In the 14th century, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania became one of the largest states in Europe. The network of stone castles and the grand duke’s manors expanded. In 1387, most of Lithuania was Christianized, opening the way for a faster Europeanization of the state: Latin script became established, the first schools were founded, urban self-government began to take shape, and alongside castles and trade routes, towns and settlements grew, and crafts developed.
During the reign of Grand Duke Vytautas of Lithuania (1392–1430), the state became a symbol of Lithuanian power. In the 16th century, the Volok Reform was implemented; the ideas of the Reformation spread - supported by the influential Radziwiłł family - the first books in the Lithuanian language were printed, and Vilnius University was founded.
In 1569, Lithuania and Poland concluded the Union of Lublin, establishing the confederative Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, which lasted until the end of the 18th century. During the Little Ice Age (17th–18th centuries), famine and plague claimed the lives of about 40 percent of the population. In 1795, Russia, Austria, and Prussia partitioned the Commonwealth for the third time, with the majority of Lithuania falling under Russian control.
This period left a distinct mark on Molėtai region. Historical sources mention Dubingiai in 1334, Balninkai and Giedraičiai in 1338, Videniškiai in 1367, Inturkė in 1373, Bijutiškis in 1385, and Molėtai in 1387. Churches and manors were being built. Chronicles record the 14th-century battles with the Teutonic Knights in the lands of Videniškiai and Dubingiai. The trade route from Vilnius to Riga, which passed through the lands of Molėtai, integrated the region into the state’s structure. The town of Balninkai rose in importance and received self-governing rights. The histories of these settlements are closely linked with Lithuania’s noble families. Dubingiai recalls the era of the powerful Radziwiłł family and the famous love story between Barbara Radziwiłł and King Sigismund Augustus. The history of Giedraičiai and Videniškiai is connected with the Giedroyć princely family; Inturkė is associated with Bona Sforza, while representatives of the Astikai, Tyszkiewicz, and Goštautai families were also active in Moletai region.
