1. Lithuania
By Maria Magabo

2. Quick Facts Eastern European country
Bordered by Russia, Latvia, Belarus, and Poland
Population around 3.5
million people
Maritime and continental
climate

3. A Quick History Lesson 1772-1795: Lithuania is annexed Russia
1920: Secures independence from Russia
1939: Hitler forces Lithuania to give up it’s city of Klaipeda and arrives there on March 22.
1939: Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia are annexed by the USSR.
1914: Nazis occupy Lithuania.
1944: Soviets occupy Lithuania (again).
1991: Civilians killed in capital city; Lithuania gains independence

4. Language Baltic language Related to Latvian and Old Prussian
3.5 million speakers in Lithuania
Considered as the oldest surviving Into- European language
Was banned from 1894 to 1904
Had to use Polish, Russian, Belarusian, or Latin instead
Language
Baltic language
Related to Latvian and Old Prussian
3.5 million speakers in Lithuania
Speakers in Poland, USA, Brazil, Argentina, Canada, the UK, and Uruguay
Considered the oldest surviving Indo-European language
Thought to still retain features of the Proto-Indo-European language like pitch-accent and a complex inflexional case system
Some words resemble those found in Sanskrit and Latin
First dictionary printed during 17th century
1864 to 1904, Czar outlaws public use of Lithuanian
Printing and teaching of Lithuanian was banned.
Had to use Polish, Russian, Belorussian, or Latin instead

5. The Arts Multicultural influences prominent in art
Cultural and casual life was put to a stop under Soviet regime
Artists and writers adapted socialist realism as their main style
Professional music completely stopped

6. Sagittarius by Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis
Maironis (poet)

7. Religion
Stayed predominantly pagan until Grand Duke married Polish Queen
Mostly Roman Catholic today
Many traditions revolve around Christian traditions

8. Government Parliamentary democracy
Unicameral legislature (called the Seimas)
Constitution adapted on October 25, 1992
Judicial branch includes Supreme Court, Constitutional Court, and Court of Appeals
Executive branch includes prime minister and president

9. Lithuania’s current prime minister
The Seimas
Lithuania’s current president