Category:Latvia
Latvia is a country in Eastern Europe.
Overview
Jews, Christians, and Muslims in Latvia
Christianity spread in Lavtia only in the Middle Ages. Due to its geographical location, Latvia was influenced by, and divided among, Roman Catholics, Lutherans and Orthodox Russians.
The first Jewish colony was established in Piltene in 1571, but it was only in the 18th century that Latvia had a significant Jewish presence. In spite of periods of persecution Jews maintained a very strong and influential presence in Latvian society until the Holocaust. Riga was the major center of Jewish life in Latvia.
The first groups of Muslims settled in Latvia in the 19th century, their first congregation being officially recognized by the government in 1902.
Contemporary times
Today, the majority of Lithuanian population (60%) are Christians, almost equally divided among Roman Catholics, Lutherans and Orthodox Russians.
Latvian Jews, who before WW2 were about 5% of the entire population, were almost entirely exterminated during the Holocaust; only 6,000 Jews today live in Latvia.
A few thousand Muslims also live in Latvia.
In Depth
- Latvian Scholarship / Latvian Scholars -- survey of works by Latvian Scholars / biographies of Latvian Scholars
- Latvian Fiction / Latvian Authors -- survey of works by Latvian Authors / biographies of Latvian Authors
See also: Latvian -- Latvian language
External links
Pages in category "Latvia"
This category contains only the following page.