Old Prussia
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Old Prussia was the region extending from the south-eastern coast of the Baltic Sea to the Masurian Lakes district, called Brus in the 8th century map of the Bavarian Geographer. Previous historians had documented the Prussian tribes as easterners, with Tacitus referring to them as the Aesti[1]. Prussia was recorded again in relation to Adalbert of Prague, a Christian missionary sent with guards by Boleslaw I of Polandto convert the Prussians, who was killed by the Prussians in 997[citation needed]. Archeological finds in Prussia suggest a continuous presence back to at least 2000 BC. The Baltic people spoke a variety of languages, with Prussian belonging to the Western branch of the Baltic language group. Related, but not mutually intelligible, are the modern representatives of the Baltic languages, the Latvian and Lithuanian languages, from the East Baltic branch.
In prehistory, the east of the area was inhabited by the Eastern Balts, whilst the Western Balts (including the Prussians) inhabited the Sambian peninsula and the areas to the west. Over time, the Western Balts consolidated into the Prussian nation, while the Eastern Balts of the area, including the Curonians, consolidated into (a part of) the Lithuanian nation.
[edit] See also
- East Prussia
- Kaliningrad Oblast
- Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship
- Lithuania Minor
- Old Prussians
- Old Prussian language
- Origins of Prussia
[edit] References
- ^ Although the Aesti are generally accepted to be the Prussians, primarily based on their association with amber, this is by no means universally accepted. See Aesti.
