{"product_id":"a-concise-history-of-the-baltic-states-9780521541558","title":"A Concise History of the Baltic States","description":"\u003ch2\u003eAbout This Book\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\nThis integrated survey presents the first comprehensive history of the three Baltic peoples - Estonians, Latvians, and Lithuanians - tracing their evolution from ninth-century tribal beginnings to their current status as independent nation states. Written by Professor Emeritus Andrejs Plakans, this volume addresses the frequent neglect of the Baltic region in broader European histories by examining common threads that unite these three distinct nations.\n\n\u003ch2\u003eHistorical Coverage\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\nThe book spans over a millennium of Baltic history, with particular focus on the complex twentieth century that culminated in the re-establishment of national sovereignty after 1991. It examines how the region's strategic location in a desirable corner of Europe shaped its development through successive periods of subordination by Baltic German landholders, Polish nobility and gentry, and Russian and Soviet administrators.\n\n\u003ch2\u003eKey Themes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\nDespite centuries of foreign rule, the three Baltic nations maintained their distinctive identities, most significantly through the preservation of three separate languages in an ethnically diverse region. This volume draws out these common threads while respecting the unique characteristics of each nation, providing readers with a balanced understanding of both shared experiences and individual trajectories.\n\n\u003ch2\u003eAcademic Context\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\nPart of the Cambridge Concise Histories series, this work fills a significant gap in European historical literature by treating the Baltic states as an integrated region rather than as separate entities. The approach allows readers to understand the international significance of the Baltic region and its role in broader European geopolitics.\n\n\u003ch2\u003eAuthor Credentials\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\nAndrejs Plakans brings extensive expertise to this work as Professor Emeritus at the Department of History, Iowa State University. His previous publications include The Latvians: A Short History (1995) and the Historical Dictionary of Latvia, 2nd edition (2008), establishing him as a leading authority on Baltic history.\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePublication Details\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\nPublished by Cambridge University Press in March 2011, this paperback edition provides an accessible yet scholarly treatment suitable for students, researchers, and general readers interested in Eastern European history, regional studies, or the evolution of post-Soviet nation states.\n\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003ePlakans, Andrejs:\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e - Andrejs Plakans is Professor Emeritus at the Department of History, Iowa State University. His previous publications include The Latvians: A Short History (1995) and the Historical Dictionary of Latvia, 2nd edition (2008).","brand":"Cambridge University Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50680637948178,"sku":"9780521541558","price":25.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_1def3e54-2361-45e9-80a8-0d160ae0fdd8.jpg?v=1734923579","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/a-concise-history-of-the-baltic-states-9780521541558","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}