Lithuania This is a look into the history of Lithuania

Early settlement People are thought to have arrived in what is now know as Lithuania as early as 10,000 BC. The land was inhabited by Baltic tribes known as “Balts.” These tribes also included the Prussian, Yotvingian and original Latvian people. However Lithuania and Latvia are the only two remaining Baltic nationality's.

Formation of the Lithuanian state From the 9 th to the 11 th century Lithuania was raided by Vikings and kings of Denmark when they collected tributes. Which resulted in thousands of deaths and loss of precious metals and killing of livestock for food. These raids and killings forced the Lithuanians to take action, which meant creating an organised military force to defend themselves, The military was formed in the 12 th century. Now with there own military Lithuania began to raid other nations and with this power and wealth the country began to develop an early state.

Development The Lithuanian state began to develop, in the 14 th – 15 th century they began to build small cities and towns growing in size and population. In the 16 th century Lithuania developed a relation ship with Poland and the established a common wealth, however this only lasted up to the 19 th century. Lithuania was under the control of Germany but then became a Republic in Germany then took control of Lithuania again during World War II. Lithuania was home to approximately 260,000 Jews and during the holocaust around 90% of them were killed.

Soviet Lithuania In 1944 the Soviets reached Lithuania and under Stalin's regime, tens of thousands family’s were exiled and forced to move, nearly 120,000 people were deported. The soviets had control of Lithuania until 1991 when it got its independence and became the Lithuania it is today and it became a member of the EU on the 1 st of May 2004.