The document provides a detailed overview of the history, geography, culture and politics of Lithuania. It discusses Lithuania's declaration of independence in 1918 and periods under Soviet and German occupation between World War 1 and 2. It also summarizes Lithuania's re-establishment of independence in 1990 following the fall of the Soviet Union and its entry into the European Union and NATO in 2004. Key figures and events mentioned include the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Christianization in 1387, and prominent Lithuanians such as Martynas Mažvydas and Česlovas Milošas.

1. Lithuania

2. Flag

3. Emblem

4. The National Hymn Lietuva, Tėvyne mūsų, Tu didvyrių žeme, Iš praeities Tavo sūnūs Te stiprybę semia. Tegul Tavo vaikai eina Vien takais dorybės, Tegul dirba Tavo naudai Ir žmonių gėrybei. Tegu saulė Lietuvoj Tamsumas prašalina, Ir šviesa, ir tiesa Mūs žingsnius telydi. Tegul meilė Lietuvos Dega mūsų širdyse, Vardan tos, Lietuvos Vienybė težydi! Official English translation [1] Lithuania, our homeland, Land of heroes! Let your sons draw their strength From our past experience Let your children always follow Only roads of virtue, May your own, mankind’s well-being Be the goals they work for May the sun above our land Banish darkening clouds around Light and truth all along Guide our steps forever May the love of Lithuania Brightly burn in our hearts. For the sake of this land Let unity blossom

5. President Dalia Grybauskaitė

6. Money The Lithuanian litas (ISO currency code LTL, symbolized as Lt; plural litai or litų ) is the currency of Lithuania. It is divided into 100 centų (genitive case; singular centas , nominative plural centai ). (1 Eu = 3,45 Lt).

8. Parliamentary Republic

9. Regions

10. Capital - Vilnius

11. Largest cities Kaunas Klaip ė da

12. Nature lakes rivers

13. Nature forests Dunes

14. Baltic sea

15. Sightseeings Trakai castle

16. Kaunas castle

17. Ventė Cape (Lithuanian: Ventės ragas ; sometimes referred to as Ventė Horn or Ventė Peninsula) is a headland in Nemunas Delta. It is known as a rest place for many birds during their migrations, particularly the autumn migration. One of the first bird ringing stations in Europe, still in operation, was opened here by Tadas Ivanauskas in 1929.

18. Open-Air Museum of the Centre of Europe

19. The geographical centre of Europe near Vilnius

20. The Hill of Crosses near Šiauliai

21. St. Anne's Church, Vilnius

22. Vilnius University was founded in 1579

23. History

24. Lithuania The history of Lithuania dates back to at least 1009, the first recorded written use of the term. In the autumn or at the end of 1008 Bruno and eighteen companions set out to found a mission among the Prussians; they succeeded in converting Netimer, a "king of Lithuanians", and then traveled to the east, heading very likely towards Yotvingia. Yotvingia was a Prussian region, then subordinate to Kievan Rus (since 983), that intersected the borders of what was then Prussia, Kievan Rus and the Duchy of Lithuania. Lithuanians later conquered neighboring lands, finally establishing the Kingdom of Lithuania in the 13th century.

25. Before statehood The first people arrived on the territory of modern Lithuania in the 10th millennium BC after the glaciers had retreated and the last glacial period had ended. According to historian Marija Gimbutas, the people came from two directions: from the Jutland Peninsula and from present-day Poland. They brought two different cultures as evidenced by the tools they used. They were traveling hunters and did not form more stable settlements. Crafts and trade also started to form at this time. Proto-Indo-Europeans came around 2500 BC, and the identity of the Balts formed about 2000 BC.

26. Kernav ė mounds The first Lithuanians were a branch of an ancient group known as the Balts, whose tribes also included the original Prussian and Latvian people. The Baltic tribes were not directly influenced by the Roman Empire, but the tribes did maintain close trade contacts (see Amber Road).

27. Grand Duchy of Lithuania Pagan Lithuania In the early 13th century two German religious orders, the Teutonic Knights and the Livonian Brothers of the Sword, conquered much of the area that is now Estonia and Latvia, in addition to parts of Lithuania. In response, a number of small Baltic tribal groups united under the rule of Mindaugas and soundly defeated the Livonians at Šiauliai in the Battle of Saule in 1236. In 1250 Mindaugas signed an agreement with the Teutonic Order and in 1251 was baptized in their presence by the bishop of Chełmno (in Chełmno Land.) On 6 July 1253, Mindaugas was crowned as King of Lithuania and state was proclaimed as Kingdom of Lithuania.

