Max's+European+Nation+Profile

=Lithuania=

Lithuania is a country located in Europe. It is located by Latvia, Russia, Belarus,Poland, and touches the Baltic Sea. They toc are a republic, love basketball, and find it rude to leave food on a plate. They have a long history that starts in the first century. Today, the capital is Vilnius, and people enjoy the right to vote.



History
Lithuania has a long history. It started in the first century when the term Lithuania referred to people living in the Baltic region. It was not until 1236 that a tribal leader formed the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Vilnius became the capital in 1323. Then in 1386, Lithuania became alliances with Poland. This is because the Grand Duke Jogaila married the Polish princess. Together, they were able to defeat German invaders. This alliance also carried Polish culture into Lithuania. Roman Catholicism was adopted and so was Western Culture. It still was a long way to becoming how it is today.

Like many other European countries, Lithuania had problems with the Soviets. The Grand Duchy of Lithuania was split up and a lot of power was left in the hands of the Russian Empire. Many attempts for independence were unsuccessful. The Soviets often abused Lithuania. In World War 1, they occupied Lithuania, and also did in 1918. In 1919 people tried to drive out the Soviets while the Poles wanted to restore there alliance with Lithuania. Poland soon gained control of Vilnius. 1920-1940 was known as the interwar period. Lithuania had a free-market economy and was independent. They went on to regain Vilnius. In 2004 they joined NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) and the EU (European Union). The first female president was elected in 2009, with 70 percent of the vote. She is currently president. This is how far Lithuania has come.

Government
Lithuania's government is a republic. They have both a president and a prime minister. The president is elected and serves a five year term as the head of the state. The president chooses who the prime minister will be. The parliament is called the Seimas. It holds 141 seats and is the highest body of state power. Members are elected to four year terms. Voting is a big part in the government of the country. They elect the Seimas and the President. Like the United States of America, the voting age is 18. This is how the Lithuanian government works.

Lithuania has many divisions inside of the country. They have municipalities and counties. There are 60 municipalities and 10 counties. However, Lithuanians usually identify with four regions. The southwest region is Dzukija. The southwest region is Suvalkija. The northwest region is Zemaitija. The center region is Aukstaitija. This is how Lithuania is divided.



Recreation
Lithuanian males enjoy a widespread list of activities. They enjoy a lot of sports. Their favorite sport is basketball. Others include soccer, volleyball, and tennis. they enjoy leisure activities. Some are watching television and visiting friends and relatives. They also enjoy everyday activities. They enjoy caring for pets, reading, going to cultural events, and vacation. These are only some of the things Lithuanians enjoy doing.

Women also enjoy lots of activities. They enjoy the same sports as men. Some of these include volleyball, cycling, and skiing. They also enjoy lots of leisure activities. They like knitting, sewing and gardening. They have everyday events. An example of a everyday event includes national songs and dances. These are things that people enjoy everyday in Lithuania.