Belarus and the Baltic States Facts

Belarus and the Baltic states relate to a number of countries that were under the rule of the USSR until 1991. They refer to the countries of Belarus, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia and are marshy, low-lying countries next to the Baltic Sea. Many of these countries were fought over by other domineering cultures for centuries. Because they really never had a chance to develop their own individuality, these countries are often poor.

Fun Facts about Belarus:

Population: Belarus has a population of 10,200,000 people.
Estonia has 1,400,000 people
Latvia has 2,400,000 people
Lithuania has 3,700,000 people

Area: Belarus is 80,254 sq miles
Estonia is 17,423 sq miles
Latvia is 24,938 sq miles
Lithuania is 25,174 sq miles

Religions: All of the Baltic States share Christianity as the most common religion; Orthodox and Catholic are the two dominant Christian religions.

Literacy percentage: 99%
People living in the Baltic States can expect to live between 69-72 years

Language: Each of the countries has their own language.

History Facts:

Throughout history the small countries known as the Baltic States have tried to maintain their own cultures and traditions. The people of Lithuania and Latvia were known as the ‘Baltic peoples’, however those that are from Estonia were known as ‘Finnic peoples’. After the Middle Ages and post-Livonian Crusade, the people within this region were also called ‘Baltic German’.

• Language in each country has often intertwined and intersected, even though each country maintains their own unique language. Languages of Latvia and Lithuania are very similar while that of Estonia is completely different.
• Prior to the 19th Century the name ‘Baltic Sea’ was not used. After that the name referred to ‘fair or white’ as it related to the people that lived in the countries along the Baltic Sea.

The people living in the Baltic States were considered to be pagans in the 13th century and were targeted by the Northern Crusades to convert them to Christianity. Once the lands were conquered and converted they were divided up into four areas known as ‘bishoprics’.

The Baltic States were the center of many battles throughout history and Northern Estonia was even purchased in the middle of the 14th century by the Teutonic Order. Many of the crusaders that fought the battles were of German descent and this influence both the traditions, record-keeping and language of the countries through the first half of the twentieth century.

While Lithuania was also a special target for possession, they managed to keep their country somewhat free to become the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in 1252. Their alignment with Poland created a dynastic union and in 1569 they became the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.

Russia was ruled by their Tsars and the Baltic Sea was their only access to the ocean. Over the years many of the Tsars along with other countries continued to try to take over the Baltic States due to their coast lines. The Baltic States were attacked, joined other countries in treaties and alliances and were absorbed and borders changed.

One of the things that happened in the restructuring of the borders was the dissolving of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1795. At that time, the territories were absorbed into three countries: Kingdom of Prussia, the Russian empire and the Habsburg Empire.

• The name ‘Baltic States’ didn’t actually occur until after World War I, and it referred to those countries that had become free of the Russian empire.
• The Soviet Army entered Poland in 1939 and convinced the surrounding countries to enter into a treaty (of sorts). By 1940 all of the countries that we know as the Baltic States were taken over by the Soviets and the people experienced horrible treatment under the rule of the Soviets.

Strangely, the people in these countries looked to the Nazi Germany invasion as liberators from the cruelty of the Soviets but by 1945 the Soviet occupation was continued and many people lost their farms, homes and were deported to other countries.

The demand for their independence brought the countries into direct conflict with the Soviet Union but by 1991, the communist regime was experiencing problems and they finally recognized the independent countries and by 1998, the Soviets left the countries.