How Lithuania Expanded, Lost Land, and Regained Independence

Mapper Maniac

Lithuania’s territory changed dramatically over time, growing from a cluster of Baltic tribes into one of medieval Europe’s largest states. After Mindaugas united the tribes and became the first king of Lithuania, the country expanded eastward into lands weakened by the Mongol invasions and pushed almost to the Black Sea.  The story then follows the rise of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1569, the long decline that ended with partition and absorption into the Russian Empire, and the return of independence after World War I, even as Vilnius remained under Polish control. In 1940, the USSR annexed Lithuania, before the country became the first Soviet republic to declare independence in 1990 and establish its modern borders.  A concise history and map-style explanation of Lithuania territorial change, medieval expansion, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, Russian Empire rule, Soviet annexation, and modern Baltic history. Ideal for viewers searching for European history, geopolitical maps, and fast historical timeline summaries.

Transcript

00:00How did Lithuania's territory change over time? Lithuania was made up of Baltic tribes,

00:05who were one of the last pagan tribes in Europe, until 1230 when the Teutonic Order launched

00:11crusades in order to spread Christianity. Then Mindagas began uniting the tribes and became

00:17the first king of Lithuania. Because the Mongols devastated the lands to the east,

00:22Lithuania took advantage of this and expanded massively towards the Black Sea. They conquered

00:27so much land that they became a minority in their own country. In 1569 they united with Poland,

00:33forming the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. But over the next centuries, the Commonwealth was

00:38partitioned and Lithuania was absorbed into Russia. After World War I, Lithuania became independent,

00:45even though their capital, Vilnius, was controlled by Poland. In 1940, the USSR annexed them, and in

00:521990, Lithuania became the first country to declare independence from the USSR, forming its modern

00:59borders.

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