Modern Opportunities to Develop the Identity of Historical Lands in Latvia

Summary of the Study: throughout history, in the historical regions of Latvia, which are historically formed parts of Latvia characterized by a unique cultural environment, the common identity of its inhabitants has been Latvianness, which is open to interaction with ethnic minorities. The Latvians constitute a prominent division of the group of peoples known as the Balts whose ancestors came from the south in the early 2nd millennium BC and around 1800 BC, gradually entered areas inhabited by Finno-Ugric (Baltic-Finnic) tribes. The lands of the Balts and Baltic Finns could be distinguished from 1600 BC. The Baltic Sea coastal area of Northern Kurzeme on the side of the Gulf of Riga is the Livonian Coast (Livonian: Līvõd Rānda, Latvian: Lībiešu krasts). The Livs lived in the coastal zone of Vidzeme /the Middle Land/ and the northern part of the Courland Peninsula. The West Baltic tribe Cours or Curonians inhabited Kurzeme (Latin: Curonia, Curlandia, German: Kurland, Livonian: Kurāmō) in the western part of Latvia. The East Baltic tribe Latgalians, or Lettigallians called Latvians inhabited the eastern part of Latvia or Latgale (Latin: Lettgallia, Latgalian: Latgola, Russian: Лотыгольская земля, Лотыголa, German: Lettgallen) north of the Daugava River. The Cours with the Latgalians created the Semigallian tribe belonged to the Eastern Baltic language group. The Semigallians inhabited Zemgale (Latin: Semigallia, German: Semgallen, Semegallen lant, Polish: Semigalia, Lithuanian: Žiemgala, Livonian: Zemgāl) south of the Daugava in the southern part of Latvia. The Selonians or Upper people inhabited the southeastern part of Latvia or Sēlija (Latin: Selonia), earlier Sēla, Sēlene Land (Latin: terra Selonia, terra, que Selen dicitur, German: Sêlen lant) called Augšzeme (Lithuanian: Aukšzemė) or Highland. Research goal: analysis of the cultural environment in historical lands of Latvia to preserve the identity of ethnic indigenous people. Research problem: opportunities to develop the identity of historical Latvian regions today have not been sufficiently studied. Novelty: analysis of the impact of the Law on Historical Regions of Latvia (entry into force on 01.07.2021) on the development of historical regions in Latvia. Methods: analysis of documents, cartographic material (Map of Latvia with the boundaries of historical lands, 2020), and published literature studies (Local Government Law, 2022; Law on Historical Regions of Latvia, 2021; Law on Administrative Territories and Populated Areas, 2020; Official Language Law, 1999; On Free Development of Latvia’s National and Ethnic Groups and Their Right to Cultural Autonomy, 1991; The Constitution of the Republic of Latvia, 1922). Keywords: cultural-historical region, development, identity, Latvia