DOI
https://doi.org/10.25772/XBNA-DX96
Defense Date
2012
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Department
History
First Advisor
George E. Munro
Abstract
UWSPÓŁCZEŚNIENIE: THE CONTEMPORIZATION OF POLISH EDUCATION, POLITICS, AND SOCIETY IN THE ENLIGHTENMENT PERIOD examines the contemporization of educational, governmental, and societal structures that occurred in eighteenth-century Poland. Italian educational models and English governmental models influenced the development of Poland’s structures since the fourteenth century. The introduction and pervasiveness of Sarmatism in szlachta culture during the fifteenth century created the foundation for the szlachta democracy. Continued interference from neighboring rulers coupled with the erosion of educational standards inside Poland contributed to the szlachta’s susceptibility to corruption, which resulted in non-functioning government. Following the Partition of 1772, the Poles employed the assistance of French philosophes in developing revitalized educational and governmental structures. Stanisław Konarski, King Stanisław Poniatowski, Hugo Kołłątaj, Stanisław Staszic, and Michał Wiełhorski fought to thwart Catherine the Great’s attempts to subordinate Poland; the result was the Constitution of 3 May 1791 and the contemporization of Poland’s society during their enlightenment movement.
Rights
© The Author
Is Part Of
VCU University Archives
Is Part Of
VCU Theses and Dissertations
Date of Submission
December 2012