Latvia is a country located in Europe. It is a very old country and has a very interesting history. Many years ago, people who lived in Latvia were known as Balts. The Balts were a group of people who lived in the area now known as Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia.
In the 12th century, a group of knights known as the Livonian Order arrived in Latvia. They were trying to spread Christianity throughout the area. They built castles and started to take control of the land. This continued for several hundred years.
During the 16th century, Latvia was part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. It was during this time that Latvia experienced a lot of fighting and wars. This was a very difficult time for the people of Latvia.
Later in the 18th century, Latvia became part of the Russian Empire. During this time, many Latvians had to leave their homes and move to other areas of the empire.
The 20th century was also a very difficult time for Latvia. During World War I, Latvia was occupied by Germany. After the war, Latvia became an independent country for a short period of time until it was occupied by the Soviet Union in World War II. The Soviet Union occupied Latvia for over 50 years, during which time many Latvians were killed, jailed, or deported to other parts of the Soviet Union. It was only in 1991 that Latvia regained its independence after the fall of the Soviet Union.
Today, Latvia is a modern country with a rich history and culture. Despite the difficult times in its past, Latvia has managed to preserve its unique identity and is now a thriving member of the European community.