Baltic countries

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Image:Baltic sea map.jpg 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.

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Baltic Sea countries and Balticum

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 local languages, including Scandinavian and German, for the territory of the Baltic states and historical East Prussia. In a historical context, it includes the lands of: Estonia, Livonia, Courland, Latvia, Prussia (or East Prussia), and Lithuania.

Baltic states

Image:Baltic states map.png In matters of politics, the Baltic states are three specific countries: Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. All three have been members of the European Union since 2004.

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 by some English speakers to hint that the three countries were under Soviet occupation.

The Baltic states are today liberal democracies, parliamentary republics, and very quickly growing market economies.

Despite the common name, it is often indicated that the three Baltic states have little else in common than their location and, to lesser degree, a shared 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 few shared influences.

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, Poland, Denmark, Sweden, Muscovy, and other Russian principalities.

By around 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 sometimes considered a fourth Baltic state. For example, in the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact of 1939, in which Nazi Germany relinquished Finland to the Soviet "sphere of interest", Finland was mentioned as one of the Baltic states. Since then, the Finnish have accepted the view that Finland is one of the Nordic countries. By late 1944, the Soviet Army drove the German troops back West and reached the region again. They re-established full control by early 1945. The Baltic republics were annexed into USSR as the Estonian SSR, the Latvian SSR, and the Lithuanian SSR.

In the Cold War context, the Baltic countries were considered to be a part of Eastern Europe, but culturally and historically, it is more appropriate to view Estonia 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 and Estonia, present-day and historical connections to Finland, Sweden, and Denmark have also been important.

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. Rather than new states, they declared themselves to be restorations of the pre-war republics that had existed between the first and second world wars. This further emphasized 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 took the first steps towards the realization of their long-standing political goal (and their principal objective since leaving the Soviet Union), and applying 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. Integration with the Western world and with Western Europe has begun.

Language and Culture in the Baltic states

Although the three nations have much in common in their history and culture, they belong to two distinct language families. The Latvian and Lithuanian languages make up the group of Baltic languages and belong to the Indo-European languages family. The Estonian language belongs to the group of Finno-Ugric languages in the Uralic languages family, sharing close cultural and historical ties with the Finnish language and culture.

They also belong to different Christian denominations. Latvia and Estonia are mostly Lutheran (except for Russian minorities in these countries, which are 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 has somewhat diminished after World War II, but it remains one of three main foreign languages taught in schools (the other two being English and Russian). 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.

The Lithuanian capital, Vilnius (Wilna), has been called the "Lithuanian 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, particularly in the form of places of worship. Close to the capital is the famous castle of Trakai. The second-biggest city in Lithuania is Kaunas. It is more typically Lithuanian, and offers an old town dating from medieval times. One of the more unusual museums, the Devil Museum, can be found in this town. The western harbour city of Klaipėda may be also worth a visit. Popular Lithuanian seaside resorts include Nida on the Curonian Spit and Palanga.

Related statistics

The largest cities in Baltic states, by population, are:

The largest cities in Baltic states, by population of indigenous peoples (Lithuanians, Latvians and Estonians), are:

Other uses

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.

See also

External links

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