| THE TIMETABLE OF LATVIA'S HISTORY | |
| 9000 B.C. | Arrival of the first inhabitants on Latvian soil, after the withdrawal of the glaciers. |
| Early 2000 B.C. | Baltic tribes (forefathers of the modern Latvians) settle Latvia's territory |
| 900 A.D. - early 1200 A.D. | Individual tribal groups (Couronians, Latgallians, Selonians, Semgallians) start to form specific tribal realms. |
| Latter half of the 1100`s - 1200`s |
The arrival of German traders, missionaries and crusaders in Latvia. The city of Riga founded 1201. Territories inhabited by tribal realms fall into the hands of the Germans. Livonia is established. |
| 1500`s | Livonian War (1558-1583). Latvian territory under Polish-Lithuanian rule. The dukedoms of Kurzeme and Pardaugava are formed. |
| 1600`s | Polish-Swedish War (1600-1629). Vidzeme and Riga under Swedish rule. Riga - Sweden's largest city. Dukedom of Kurzeme experiences an economic boom. |
| 1700`s | The Great Northern War (1700-1721). Vidzeme and Riga come under Russian rule. During the course of this century Latgale and the dukedom of Kurzeme are annexed to Russia. |
| 1850`s - 1870`s | National awakening of the Latvian people. The movement of New-Latvians (jaunlatviesi). |
| 18.November 1918 | Proclamation of independence of Latvia. |
| 17.June 1940 | Latvia occupied by USSR troops. |
| 1941 - 1945 | Latvia occupied by the German Third Reich. Return of Soviet troops and reinstatement of Soviet order at the end of WWII. |
| 4.May 1990 | A declaration restoring independence with a transition period is adopted. |
| 21.August 1991 | Complete reinstatement of Latvia's independence. |
