John Sobieski: Lothian prize essay for 1881

John Sobieski: Lothian prize essay for 1881

Strangeness of Polish history.The Kingdom or Republic of Poland has always seemed a strange phenomenon in European history, partly from the aboriginal character of its population, and partly from its exceptional constitution. The ancient Sarmatians, who occupied the same territory, had no share in the old Roman civilisation, but rather, by their constant irruptions upon the empire, were mainly instrumental in its downfall. Christianity was introduced in the tenth century; but, until recent times, no other civilising force has ever effected a permanent conquest of the country. Aboriginal character of the Poles,During the eight following centuries the Poles, surrounded by enemieson the north and east by more barbarous tribes, on the south and west by a superior civilisationwere exclusively confined to the defensive and so missed those humanising influences to which a conquering nation has so often had to submit. As late as the eighteenth century they might truly be called the lineal descendants in race, in character, and almost in habits, of the hunters and shepherds of the ancient North. Seen in their social system.Throughout their history there were two great classes in the State; the so-called noble classthe heirs of the savage in their desire for equality, and of the nomad in their love of freedomand the peasant classthe descendants of captives taken in warwhose lives and properties were at the absolute disposal of their masters. Only in the western portion of the kingdom was there a burgher class, and this was on the same[1] political footing with the serfs. The union of two great evils arising from such a systemlicence and servitudemade the Polish constitution as disastrous as it was unique. Poland thus differed so widely, both socially and politically, from every other European state, that it would be impossible to examine any important period of her[4] history without explaining alike her position in Europe and some of her internal peculiarities. ......Buy Now (To Read More)

Product details

Ebook Number: 68578
Author: Tatham, Edward H. R. (Edward Henry Ralph)
Release Date: Jul 21, 2022
Format: eBook
Language: English
Publisher: A. Thomas Shrimpton & Son
Publication Date: 1881
Publisher Country: UK