8/14/2019 Oral Presentation 4, Poland - by Guillem Jen

1/9

Poland

POLAND

8/14/2019 Oral Presentation 4, Poland - by Guillem Jen

2/9

History of PolandPiast dynasty

Began to form into a entity at 10th century under the Piast dynasty.

Mieszko I, baptized in 966, adopting Catholic Christianity as the nation'snew official religion, population converted the next centuries.

In the 12th century, Poland fragmented into several smaller states. 1320,Wadysaw I became the King of a reunified Poland.

Poland was centre of migration of peoples. The Jewish community began tosettle and flourish in Poland during this era.

The Black Death which affected most parts of Europe from 1347 to 1351did not reach Poland.

8/14/2019 Oral Presentation 4, Poland - by Guillem Jen

3/9

8/14/2019 Oral Presentation 4, Poland - by Guillem Jen

4/9

History of PolandPolish-Lithuanian Commonwealth

A golden age ensued during the sixteenth century after the Union ofLublin which gave birth to the PolishLithuanian Commonwealth.

During the Golden Age period, Poland expanded its borders tobecome the largest country in Europe.

In 17th a Swedish invasion and the Cossacks' ChmielnickiUprising which ravaged the country marked the end of the goldenage.

Famines and epidemics followed hostilities, and the populationdropped from roughly 11 to 7 million.

Numerous wars against Russia marked a near-anarchy controlled by

its neighbours. three partitions of Poland (1772, 1793, and 1795) which culminated

in Poland's being erased from the map of Europe and its territoriesbeing divided between Russia, Prussia, and Austria.

8/14/2019 Oral Presentation 4, Poland - by Guillem Jen

5/9

History of PolandWorld war II

As agreed in the Molotov

Ribbentrop Pact, Poland was split

into two zones, occupied by

Germany and the Soviet Union.

Of all the countries involved in thewar, Poland lost the highestpercentage of its citizens: 6 millionperished, half of them Polish Jews.

At the war's conclusion, The newPoland emerged 20% smaller by

77,500 square kilometres

8/14/2019 Oral Presentation 4, Poland - by Guillem Jen

6/9

Economy

Poland is considered to have one of the healthiest economies of thepost-communist countries and the fastest growing country withinthe EU.

Since the fall of the communist government the economy stands out

as a primarily capitalistic market economy.

Polish PPS GDP per capita stood at 57% of the EU average in 2008.

Poland is likely to adopt the euro in 2012 or 2013. Some businesses

may already accept the euro as payment.

8/14/2019 Oral Presentation 4, Poland - by Guillem Jen

7/9

8/14/2019 Oral Presentation 4, Poland - by Guillem Jen

8/9

Famous people

Polish culture has beeninfluenced by both Easternworld and Westernworld influences. Today, theseinfluences are evident inPolish architecture, folklore,and art. Poland is thebirthplace of some worldfamous individuals.

Pope John Paul II Physicist and chemist Marie

Skodowska Curie Astronomer Nicolaus

Copernicus Composer Frederick Chopin

Painters like Jan Matejko andStanisaw Wyspiaski.

Many world famous Polishmoviedirectors include Academy

Awards winners RomanPolaski, AndrzejWajda, ZbigniewRybczyski, JanuszKamiski,Krzysztof Kielowskiand Agnieszka Holland.

8/14/2019 Oral Presentation 4, Poland - by Guillem Jen

9/9