How did Latvia get its name?
During the time of the Crusades, German—or, more precisely, Saxon—overseas expansion reached the eastern shores of the Baltic. Because the people occupying the coast of Latvia were the Livs, the German invaders called the country Livland, a name rendered in Latin as Livonia.
How was Latvia called before?
Livonians lived along the shores of the Gulf of Riga and were fishers and traders, and they gave the first German name to this territory – Livland. Before the German invasions started in late 12th century, Latvia was inhabited by about 135,000 Baltic people and 20,000 Livonians.
What were Latvians called?
Latvians (Latvian: latvieši) are a Baltic ethnic group and nation native to Latvia and the immediate geographical region, the Baltics. They are occasionally also referred to as Letts, although this term is becoming obsolete. Latvians share a common Latvian language, culture and history.
Who are Latvians descended from?
Latvians are the descendants of Baltic tribes that arrived at the area ~4000 years ago, making them one of the oldest European nations in the current location. For several millennia modern-day Latvia was largely untouched by outsiders, away from the main migration and trade routes, worshiping is own gods.
Is Latvian a Slav?
So in short, Latvians as an ethnic group are NOT Slavic, despite some historic influences on our language and culture and the mixed ancestry of some Latvians, however Latvia as a country is only somewhat Slavic at most, and only due to its big Russian-speaking minority (Russian is not an official language, though).
What does the word Livonia mean?
Livonia in British English (lɪˈvəʊnɪə ) noun. a former Russian province on the Baltic, north of Lithuania: became Russian in 1721; divided between Estonia and Latvia in 1918.
Are Latvians Prussian?
The Latvian and Lithuanian people have the Old Prussians to thank more than anyone else for their existence. The Old Prussians belonged to the Western Baltic group of tribes, which also included the Curonians, Samogitians, Skalvians, Galindians and Yotvingians.
What race is Latvia?
In the beginning of 2017, the ethnic distribution of Latvia’s population was 62 \% Latvians, 25.4 \% Russians, 3.3 \% Belorussians, 2.2 \% Ukrainians, 2.1 \% Poles, 5\% other ethnicities (Lithuanians, Jews, Roma, Germans, Estonians, Tatars, and others).
What is the history of Latvia history?
History of Latvia. 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.
When did Latvian Livonia start trading?
Medieval Livonia in 1260. By the end of the 12th century, Latvia was increasingly often visited by traders from Western Europe who set out on trading journeys along Latvia’s longest river, the Daugava, to Kievan Rus’.
Is latlatvia a member of the European Union?
Latvia is a member of the European Union, Eurozone, NATO, the Council of Europe, the United Nations, CBSS, the IMF, NB8, NIB, OECD, OSCE, and WTO .
What is the official language of Latvia?
There are small groups of Belarusians, Ukrainians, Poles, Lithuanians, and others. The official language of Latvia is Latvian; however, nearly one-third of the population speaks Russian. Smaller numbers speak Romany, the Indo-Aryan language of the Roma (Gypsies), and Yiddish, a Germanic language.