Crusader Castles of the Teutonic Knights, Vol. 2: The Stone Castles of Latvia and Estonia, 1185-1560 (Fortress 19)
by Stephen Turnbull
from Osprey Publishing
The original forced conversion of pagan Livonia, what is now the Baltic states of Latvia and Estonia, was carried out by a military order known as the Brethren of the Sword. In 1236 this order was incorporated into the Teutonic Knights following a catastrophic military defeat. The knights had always consolidated their conquests through networks of castles and fortified places, and the Livonian Chapter of the Teutonic Order built castles of stone. This title covers the developmental and operational history of these fortresses over the length of the Middle Ages. It details how the Baltic fortifications of the Teutonic Knights evolved to reflect the changing nature of siege warfare and the increasing dominance of gunpowder in warfare.
The Baltic Revolution: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and the Path to Independence
by Anatol Lieven
from Yale University Press
In this timely book, Anatol Lieven presents an intimate and engaging portrait of the history and culture of the Baltic states from their ancient origins to their contemporary status. He explores the culture and personality of the Baltic peoples, their religious and racial differences, their relations with Russia and with the West. Drawing on a wide range of sources including interviews, newspaper accounts, and his own observations, he describes and analyzes the rise of national movements in each of the three countries after Glastnost and the possibilities for democracy and Europeanization or for ethnic conflict and nationalist dictatorship.
War in the Woods
by Mart Laar
from Howells House
This is the story of the Forest Brothers, who failed to stop the Soviet invaders during WW II, but their spirit ignited the flames of patriotism that led to the "Singing Revolution" of 1988.
Estonian Tastes And Traditions (Hippocrene Cookbook Library)
by Karin Annus Karner
from Hippocrene Books
Estonia and the Estonians (Studies of Nationalities)
by Toivo U. Raun
from Hoover Institution Press
In this comprehensive survey of Estonian history, Toivo Raun places recent events into historical perspective with up-to-date information on the era of glasnost and perestroika (1985-1991), analyzing the striking process of rebirth, renewal, and de-Sovietization. He stresses the role of Estonia's strategic geopolitical location and the small number of ethnic Estonians as crucial factors that have shaped the history of the area and its inhabitants. Since prehistoric times Estonia has been a crossroads of northeastern Europe where the major powers of the region have struggled for influence. Estonia and the Estonians offers a balanced topical survey covering political history, the economy, social and demographic developments, and cultural life. Attention is also paid to historiography and to differing interpretations of major issues; throughout the book the history of Estonia is viewed in the larger context of northern and eastern Europe.
Tania: Memories of a Lost World
The Hole: Another Look at the Sinking of the Estonia Ferry on September 28th 1994
by Drew Wilson
from Exposure Publishing
In September 1994, the passenger ferry Estonia set out on an overnight cruise from Tallinn, Estonia to Stockholm, Sweden and sank in the Baltic Sea, killing nearly 1000 people in 35 minutes. It was the worst peacetime sea catastrophe in European waters in the 20th century. A controversial government investigation blamed the ship's design and high waves. But the Estonia was the only intact ship in maritime history to sink in less than one hour -- faster than some torpedoed ships. This disturbing fact is the core of the tragedy and was left unexplained. The victims still remain in the shipwreck in shallow depth just off the coast of Finland, a spot militarily guarded by Sweden. "The Hole: Another look at the sinking of the Estonia ferry on September 28, 1994" examines alternative explanations in view of post-Soviet chaos, proceeding from the theory that the Estonia had a hole -- from a collision or an explosion.
Peeling Potatoes, Painting Pictures: Women Artists in Post-Soviet Russia, Estonia, and Latvia. The First Decade
by Renee Baigell
from Rutgers University Press
The Estonians in America, 1627-1975: A Chronology and Fact Book (Ethnic chronology series)
The History of the Baltic States (The Greenwood Histories of the Modern Nations)
by Kevin O'Connor
from Greenwood Press
The Baltic states--Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania--are nestled in northeastern Europe, where they lie at a crossroad of European culture. Collectively, they have been both a transmitter of culture and a victim of larger, more powerful nations' aspirations. Their ethnically and religiously diverse natives continue to struggle with the question of identity, yet the Balts have had relatively peaceful relations with each other for some 600 years. With the fall of the Soviet Union, the Baltic states "returned to Europe" and seem intent on preserving the spirit of cooperation and solidarity that emerged during their struggle for independence more than a decade ago. This is the most recent and up-to-date narrative history of the Baltic states, providing readers with an ideal starting point for research on the area. It includes a timeline of major events, biographic sketches of noteworthy historical figures, a glossary, and a bibliographic essay. The Baltic states' survival and recovery during the late Soviet and early post-Soviet era is an inspiring and fascinating tale. This concise history takes readers from the ice ages through the Cold War, telling the tale of these small but important countries and their role in the history of Europe.
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