Screams, gunshots, and the burning of thatched roofs. Yet this was not a full pitched battle. When faced with the weakness of the state, the 17th-century Polish nobility settled their differences by fighting. by Antoni Olbrychski Duels Duels in Poland are a complicated issue. Scholars of 17th-century society emphasize that violence in this period…
An alchemist known all over Europe, he was diligent in his research and performed many complex physical and chemical experiments. In his writings he often described the life-giving “philosophical salt” hidden in the air, which is why he is considered one of the discoverers of oxygen and thus a pioneer of modern chemistry. by Piotr…
During his life and also after his death, Piotr Skarga divided the opinions of Poles. For some he was “the main troublemaker of the Republic of Poland,” and for others he was a prophet of “the misery after the partitions,” who by all means tried to save the sinking ship – Poland. by Jan Hlebowicz…
In the old times in Poland, the period from New Year’s Eve until the end of the Carnival season was filled with carefree and imaginative fun based on folk beliefs, customs, and rituals. People played, sang, danced, and ate with abandon in the manors, houses, and taverns. A sense of rejoicing was everywhere. In addition,…
Pope Clement XIV suppressed the Society of Jesus in 1773, which forced changes in the organisation of education in the Commonwealth since it was precisely the Society that was primarily responsible for education at the primary and secondary level in the country. The establishment of the Commission of National Education (Komisja Edukacji Narodowej, KEN) was…
Tadeusz Kościuszko dedicated his life to tolerance and liberty for all. He was a man ahead of his time and led by setting an example that we should all try to follow – says Alex Storozynski. Tadeusz Kościuszko is an extraordinary historical figure – a hero of two nations, Poland and the United…
