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Poland & the Baltics

Poland & the Baltics. Ch 15 Section 3. History. Poland = Slavic for “plain” or “field” Largest of the European countries; once part of the Soviet bloc until 1990s 1700s & 1800s – under RUSS AUS and PRU occupied areas of PLND Was independent until after WWII = communist government.

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Poland & the Baltics

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  1. Poland & the Baltics Ch 15 Section 3

  2. History • Poland = Slavic for “plain” or “field” • Largest of the European countries; once part of the Soviet bloc until 1990s • 1700s & 1800s – under RUSS • AUS and PRU occupied areas of PLND • Was independent until after WWII = communist government

  3. Baltic countries: independent from Russia after WWI • Estonia • Latvia • Lithuania • Soviet Union took over after WWII = communist government until 1991 - democratic

  4. Some ppl still favor communist rule • Russia still controls Kaliningrad • City along with surrounding territory is an exclave

  5. Kaliningrad • Slightly larger than Connecticut • Russia is 200 miles away • Founded by GRM knights in 1200s – Königsberg or “King’s City” • Was the seat of Prussian government • WWII – staging area for German attacks • Soviets took control of it

  6. Soviets wanted to remove much of the German culture • Renamed city • Destroyed historical sites • Forced Germans to leave; some to prison camps • Key base for USSR navy • After fall of CMMSM – K = market economy • Businesses receive special tax breaks

  7. Poland • Ethnic Poles • Language: Polish – Slavic language • Religion: Roman Catholic • Capital: Warsaw – along the Vistula River • Est. 1,000 years ago • 1500s – capital of the kingdom of Poland • 1900s – largest urban Jewish population in the world

  8. WWII – invasion of Poland – Jews forced to live in a ghetto – section of a city where a minority group is forced to live. • Warsaw Ghetto Uprising of 1943 • 60,000 Jews died • WWII devastated the country; rebuilt • Population: 2.2 million

  9. Krakow • Medieval city • University • Monuments • Museums • Gdansk – main seaport – shipbuilding city since 1500s

  10. Economy • Progress since Communist era • Foreign investment • Auto & glass manufacturing • Coal & Steel industries – lagging • 1997 – new constitution – market economy • 2004 – joined the EU • Agriculture: thick deposits of loess • Cereals, potatoes, sugar beets

  11. The Baltic Countries

  12. Middle Ages: two groups of people • Balts – occupied modern Latvia & Lithuania • Finns - settled in Estonia • Lithuania – independent country for a long time • LAT & EST did not • Vikings, German Knights (Teutonic Order) invaded and conquered

  13. Teutonic Knights - German culture and Christianity to EST & LAT • Baltic Sea – busiest trade routes in N. EUR. • What does trade bring? • Language • Religion

  14. EST lang. – related to Finnish • EST religion – Lutheran • LAT – ties to Sweden • LITH – closer culturally to Poland and the Roman Catholic Church • Festivals tied to church holidays • Folk music important • Similar instruments to Poland • Cymbaly

  15. Russian minorities in each country keep Russian cultural traditions alive • Challenges: • rebuild their economy • Small populations • Limited natural resources • – rely on trade for economy

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