Editing History of Lithuania (section)

===Formation of a Lithuanian state===
[[File:Kievan-rus-1015-1113-(en).png|thumb|East of the Baltic tribes: [[Kievan Rus']]]]
From the 9th to the 11th centuries, coastal Balts were subjected to raids by the [[Vikings]], and the kings of [[Denmark]] collected tribute at times. During the 10–11th centuries, Lithuanian territories were among the lands paying tribute to [[Kievan Rus']], and [[Yaroslav the Wise]] was among the [[Ruthenia]]n rulers who invaded Lithuania (from 1040). From the mid-12th century, it was the Lithuanians who were invading Ruthenian territories. In 1183, [[Polotsk]] and [[Pskov]] were ravaged, and even the distant and powerful [[Novgorod Republic]] was repeatedly threatened by the excursions from the emerging Lithuanian war machine toward the end of the 12th century.<ref name="Ochmański 39-42">Ochmański (1982), pp. 39–42</ref>

In the 12th century and afterwards, mutual raids involving Lithuanian and Polish forces took place sporadically, but the two countries were separated by the lands of the [[Yotvingians]]. The late 12th century brought an eastern expansion of German settlers (the [[Ostsiedlung]]) to the mouth of the [[Daugava River]] area. Military confrontations with Lithuanians followed at that time and at the turn of the century, but for the time being the Lithuanians had the upper hand.<ref name="Ochmański 43-45">Ochmański (1982), pp. 43–45</ref>

From the late 12th century, an organized Lithuanian military force existed; it was used for external raids, plundering and the gathering of slaves. Such military and pecuniary activities fostered social differentiation and triggered a struggle for power in Lithuania. This initiated the formation of early statehood, from which the [[Grand Duchy of Lithuania]] developed.<ref name="Baczkowski 55-61"/> In 1231, the [[Danish Census Book]] mentions Baltic lands paying tribute to the Danes, including Lithuania (''Littonia'').<ref>Puzinas, Jonas. [http://archyvas.punskas.pl/terra/Pdf/terra(1).pdf ''<nowiki>Terra Jatwezenorum [The Land of Yotvingians].</nowiki>''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230812113552/http://archyvas.punskas.pl/terra/Pdf/terra(1).pdf |date=12 August 2023 }} Punsko "Aušros" leidykla. 2009, p. 8. ISSN 2080-7589.</ref>