Lithuania Since Ancient Times
Modern day Lithuania has seen human inhabitation since as far back as the 10th millennium BC. The first people to settle in the land were nomadic Baltic tribes, of the same race who were living in settlements all over Eastern Europe and the Baltic. The land of Lithuania, during the 11th century was also paying tribute to the Kievan Rus, which was a major part in the conglomeration of several states to form modern day Russia.
From the tribute paying territory that it was, Lithuania became a kingdom with the formation of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The first king of the Kingdom of Lithuania, Mindaugas, was murdered by his own nephew. This resulted in civil unrest in the kingdom, which led to the establishment of paganism in Lithuania. The country went through a phase of Christianity too where the Church established the laws and as with the rest of Europe, Lithuania saw a Renaissance towards the end of the 16th century.
After the period of Renaissance, there was a commonwealth established between Poland and Lithuania. However, the country continued under the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Towards the end of the 18th Century, there was conflict between Russia and Prussia over Lithuania and this led to destabilization of Lithuania as a sovereign country.
Modern Lithuania
After the split up, Lithuania was under Imperial Russia. This period saw several uprisings against foreign monarch control. Imperialist rule continued until World War I, after which it was reestablished as an independent nation. However, the end of World War II saw it being integrated into the Soviet Union. The Soviet rule established conventional communism and it is only now that Lithuania is undergoing a phase of rebuilding and revival. Despite the erratic history that was filled with conflict and uncertainty, Lithuania is fast evolving into a tourist destination in the Baltic. Compared to other countries and tourist spots, especially in Western Europe, Lithuania is more wallet friendly. In fact, there are several tourist attractions and activities that are exclusive to Lithuania.
Before deciding to visit Lithuania, it is advisable to research about the weather, which can be rather surprising. There are some attractions that are exclusive to the summer.