedish and
Russian spheres of influence. Following the period of Soviet domination, ethnic
Russian immigrants from former USSR and their descendants today make up a sizable minority in the Baltic states, particularly in Latvia (about one-third of the population) and Estonia (one-fourth of the population).
Tourism of the Baltic states
The Baltic states are in fact very different, despite being frequently grouped together. They are considered to be sparsely-populated countries, known for unspoilt
nature,
amber and
medieval cities, mostly former members of the
Hanseatic League. Today, the Baltic states are dynamic countries with a young population and cities offering great cultural opportunities, and cozy pubs and restaurants. The Baltic countries are known to offer affordable vacations.
A favourite place to visit in Estonia is the capital city
Tallinn (Reval), an old, walled medieval town with several cathedrals and churches, romantic little streets, and a harbour with ferry lines to
Sweden and
Finland. The tourist area of the city can be awash with foreign visitors. In Southern Estonia, there is the famous old university town of
Tartu (Dorpat). Estonia offers beautiful islands such as
Saaremaa and
Hiiumaa, and lakes such as
Lake Peipus. Estonia is ideal for recreation in free nature and in the woods. Long distance buses provide frequent and affordable links within Estonia.
The Latvian capital,
Riga, is the largest city of the Baltics, with about 800,000 inhabitants. Riga is famous for its
Art Nouveau architecture, broad boulevards, and cosmopolitan flair. The Latvian countryside is similar to that found in Scandinavia, but is much more affordable. Latvia offers a long Baltic Sea coastline with harbour towns like
Liepāja and
Ventspils, and seaside resorts like
Jūrmala. The countryside offers picturesque little towns, often with medieval centres.
Most visits to Lithuania start with capital,
Vilnius (Polish/Jewish: Wilno/Wilna), which is also known as "Northern Jerusalem" because of its many churches and its formerly significant
Jewish minority. Remains of Polish, Jewish, and Lithuanian cultures can be found in the old town, which is one of the largest in Central Europe and recognized as
UNESCO World Heritage site. Close to the capital is the historical capital of
Trakai with its lake island-castle, as well as the country's early days capital
Kernavė, a prominent archeological site, often referred to as "Baltic Troy", also included into the UNESCO
World Heritage list. Besides, the site of the
geographic Centre of Europe as indicated by the French Geographical Institute lies in the vicinity of the capital. The country offers unspoiled nature with its many forests, lakes and the sandy seaside. The stunning
Curonian Spit sand peninsula at the Baltic Sea is also in the UNESCO World Heritage list. On the way from the capital to the sea-side is Lithuania's interwar capital
Kaunas. The city boasts a
Hanseatic old town, while the modern area contains probably the densest concentration of pre-war
Functionalism architecture in Europe. In the north, on the way to
Riga and close to the city of
Siauliai lies the unique
Hill of Crosses - an impressive site of Catholic pilgrimage and faith. In the south, near the spa-town of
Druskininkai, is "Stalin's World" (
Grutas park) site which packs monuments to Lenin and other Soviet leaders, which were erected all over Lithuania by Soviets and removed after they left.
Related statistics
The largest cities in Baltic states, by population, are:
*
Riga (739,232)
*
Vilnius (553,904)
*
Tallinn (401,694)
*
Kaunas (378,943)
*
Klaipėda (192,954)
*
Šiauliai (133,883)
*
Panevėžys (119,749)
*
Daugavpils (115,265)
*
Tartu (100,482)
*
Liepāja (89,448)
The largest cities in Baltic states, by population of
indigenous peoples (
Lithuanians,
Latvians and
Estonians), are:
*
Kaunas (352,051)
*
Vilnius (318,510)
*
Riga (309,000)
*
Tallinn (215,114)
*
Klaipėda (137,557)
*
Šiauliai (124,263)
*
Panevėžys (114,585)
*
Tartu (80,397)
*
Alytus (69,390)
*
Marijampolė (47,555)
In matters of
ecology,
biology, or
geography,
Baltic countries usually refers to all of the countries around the Baltic Sea:
Sweden,
Norway,
Finland,
Russia,
Estonia,
Latvia,
Lithuania,
Russia's Kaliningrad Oblast,
Poland,
Germany and
Denmark.
*
Baltic Germans*
Baltic way*
Baltic region*
Baltic Russians*
Baltic Tiger*
Europe*
Nordic countries*
Northern Europe*
Scandinavia*
Soviet occupation of Baltic countries*
Tallinn tourism*
United Baltic Duchy*
Baltic Republics*
Baltia (Roman mythology)
*
Open directory*
Could the Baltic States have resisted to the Soviet Union?*
The Holocaust in the Baltics*
The Baltic Sea Information Centre*
The Virtual Library on Baltic Cultural Studiesroa-rup:Ţarâ Balteanâ