28. Christian Lithuania The Christianization of Lithuania (Lithuanian: Lietuvos krikštas ) was the event that took place in 1387, initiated by the Grand Duke of Lithuania and King of Poland Jogaila with his cousin Vytautas the Great, that signified the official adoption of Christianity by Lithuanians, one of the last pagan nations in Europe. This event ended one of the most complicated and lengthiest processes of Christianization in history. Fresco from Saint-Pierre-le-Jeune in Strasbourg, portraying 15 European states' path towards Christianity. Lithuania presented as the last figure.

29. Grand Duke of Lithuania Vytautas (Lithuanian: Vytautas Didysis (help·info) , Belarusian: Вітаўт , Polish: Witold Kiejstutowicz ; styled "the Great" from the 15th century onwards; c. 1350 – October 27, 1430) was one of the most famous rulers of medieval Lithuania. Vytautas was the ruler (1392–1430) of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania which chiefly encompassed the Lithuanians and Ruthenians. He was also the Prince of Hrodna (1370–1382) and the Prince of Lutsk (1387–1389), postulated king of Hussites. In modern Lithuania, Vytautas is revered as a national hero and was an important figure in the national rebirth in the 19th century. Vytautas is a popular male given name in Lithuania. Vytautas Magnus University was named after him. Monuments in his honour were built in many towns in the independent Republic of Lithuania during the interwar period, 1918–1939.

30. Lithuanian Renaissance In the 16th century, when many educated Lithuanians came back from studies abroad, Grand Duchy of Lithuania was boiling with active cultural life, sometimes referred to as Lithuanian Renaissance (not to be confused with Lithuanian National Revival in 19th century). At the time Italian architecture was introduced in Lithuanian cities, and Lithuanian literature written in Latin flourished. Also at the time emerged first handwritten and printed texts in the Lithuanian language, and began the formation of written Lithuanian language. The process was led by Lithuanian scholars Abraomas Kulvietis, Stanislovas Rapalionis, Martynas Mažvydas and Mikalojus Daukša.

31. Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (1569–1795) With the Union of Lublin of 1569 Poland and Lithuania formed a new state: the Republic of Both Nations (commonly known as Poland-Lithuania or the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth; Polish: Rzeczpospolita Obojga Narodow , Lithuanian: Abiejų Tautų Respublika ). Following the union, Polonization started to take place in Lithuanian public life, and took another 140 years to become a major factor. Under the influence of the Lithuanian upper classes and the church, who began to use Polish language more frequently[ who? ]. In 1696 Polish became an official language, replacing the previous Lithuanian language and Ruthenian languages.

32. Despite the Union and integration of the two countries, for nearly two centuries Lithuania continued to exist as the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, retaining separate laws as well as an Army and a Treasury.

33. Under Imperial Russia (1795–1914) Following the partitions of the Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth, the Russian Empire controlled the majority of Lithuania, including Vilnius, which made up a part of Vilna Governorate. In the early years of the 19th century, there were signs that Lithuania might be allowed some separate recognition by the Empire, however this never happened. Outline of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth with its major subdivisions as of 1619, superimposed on present-day national borders Kingdom of Poland Duchy of Prussia, Polish fief Grand Duchy of Lithuania Duchy of Courland, joint fief Livonia

34. Independent Lithuania (1918–1940) The Council adopted the Act of Independence of Lithuania on February 16, 1918. It declared that Lithuania is an independent republic, organized based on democratic principles. Germans, still present in the country, did not support such a declaration and hindered any attempts to establish the proclaimed independence.

35. First Soviet occupation In August 1939, Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union signed the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact, with secret clauses assigning spheres of influence in the area of the Baltic Sea. Lithuania, initially assigned to the German sphere of influence, was transferred to the Soviets in secret additional protocols of the German–Soviet Boundary and Friendship Treaty of September 28, 1939. The city of Vilnius was occupied by the Red Army during the invasion of Poland. Soviet-proposed Soviet–Lithuanian Mutual Assistance Pact transferred one fifth of the Vilnius Region (including Vilnius) to Lithuanian in exchange for stationing 20,000 Soviet troops within Lithuania.

