History of Poland

In the first centuries of its emergence in the 10th century, the Polish nation was led by a series of strong rulers who converted the Poles to Christendom, created a strong Central European state, and integrated Poland into European culture. Formidable foreign enemies and internal fragmentation eroded this initial structure in the thirteenth century, but consolidation in the 1300s laid the base for the dominant Polish Kingdom that was to follow. The Jagiellon dynasty 1385-1569 formed the Polish-Lithuanian union begining with the Lithuanian grand duke Jagiello. The partnership proved profitable for the Poles and Lithuanians, who played a dominant role in one of the most powerful empires in Europe for the next three centuries. The Nihil novi act adopted by the Polish Sejm (parliament) in 1505 transferred most legislative power from the monarch to the Sejm. This event marked the beginning of the period known as "Nobles' Commonwealth" when the state was ruled by the "free and equal" Polish nobility (szlachta). The Lublin Union of 1569 constituted the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth as an influential player in European politics and a vital cultural entity. By the 18th century the nobles' democracy gradually declined into anarchy, making the once powerful Commonwealth vulnerable to foreign influence. Eventually the country was partitioned by its neighbors and erased from the map in 1795. Although the majority of the szlachta was reconciled to the end of the Commonwealth in 1795, the possibility of Polish independence was kept alive by events within and without Poland throughout the nineteenth century. Poland's location in the very center of Europe became especially significant in a period when both Prussia/Germany and Russia were intensely involved in European rivalries and alliances and modern nation states took form over the entire continent. Poland regained its independence in 1918, but the Second Polish Republic was destroyed by in the Polish September Campaign, marking the begining of the Second World War. Nonetheless Polish government in exile never surrendered and managed to contribute greatly to the Allies victory. Nazi Germany forces were forced to retreat from Poland as Soviet Union Red Army advanced, which led to the creation of People's Republic of Poland, a Soviet satellite state. By late 1980s Polish reform movement, Solidarity, was able to enforce a peaceful transistion from communist state to democracy, which resulted in the creation of the modern Polish state.

Related Topics:
10th century - Polish nation - Poles - Christendom - Central Europe - European culture - Thirteenth century - 1300s - Polish Kingdom - Jagiellon dynasty - 1385 - 1569 - Polish-Lithuanian union - Jagiello - Europe - Nihil novi - Sejm - Parliament - 1505 - Legislative power - Monarch - Nobles' Commonwealth - State - Nobility - Szlachta - Lublin Union - Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth - Politics - Cultural - 18th century - Anarchy - Partitioned by its neighbors - 1795 - Nineteenth century - Prussia/Germany - Russia - Continent - 1918 - Second Polish Republic - Polish September Campaign - Second World War - Polish government in exile - Managed to contribute greatly - Nazi Germany - Soviet Union - Red Army - People's Republic of Poland - Satellite state - Solidarity - Communist state - Democracy

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Over the past millennium, the territory ruled by Poland has shifted and varied greatly. At one time, in the 16th century, Poland was the second largest state in Europe, after Russia. At other times there was no separate Polish state at all. Poland regained its independence in 1918, after more than a century of rule by its neighbours, but its borders shifted again after the Second World War.

Related Topics:
Poland - 16th century - Europe - Russia - 1918

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