History and evidence
Historical Baltic peoples and names
Use this section to find the published introduction to historical Baltic names and the context needed to read it carefully.
Responsible editor: Aleksandras Osk. Reading guide published 5 November 2026.
Read the names in context
The article introduces historical names, including Curonians, Semigallians, Selonians, Latgalians, Old Prussians and Yatvingians. It explains the limits of treating a name as a fixed population or a precise border.
Keep terminology and evidence distinct
Begin with the terminology article if “Balts”, “Baltic languages” and “Baltic states” are unfamiliar. The research-methods article then introduces the questions researchers ask of different kinds of evidence.
Balts, Baltic languages and Baltic states
“Baltic” can describe a language group or a region. The distinction matters when writing about peoples, states and family history.
Article Read article 02 Evidence and interpretationHow researchers study Baltic origins
Languages, river names and excavated sites answer different questions. A useful account explains how its evidence connects them.
Article Read articleRead a regional example
The Lithuanian coastal case study follows material evidence from a limited region and period. Return to the history guide for the full published reading path.