History
The territory of present-day Latvia has been inhabited from 9,000 years BC. Latvians are descended from Baltic tribes that arrived in around 2,000 BC. Due its important geographical position, Latvia has always been desired, fought over and occupied by various larger powers including Russia, Germany, Poland and Sweden.
German traders established their first camp on the banks of the river Daugava in 1054. German archbishop Albert of Livonia founded the city of Riga in 1201. Later, the city became a key member of the famous European trading alliance called the Hanseatic League.
In the 13th century, German crusaders gradually progressed further into Latvian territory converting the local peoples to Christianity - often by force. They also started to collect taxes and reorganized the distribution of land.
The Duchy of Kurzeme (Curland) and The Duchy of Pardaugava appeared because of the success of the Polish-Lithuanian Kingdom during the Livonian Wars (1558-1583).
Sweden gained most of the Duchy of Pardaugava after success in the Polish-Swedish War (1600-1629).
Russia came to occupy the whole of present-day Latvian territory during 18th century largely because of its success in the Northern War (1700-1721) against Sweden after which Vidzeme, the Northern region of Latvia, came under the Russian rule.
Russia gained Latgale, the Eastern region of Latvia, during the second division of Poland in 1772 and the Duchy of Kurzeme, the western part of Latvia, in 1795.
From 1804, the power of German nobles over Latvians gradually diminished. The liberation of the serfs took place in Kurzeme in 1818, Vidzeme in 1819 and Latgale in 1861. Latvian farmers began to create their own farmsteads, Latvian language flourished and advances were made in education and culture.
By the end of the 19th century, Riga was the third biggest industrial city in the Russian Empire (after Moscow and St Petersburg) according the number of employees, and it was the fourth largest city (after Moscow, St Petersburg and Ivanova) according its produce.
Because of WWI and the revolution, Russia's influenced was sufficiently weakened to give Latvia its chance to announce independence on 18 November 1918.
During its first twenty years as an independent state, Latvia experienced rapid growth in all spheres - economy, foreign affairs and culture. Germany (imports) and the United Kingdom (exports) became the main European trading partners.
For a short while, there was an authoritarian regime in Latvia when Karlis Ulmanis seized power in a 1934 coup. After the initial crisis, the country flourished economically (1936-1939) and Ulmanis became a popular president. Latvia signed a non-aggression pact with Germany in 1939 in an effort to maintain its neutrality.
The country's destiny was decided by the infamous Molotov-Ribentrop pact that was signed between Germany and the Soviet Union on 23 August 1939. The secret protocol stipulated the spheres of interest of both countries. According to this protocol, the Soviet Union re-occupied Latvia on 17 June 1940. Soviet occupation was followed by two major spates of deportations (1945 and 1956 TBC) when thousands of people were sent to Siberia in cattle wagons. Many died on the way, others because of harsh living conditions and hard labor.
The Soviet policy of 'russification' continued by shipping in workers and establishing military bases. The western coast and the whole city of Liepaja were isolated from the rest of the country and accessible only with special permits.
Latvia remained under Soviet rule until the communist system collapsed. The so-called 'Singing Revolution' of 1991 was followed by re-establishing Latvian independence on 21 August. Latvia became a full member of the European Union and NATO in 2004.