36. Rebirth (1988–1990) In early 1990, Sąjūdis-backed candidates won the elections to the Lithuanian Supreme Soviet. On March 11, 1990, the Supreme Soviet proclaimed the re-establishment of Lithuanian independence. Lithuania was the first of the Soviet republics to declare independence. Act of the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania with signatures of the delegates

37. Building the new state (1991–2008) In October 2002 , Lithuania was invited to join the European Union (EU) and one month later to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO); it became a member of both in 2004.

38. Famous people Laurynas Gucevičius 1753 – 1798 considered to be the first professional Lithuanian architect Central palace in Verkiai The fa c ade of the Vilnius Cathedral

39. Martynas Mažvydas First Lithuanian book The Simple Words of Catechism published in 1547

40. Justinas Marcinkevičius Literature was a prominent Lithuanian poet and playwright er

41. Č eslovas Milo š as (1911–2004), recipient of the 1980 Nobel Prize for Literature

42. Oskaras Koršunovas Is a Lithuanian theatre director.

43. Violeta Urmanavičiūtė-Urmana Soprano vocalist

44. Nomeda Kazlauskaitė - Kazlaus opera singer (dramatic soprano) appearing internationally

45. Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis , painter and composer

46. Jonas Basanavičius the patriarch of Lithuania's independence

47. Valdas Adamkus President Valdas Adamkus (right) chatting with Vice President Dick Cheney (left)

48. Marija Gimbutienė an archeologist

49. Kazimieras Būga (November 6, 1879 – December 2, 1924) was a Lithuanian linguist and philologist.

50. Algirdas Julien Greimas (1917-1992) linguist who contributed to the theory of semiotics, and also researched Lithuanian mythology

51. Virgilijus Alekna (1972) 2-time Olympic, 2-time World and 1-time European champion in discus throwing

52. Daina Gudzinevičiūtė (born on 23 December 1965) an Olympic shooting champion from Lithuania.

53. Žydrūnas Savickas 5-time winner of the "Arnold‘s Strongest Man" 1st Place

54. Austra Skujytė Olympic medalist at women's heptathlon

55. Povilas Vanagas ( 1970) and Margarita Drobiazko Ice dancers They are the 2000 World bronze medalists, three-time Grand Prix Final bronze medalists, two-time European bronze medalists (2000, 2006), 1999 Skate Canada champions and competed in five Winter Olympics, finishing as high as 5th.

56. Arvydas Sabonis (1964) Basketball pleyer

57. Basketball coach Antanas Sireika (1956)

58. Šarūnas Jasikevičius (1976) professional basketball player and is currently playing for Fenerbahçe Ülker

59. Steponas Darius (1896-1933) Stasys Girėnas (1893-1933) On July 15, 1933, along with Steponas Darius, he attempted a nonstop flight from New York City, to Kaunas, Lithuania - a total of 7,186 km, in a Bellanca CH-300 Pacemaker airplane named Lituanica . After successfully crossing the Atlantic Ocean in 37 hours and 11 minutes, their plane crashed on July 17, 0:36 AM (Berlin Time) by the village of Kuhdamm, near Soldin, Germany (now Pszczelnik, Myślibórz County, Poland). Difficult weather conditions combined with engine defects were the findings of the official investigation. Both aviators were killed in the crash. They had covered a distance of 3,984 miles (6,411 kilometers) without landing, only 650 km short of their final destination.

60. Cultural life and tradicions

61. Christmas Eve (December 24)

62. Christmas (December 25 and December 26 )

63. Shrovetide

64. Palm Sunday

65. Easter - First Sunday and Monday of spring with full moon

66. St. John‘s Eve (June 24 )

67. The Assumption (August 15)

68. All Soul’s Day (1st of November)

69. Public holidays in Lithuania February 16 - Day of Re-establishment of the State of Lithuania (1918) March 11 - Day of Restitution of Independence of Lithuania (from the Soviet Union, 1990) First Sunday in May - Mother's Day First Sunday in June - Father's Day July 6 - Statehood Day, Commemorates coronation of the first king, Mindaugas

70. Traditional food

71. Lithuanian brown bread and white cheese with honey

72. Beer, bread, cepelinai, smoked sausages

73. Lithuanian clothes

75. See more http://www.travel.lt