Tikėjimų kaita pagoniškuose baltuose. Kuršiai

The aim of the article is to analyze the changes of beliefs in Courland. The author takes his departure in a view that the that the changes of burial customs are related with the change in ideology and develops his analysis by overviewing the history of burial by burning in the region. The author argues that the spread of the custom of burial by burning is an expression of change of beliefs that is connected with the social transformations the society underwent. The author argues that the carrier-groups of change of customs are those of the higher strata. The change of beliefs is discussed by looking into the history of the formation and the growing influence of a fellowship in the higher strata in the V-XI centuries.Archeologai konstatuoja kelis kartus tūkstantmečių bėgyje vykusius laidojimo papročių pasikeitimus ir sieja juos su ideologijų transformacijomis. Teigiama, jog deginimo papročio įsigalėjimą inicijavo aukštesniojo socialinio sluoksnio žmonės, įtakingesni ir labiau nepriklausomi nuo bendruomenės tradicijų. Ikivalstybinio laikotarpio baltų visuomenėje randame tik vieną tokį visuomenės sluoksnį – draugiją. Pirmosios draugijos apraiškos baltų visuomenėje pastebimos V-VI a. Nuo X a. prasideda antras draugijos formavimosi etapas. Ši savitai organizuota visuomenės dalis turėjo suformuoti savas ideologines nuostatas ir pretenduoti užimti išskirtinę vietą tiek gyvųjų, tiek ir mirusiųjų visuomenėje. X-XI a. Kurše vykę pasaulėžiūros pakitimai, kurių išraiška buvo deginimo papročio įsigalėjimas, buvo diktuoti visuomeninio-socialinio pobūdžio transformacijų

SETTLEMENTS AND PIRACY ON THE EASTERN SHORE OF THE BALTIC SEA: THE MIDDLE AGES TO MODERN TIMES

In the 12th century, the Curonians dwelt in the east Baltic Region between the Rīga area in the north and Klaipėda in the south. They reached the peak of their economic, political and cultural achievements in the 11th century and the first half of the 12th century. The roots of piracy as a phenomenon have a social character. The most active period of the Curonian Vikings begins in around the mid-tenth century, and lasts until the arrival of the Germans in the 13th century. The well-organised piracy of the Curonians became dangerous to navigation on an important maritime trading route along the east Baltic coast. The Curonians attacked traders’ boats, robbed coastal churches, devastated Danish and Swedish coastal areas, and even stayed for a while. In the times of the Teutonic Order, in periods of diplomatic and military conflict or trading competition, even officials did not avoid robbery at sea. The Palanga coastal population used to plunder shipwrecked boats, and went marauding in coastal waters until the middle of the 18th century.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15181/ab.v16i0.34 Key words: Curonians, Vikings, piracy, Lithuania, Samland, Livonia, Klaipėda, Palanga

Ginkluoti ir laukiami. Prekiautojai ir jų keliai vikingų laikais

The Baltic traders' stimulation for trading with foreign countries was caused by the shortage of iron, the necessity to obtain good arms, salt, metals for bronze manufacturing, and silver. Apart from traditional goods, like slaves, furs and honey, traders from Scandinavian and west Slavic centres were interested in rye, horses of local breeds, and Baltic ornaments. Aquatic routes up and down rivers were convenient and fast in winter. In Viking times, traders could reach the neighbourhood of Kaunas, trading there for several days, and get back to the Baltic Sea in about 20 days. Navigation away from Kaunas upstream included dugouts, primitive flat-bottomed boats and even rafts. Sailing up and down the river can be proved by information about sailing in Crusaders' times (13th and 14th centuries). Travelling in foreign territories was dangerous, so traders were usually armed. Arms were discovered in about 60% of the so-called "traders' graves" of Lithuanian coastal cemeteries

Gardai and Plateliai in the 13-16th c

The area around Lake Plateliai was densely populated in pre-historic times, but encountered demographic transformations with the arrival of the German crusades. The population decreased and new settlements were established in safer places, some of which such as Gardai (Žemaičių Kalvarija) and Plateliai became towns, church and administrative centers. In the 13th c. Gardai was among the most important settlements where at the beginning of the 15th c. a manor of the Samogitian Bishop was built, a parish was formed in 1636 and a Dominican monastery established the following year. The town of Plateliai was established at its current location in the 17th c. while other places such as Pilies sala (Castle Island) and the Šventorkalnis peninsula were more important in the 13th-16th c