Case Study 3

Slovenian

&

Lithuanian

Slovenia

Austria to the north

Italy to the west

Capital Ljubljana

Population 2 million

90% speak Slovenian

“Little Switzerland”

Background

Chequered history

From 7th century: Karantania

Centre: Krn castle north of Klagenfurt

Carinthia in southern Austria

History

Belonged to Austria-Hungary

In 1918 part annexed to Austria

Rest joined Croatia & Serbia

Kingdom of Yugoslavia

Independence 1991

Capital: Ljubljana

Lithuanian

Most southerly of the three Baltic states

Capital: Vilnius

2.5 to 3.5 million Lithuanian-speakers

Balto-Slavic language

Largest country in Europe in Middle Ages

“Closest European language to Sanskrit”

The other Baltic states

Estonia - Capital: Talinn

Estonian: Finno-Ugrian

1 million Estonian speakers

Latvia – Capital: Riga

Latvian: Balto-Slavic

1.5 to 2.5 million Latvian speakers