Europos vaizdiniai ir sampratos Lietuvos istoriją apibendrinančiuose darbuose po 1990 m

LTStraipsnyje aptariami Europos vaizdiniai ir sampratos, išgryninti analizuojant po Nepriklausomybės atkūrimo išleistus Lietuvos istoriją apibendrinančius darbus.

ENThe object of this paper is the perceptions and image s of Europe in summarizing studies of Lithuanian history, written after 1990. The main questions of this research are: which historical symbols and events in the synthesis of Lithuanian history are linked to the self Europe and the European Lithuania; which of them are linked to the other - aggressive, hostile - Europe; how did the values of these symbols and events change from 1990. In the discussion of the prehistoric period, German are the most important figure representing Europe in the synthesis of Lithuanian history. In the earliest synthesis the whol e Christian movement is stated to have gained Germa n origin. When discussing the ruling of king Mindaugas, two distinct images of Europe are presented - one of them is still represented by German knights and is very much of a negative origin, but the other one is also there - it is the Western Europe or the perfect Europe. The aggressive (neighboring) Europe is presented as the one blocking Lithuania from any contact with it. In this period also the third image of Europe appears - neighboring Europe which is not only being represented as aggressive one, but also as the one, manipulating the Western Europe. Latter in the mean time is supplemented with a ne ­ gative feature of being ignorant whe n it come s to dealing with conflicts between Lithuania and neighboring Europe. These concrete images do not change in the discussion of the pagan period of Lithuanian history (the ruling of Gediminids), as well as in later periods. In the discussion of Lithuanian historical period from 1387 to 1569 Poland is presented as the one taking over the place of German in separating Lithuania from Western Europe.The image of the true Europe or the West is also evident and by emphasizing direct connections to Western Europe through the nobility education in European universities and the Renaissance culture diffusion Lithuania is presented as the one that could be partly considered an integral part of European civilization, while pointing out that the global culture of Latin civilization wa s accepted only superficially at that time. The period from the second half of the 16th century to the 18th century is considered to be cultural decline in the early synthesis of Lithuanian history. The Western Europe is in a way being accused of not noticing Lithuania in the shadow of Poland during the historical period. Quite contrary, in the period from the second half of the 16th century to the 18th century according to the synthesis of the year 2005-2012 , Lithuania not only finally "catches up" with Europe, but also enriches the development of the its civilization. According to the earlier synthesis, Lithuania would only reach this point of europeanisation in the period of the First Republic of Lithuania (1918-1940). The process of europeanisation of Lithuania is represented in the synthesis as having been twice brutally interrupted by the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union. During the first occupation the cultural links to Europe is presented as being supported mainly in Vilnius University, among the clergy of Lithuania and the emigrants. In the Soviet period, probably the most distinctive presented link is the emigrants. The image of Europe presented in the discussion of this historical period is mainly of a "passive observer". Latter is probably the most common image of Europe in the synthesis of Lithuanian history, as well as the image of the aggressive and manipulative neighboring Europe and the image of the true Europe or the West, which exist simultaneously as s cultural and moral aspiration.