Malbork Castle. Photo by oarranzli via Flickr.
Poland’s history is marked by continued resilience and transformations. The country’s origins begin in the 10th century with the establishment of a unified state under the Piast Dynasty and adoption of Catholic Christianity in 966. The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, formed in the 16th century, became a major European power that fostered cultural and political advancements. However, the late 18th century brought partitions by Russia, Prussia, and Austria-Hungary, which erased Poland from the map until 1918. Once the country regained independence after World War I, Poland then faced the devastation of World War II, being invaded by Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. Following the war, a communist regime was established. This lasted until the end of communism in the 1980s which led to a return to democracy in 1989. Today, Poland is a thriving democracy and an integral member of the European Union.
In these sections we will cover the Piast Dynasty, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, the Partitions of Poland, and Poland’s history from the 20th century to today. Be sure to check the resources guide for readings pertaining to these sections as well as other articles to further your understanding of Polish history.
Learning Activities for History
Activity #1: View the video on Poland’s shifting borders below before reading about the history of Poland in this module. Discuss. What did you find surprising, if anything, about this video? What do you think accounts for all the border changes? As you read about Poland’s history, return to this video and try to trace some of the changes and events that you learn about.
Alternately (or in addition), watch this video after reviewing Poland’s history in this module and see if you can remember what happened and when to account for the various changes.
Activity #2: Watch the “Animated History of Poland” below before reading about the history of Poland in this module. Discuss. Can you identify any events and/or historical/cultural figures? Was anything surprising or catch your attention in particular? As you read about Poland’s history, return to this video and try to trace some of the events and people that you learn about.
Alternately (or in addition), watch this video after reviewing Poland’s history in this module. You’ll see that it references various specific years (these years are at the bottom left corner of the screen). Using this module and other resources, write down why the following dates are important/what happened in these years in Polish history.
Activity #3: Look up the English translation of the lyrics to Poland’s national anthem, “Poland is Not Yet Lost” (also known as “Dąbrowski’s Mazurka”), which was written in 1797. Read through the song a few times and discuss the questions below:
- Given what you now know of Polish history, what do you make of the title of the anthem? Keep in mind, too, that the song was written in 1797.
- Why do you think the anthem mentions Italy, Bonaparte, and Sweden?
- What is the significance of the anthem being a mazurka (you may want to quickly review the module’s page on Polish music before discussing this question)?
- Why do you think Poland adopted this song as its national anthem?
Activity #4: After reviewing the section on the history of the Piast dynasty feel free to test your skills by yourself or within a classroom using this Kahoot quiz.