Lithuanians

Lithuanians are a Baltic ethnic group, associated with Lithuania and the Lithuanian language. Most of them live in Lithuania - nearly 3 million according to the 2001 census. About another million make up the Lithuanian diaspora. The Lithuanian ethnos has been influenced by Slavic and Germanic peoples in the past. Most Lithuanians belong to the Roman Catholic Church, with significant minorities of Protestants and members of the Eastern Orthodox church. The Lithuanian language is part of the Indo-European linguistic family.

History

The territory of the Balts, including modern Lithuania, was once occupied by several Baltic tribal entities (Sudovians, Lamatians, Curonians, Selonians, Samogitians, Nadruvians and others), attested by ancient sources and dating from prehistoric times. Over the centuries, and especially under the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, some of these tribes consolidated into the Lithuanian nation, mainly as a defense against the marauding Teutonic Order and Russian tribesmen. During the process they converted suddenly to Christianity. Lithuanians were the last surviving non-nomadic European nation to abandon paganism.

Related Topics:
Sudovians - Lamatians - Curonians - Selonians - Samogitians - Nadruvians - Grand Duchy of Lithuania - Christianity - Paganism

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Since the time of Grand Duchy, Lithuanian territory has shrunk - once Lithuanians made up a majority of population not only in what is now Lithuania, but also in northwestern Belarus, in large areas of the territory of modern Kaliningrad Oblast of Russia, and in some parts of modern Latvia and Poland.

Related Topics:
Lithuania - Belarus - Kaliningrad Oblast - Russia - Latvia - Poland

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However, due to a late medieval view that the Lithuanian language was unprestigious, a preference for the Polish language in the territories of the Polish-Lithuanian commonwealth, as well as a preference for the German language in the territories of the former East Prussia (now Kaliningrad Oblast of Russia) nation of Lithuanian speakers shrank. Subsequent imperial Russian occupation accelerated this process due to process of russification (ban on public speaking and writing in Lithuanian, actions against Catholic church). It was believed by some at the time that the nation as such would become extinct within a few generations.

Related Topics:
Polish-Lithuanian commonwealth - German language - East Prussia - Kaliningrad Oblast - Russia - Imperial Russian

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At the end of the 19th century a Lithuanian cultural and linguistic revival occurred. Some of Polish- and Belarussian-speaking Lithuanians still affiliated themselves with the Lithuanian nation, although others did not. Lithuania declared independence after World War I, which helped in national consolidation. A standard Lithuanian language was approved. However, the eastern parts of Lithuania were occupied by Poland as the Vilnius region, while the western were controlled by Germany. During and after World War II Lithuania was occupied by the Soviet Union. Long-standing communities of Lithuanians in the Kaliningrad Oblast ("Lithuania Minor") and in the Belarussian SSR were almost destroyed as a result.

Related Topics:
19th century - World War I - Poland - Vilnius region - Germany - World War II - Soviet Union - Kaliningrad Oblast - Lithuania Minor - Belarussian SSR

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A Lithuanian nation as such remained primarily in Lithuania, in a few villages in Poland and Latvia and also in the hearts and minds of a diaspora of emmigrants. Some of indigenous Lithuanians still remains in Belarus and Kaliningrad Oblast, but the numbers are small compared to what they used to be. Lithuania regained independence in 1990 and was generally recognised de facto in 1991. It became a member of the European Union on May 1, 2004. While otherwise positively regarded, some people see it as a threat to the nation once again, due to the continuing emigration of Lithuanians, immigration of outsiders, and influence of English together with an invasion of western culture.

Related Topics:
Poland - Latvia - 1990 - 1991 - European Union - May 1 - 2004 - English

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