History of Lithuania. From Medieval Kingdom to Modern Democracy

At one time Lithuania was the largest nation in Europe. It stretched from the Baltic to the Black Seas, even having to go into battle, other times to form alliances, with the Mongol armies of the Golden Horde. In the 14th century, Lithuania was the last pagan nation in Europe, at which time it fought and repeatedly defeated the last European Crusaders, the Teutonic Knights. At the end of the 18th century Lithuania disappeared from the maps of the world. At the beginning of the 20th century, it fought its wars of independence and for 20 years afterwards thrived as an independent Republic. Then, suffering brutal Soviet, German and again Soviet occupations, it again lost its independence as it fought a lengthy guerilla war. Its people survived 50 years behind the Iron Curtain. When the Soviet Union collapsed, in 1990 Lithuania resurrected itself once more. This book, amply illustrated, presents the rich and fascinating panorama of this once powerful nation's history at an eminently readable pace, whether one has just a casual or a serious interest in European and World history.