You really DON'T need to know this
Most of the culture quizzes people have been posting deal with important cultures, cultures that are home to millions and millions of people, cultures that intersect intimately with majority (white, Christian) American culture, and it is only our insularity and privilege that keep us from knowing the answers. This is not one of those quizzes. This quiz is about the Baltics.
The population of the Baltic nations is so small, and the countries are of such little political or economic importance, that there is really no reason for you to know any of this. Most people with Baltic roots will expect and accept your ignorance with good humor. But damn it, I'm proud of my heritage anyway, so I quiz you now. If anyone knows any of the answers other than #1, I would love to hear about it.
1. Quite a few countries have coastline on the Baltic Sea, but which countries are traditionally labeled "the Baltics"?
2. Group the following languages according to their linguistic similarity: Estonian, Lithuanian, Latvian, Finnish, Livonian, Russian, Danish.
3. Name all the foreign powers that have controlled Latvia during the past thousand years.
4. What was the Baltics' most prized trade good in ancient times?
5. What art form is the centerpiece of huge festivals in Latvia itself and among Latvian emigre communities worldwide?
ETA: Like rachelmanija, I will post the answers in a comment so that you can educate yourself right here and now.
The population of the Baltic nations is so small, and the countries are of such little political or economic importance, that there is really no reason for you to know any of this. Most people with Baltic roots will expect and accept your ignorance with good humor. But damn it, I'm proud of my heritage anyway, so I quiz you now. If anyone knows any of the answers other than #1, I would love to hear about it.
1. Quite a few countries have coastline on the Baltic Sea, but which countries are traditionally labeled "the Baltics"?
2. Group the following languages according to their linguistic similarity: Estonian, Lithuanian, Latvian, Finnish, Livonian, Russian, Danish.
3. Name all the foreign powers that have controlled Latvia during the past thousand years.
4. What was the Baltics' most prized trade good in ancient times?
5. What art form is the centerpiece of huge festivals in Latvia itself and among Latvian emigre communities worldwide?
ETA: Like rachelmanija, I will post the answers in a comment so that you can educate yourself right here and now.