Culture of Latvia combines traditional Latvian and Livonian heritage with influences of the country's varied historical heritage. This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... The proto-Baltic forefathers of the Latvian people have lived on the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea since the third millennium BC [1]. At the beginning of this era the territory known today as Latvia became famous as a trading crossroads. ...

History

The territory of Latvia has been populated since 9000 BC. Baltic tribes, the ancestors of present day Latvians arrived around 3000 BC. In the 12th Century, Baltic Germans settled in Latvia and gradually became the upper class and rulers of Latvia, while Latvians and other local people becamed serfs. This caused Germanisation of educated inhabitants of other nationalities, yet preserved some local traditions. In the 19th century, when serfdom was abolished, a Latvian nationalist movement, the first Latvian National Awakening, begun. Led by Young Latvians, it encouraged Latvians to become artists and scholars, while preserving their cultural heritage and language. The movement was lessened by a period of Russification, followed by leftist movement New Current on the turn of the 20th century. The beginning of the 20th century is known as a classic period of Latvian culture and the second Latvian National Awakening, which led to the proclamation of an independendent Latvia in 1918. In 15 May 1934, Kārlis Ulmanis seized power in a coup d'etat and established an authoritarian regime, which lasted only a few years until the Second World War. However, it is seen as a sort of Golden Age by Latvians. After the war, Latvia lost its independence as it was annexed by USSR and became the Latvian SSR. The Soviet rule ended in 1990 during the third Latvian National Awakening. http://www. ... (11th century - 12th century - 13th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 12th century was that century which lasted from 1101 to 1200. ... The Baltic Germans (German: , Deutschbalten; literally German Balts) were ethnically German inhabitants of the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea, which today forms the countries of Estonia and Latvia. ... Costumes of Slaves or Serfs, from the Sixth to the Twelfth Centuries, collected by H. de Vielcastel, from original Documents in the great Libraries of Europe. ... The Latvian National Awakening (in Latvian: latvieÅ¡u [or latvju] tautas atmoda) refers to three distinct but ideologically related nationalist movements: the First Awakening refers to the national revival led by the Young Latvians from the 1850s to the 1880s, the Second Awakening to the movement that led to the... The Young Latvians (in Latvian: jaunlatvieÅ¡i) is the term most often applied to the intellectuals of the first Latvian National Awakening (in Latvian: tautas atmoda), active from the 1850s to the 1880s. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... In the history of Latvia, the New Current (in Latvian, Jaunā strāva; participants in the movement are called jaunstrāvnieki) was a broad leftist social and political movement that followed the First Latvian National Awakening (led by the Young Latvians from the 1850s to the 1880s) and culminated in... May 15 is the 135th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (136th in leap years). ... 1934 (MCMXXXIV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... Kārlis Ulmanis (b. ... A coup détat, or simply a coup, is the sudden overthrow of a government, usually done by a small group that just replaces the top power figures. ... Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km into the air. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... State motto: Visu zemju proletārieÅ¡i, savienojieties! Official language Latvian, Russian (de facto). ... The Latvian National Awakening (in Latvian: latvieÅ¡u [or latvju] tautas atmoda) refers to three distinct but ideologically related nationalist movements: the First Awakening refers to the national revival led by the Young Latvians from the 1850s to the 1880s, the Second Awakening to the movement that led to the...

People

The majority of inhabitants are Latvians. There is a culturally and linguistically distinct subgroup, the Latgalians, who inhabit the Latgale region in eastern Latvia. Another indigenous group are the Livonians, whose Finno-Ugric Livonian language is nearly extinct. The largest minority group is the Slavic people, notably Russians. Other well known minorities are Roma people, Baltic Germans and Jews, whose population decreased significantly after the Second World War, as well as Lithuanians and Estonians. The term Latgalians (also spelt Latgallians and sometimes known as Lettigalls, Latgolans, or Lettigallians) can refer to the inhabitants of the Latgale region in eastern Latvia in general, the ethnic Latvians of Latgale (especially those who speak the Latgalian dialect of Latvian), or to the ancient Baltic tribe. ... Latgale or Latgalia (Latvian: , Latgalian: Latgola; Polish: Łatgalia; German: Lettgallen; Russian: Латгалия) is one of the four cultural regions of Latvia recognised in the Constitution of the Latvian Republic. ... The Livonians were the indigenous Finnics who since ancient times populated the shores of the Gulf of Riga adjacent to the Indo-European Balts. ... Geographical distribution of Finno-Ugric (Finno-Permic in blue, Ugric in green). ... Livonian (Līvõ kēļ) belongs to the Finnic branch of the Finno-Ugric languages. ... The Slavic peoples are the most numerous ethnic and linguistic body of peoples in Europe. ... Languages Romani, languages of native region Religions Christianity, Islam Related ethnic groups South Asians (Desi) The Roma (singular Rom; sometimes Rroma, Rrom) or Romanies are an ethnic group living in many communities all over the world. ... The Baltic Germans (German: , Deutschbalten; literally German Balts) were ethnically German inhabitants of the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea, which today forms the countries of Estonia and Latvia. ... Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km into the air. ...

Regions

Historical regions of Latvia, together with Latvian cultural groups.

Latvia is divided into several cultural and historical regions - Vidzeme, Latgale, Kurzeme and Zemgale. Sometimes, Sēlija and Maliena are also distinguished. Livonia (Latvian: Livonija; Estonian: Liivimaa; German: Livland; Polish: Inflanty; Russian: Лифляндия or Liflandiya) once was the land of the Finnic Livonians, but came in the Middle Ages to designate a much broader territory controlled by the Livonian Order on the eastern coasts of the Baltic Sea in present-day Latvia and... Latgale or Latgalia (Latvian: , Latgalian: Latgola; Polish: Łatgalia; German: Lettgallen; Russian: Латгалия) is one of the four cultural regions of Latvia recognised in the Constitution of the Latvian Republic. ... Courland, Kurland, Couronia, or Curonia, a former Baltic province of the Teutonic Order state in Livonia (ca. ... Zemgale (also historically known as Semigallia or Semigalia) forms an historical region of Latvia, sometimes also including a part of Lithuania. ... The Lutheran church at LaÅ¡i, Selonia. ...

Architecture

Modern architecture in Riga

A form of traditional architecture in Latvia is log houses. The position of houses differs between regions. In western Latvia, single farms are more popular and in villages, the houses are positioned in a circle around a central square. In eastern Latvia, villages are more popular and houses are positioned along a main street. This is seen as an influence of nearby Russia. Coordinates: Founded 1201 Government  - Mayor Jānis Birks Area  - City 307. ... Modern milled or machine-profiled log home. ...