The Early History of Latvia - 8-3-2026 309

In 3000 BCE, Latvia was inhabited by the Comb Ceramic Culture. By 2000 BCE, they mostly left. Bu 1000 BCE, a subgroup of the Slavs called the Balts settled in Latvia and the surrounding regions. By 601 AD, the Balts became distinct tribes including the Livonians, the Letts, and the Lithuanians. By 1020 AD, the Slavic kingdom of the Kievan Rus' colonized Semigalla. The Germans founded the city of Riga in 1201 AD. The next year in 1203, the Germans founded the Knights of the Sword in western Livonia. In 1209 AD, they expanded to the east bordering Novgorod. In 1222 AD, the Knights of the Sword colonized Riga. In 1225 AD, the Knights of the Sword expanded north, gaining southern Estonia, parts of eastern Latvia, and the islands of Osiel and Wiek. In 1237 AD, the Knights of the Sword were defeated by the Samogitians and Semigallans at the battle of Saule and it was incorporated into the Teutonic order. In 1238 AD, the Teutonic Knights colonized the Letts. In 1240 AD, the Teutonic knights expanded their southern territory to the east. In 1256 AD, they expanded their southern territory even farther to the east. In 1310 AD, the Teutonic Knights expanded their southern territory to the west. In 1329 AD, the Teutonic Knights united their northern and southern territory with a strip of land. In 1347 AD, the Teutonic Knights bought Estonia from Denmark. In 1399 AD, the Teutonic Knights signed a peace treaty with Poland-Lithuania gaining western Lithuania. They also colonized the island of Gotland. In 1410 AD, the Teutonic Knights gave the island of Gotland to the Kalmar union. In 1411 AD, Poland-Lithuania conquered through Teutonic Lithuania and made it to the Baltic sea coast. In 1467 AD, Poland-Lithuania conquered the Teutonic Knights' southern territory. For more history of Latvia, see the next paragraph! -- Written by Vikenait Productions