The history of Latvia began around 9000 BC with the end of the last glacial period in northern Europe. Ancient Baltic peoples arrived in the area during the second millennium BC, and four distinct tribal realms in Latvia's territory were identifiable towards the end of the first millennium AD. Latvia's principal river Daugava, was at the head of an important trade route from the Baltic region through Russia into southern Europe and the Middle East that was used by the Vikings and later Nordic and German traders.
In the early medieval period, the region's peoples resisted Christianisation and became subject to attack through the Livonian Crusade. Latvia's capital city Riga, founded in 1201 by Germans at the mouth of the Daugava, became a strategic base in a papally-sanctioned conquest of the area by the Livonian Brothers of the Sword. It was to be the first major city of the southern Baltic and, after 1282, a principal trading centre in the Hanseatic League.
By the 16th century, Baltic German dominance in Terra Mariana was increasingly challenged by other powers. Because of Latvia's strategic location and prosperous trading city of Riga, its territories were a frequent focal point for conflict and conquest between at least four major powers: the State of the Teutonic Order, the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, Sweden and the Russian Empire. The last period of external hegemony began in 1710, when control over Riga and parts of modern-day Latvia switched from Sweden to Russia during the Great Northern War. Under Russian control, Latvia was in the vanguard of industrialisation and the abolition of serfdom, so that by the end of the 19th century, it had become one of the most developed parts of the Russian Empire. The increasing social problems and rising discontent that this brought meant that Riga also played a leading role in the 1905 Russian Revolution.
The First Latvian National Awakening began in the 1850s and continued to bear fruit after World War I when, after two years of struggle in the Latvian War of Independence, Latvia finally won sovereign independence, as recognised by Soviet Russia in 1920 and by the international community in 1921. The Constitution of Latvia was adopted in 1922. Political instability and effects of the Great Depression led to the May 15, 1934 coup d'état by Prime Minister Kārlis Ulmanis. Latvia's independence was interrupted in June–July 1940, when the country was occupied and incorporated into the Soviet Union. In 1941 it was invaded and occupied by Nazi Germany, then reconquered by the Soviets in 1944–45.
From the mid-1940s Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic was subject to Soviet economic control and saw considerable Russification of its peoples. However, Latvian culture and infrastructures survived and, during the period of Soviet liberalisation under Mikhail Gorbachev, Latvia once again took a path towards independence, eventually succeeding in August 1991 to be recognised by Russia the following month. Since then, under restored independence, Latvia has become a member of the United Nations, entered NATO and joined the European Union.
Latvia's economy suffered greatly during the Great Recession which caused the 2008 Latvian financial crisis. Worsening economic conditions and better job opportunities in Western Europe have caused a massive Latvian emigration.[2]
^"British Museum Collection". Archived from the original on June 18, 2019. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
^"22.6 thousand Latvian residents chose to emigrate in 2013". Archived from the original on May 23, 2018. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
The historyofLatvia began around 9000 BC with the end of the last glacial period in northern Europe. Ancient Baltic peoples arrived in the area during...
traditionally practiced in Latvia is Christianity. As of 2019[update], it is the largest religion (68.84%), though only about 7% of the population attends...
features of the population of the historical territory ofLatvia include population density, ethnic background, education level, health of the populace...
Latvia (/ˈlætviə/ LAT-vee-ə, sometimes /ˈlɑːtviə/ LAHT-vee-ə; Latvian: Latvija Latvian pronunciation: [ˈlatvija]), officially the Republic ofLatvia is...
The economy ofLatvia is an open economy in Europe and is part of the European Single Market. Latvia is a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO)...
to as Letts, especially in older bibliography. Latvians share a common Latvian language, culture, history and ancestry. A Balto-Finnic-speaking tribe known...
The historyof the Jews in Latvia dates back to the first Jewish colony established in Piltene in 1571. Jews contributed to Latvia's development until...
In Latvia, Russians have been the largest ethnic minority in the country for the last two centuries. The number of Russians in Latvia more than quadrupled...
80% of the population ofLatvia, spoke Latvian in the 2000s, before the total number of inhabitants ofLatvia slipped to 1.8 million in 2022. Of those...
Latvia national football team (Latvian: Latvijas futbola izlase) represents Latvia in men's international football, and is controlled by the Latvian Football...
The Latvian National Armed Forces (Latvian: Latvijas Nacionālie bruņotie spēki), or NBS, are the armed forces ofLatvia. Latvia's defense concept is based...
background to these events, see HistoryofLatvia. See also the list of presidents ofLatvia. List of years in Latvia Timeline of Riga Plakans, Andrejs (2008)...
Latvian mythology is the collection of myths that have emerged throughout the historyofLatvia, sometimes being elaborated upon by successive generations...
The Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic (Latvian SSR), also known as Soviet Latvia or simply Latvia, was de facto one of the constituent republics of the...
After the occupation ofLatvia by the USSR in June 1940, much of the previous Latvian army was disbanded and many of its soldiers and officers were arrested...
Homosexuality in Latvia was decriminalised in 1992. In entertainment culture the crossing of the gender, for example cross-dressing, was a popular way of attracting...
Soviet occupation ofLatvia in 1940 Occupation ofLatvia by Nazi Germany (1941–1945) Soviet re-occupation ofLatvia in 1944 Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic...
influenced by its history, geopolitical location and culture. The status of women in Latvia has undergone many changes through history, especially as its...
The Latvian Orthodox Church (Latvian: Latvijas Pareizticīgā Baznīca) is an Eastern Orthodox church in Latvia, part of the wider Eastern Orthodoxy community...
University ofLatvia (Latvian: Latvijas Universitāte, shortened LU) is a public research university located in Riga, Latvia. The university was established...
The Latvian Legion (Latvian: Latviešu leģions) was a formation of the Nazi German Waffen-SS during World War II. Created in 1943, it consisted primarily...
This is a list of holidays in Latvia. Latvia's National Holidays, Remembrance and Festive Days, the Latvian Institute Law on public holidays, remembrance...
The national flag ofLatvia (Latvian: Latvijas karogs) was used by independent Latvia from 1918 until the country was occupied by the Soviet Union in...
events ofLatvia Military historyofLatvia Culture ofLatvia Architecture ofLatvia Cuisine ofLatvia Festivals in Latvia Humor in Latvia Languages of Latvia...
The historyof rail transport in Latvia began with the construction in 1860 of a railway from Pytalovo to Dinaburg (now Daugavpils), 160 km in length,...
This article gives an overview of liberalism in Latvia. It is limited to liberal parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation...
Latvian Americans are Americans who are ofLatvian ancestry. According to the 2008 American Community Survey, there are 93,498 Americans of full or partial...
Latvian War of Independence (Latvian: Latvijas Neatkarības karš), sometimes called Latvia's freedom battles (Latvijas brīvības cīņas) or the Latvian War...
Soviet occupation ofLatvia in 1940 refers to the military occupation of the Republic ofLatvia by the Soviet Union under the provisions of the 1939 Molotov–Ribbentrop...