General University Courses: Ethnicity and Imperia. East Central Europe in the national, confessional and cultural context 3620-EAI-OG

1. Definitions. Ethnicity. What does it mean ethnicity? Ethnicity is a characteristic chart of a background of a certain group, based on racial, religious, and certain others features. It also mean very often - simply – a social background of a person, group or a larger community. Therefore ethnicity means in practice, especially in its historic context, a religious denomination of a person or social group, its linguistic character, very often its social place, its national background and origins. Sometimes it means also social interactions between individuals and between a certain social communities. As we see the term ethnicity might be quite broadly use, and embrace many features which might endorse and characterize the different social phenomena.
Imperia. What does it mean imperia? Imperium, understood as the empire, is imperious – that means: domineering, overbearing and urgent or pressing. That is why the word imperialism was created, meaning the policy of extending the political or economic hegemony over other nations.
Geographical area (space of our interests). We try to focus on the territory of the East Central Europe, and especially on the area of two specific countries: Poland and Russia, but – in historical perspective – these were the so-called Polish Republic (or better to say: the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth since the Union in Lublin in 1569). On the other hand would be the Muscovy, Moscovia, the Grand Duchy of Moscow, then the Russian Empire with its broadening borders, especially since the 18th c. But the lands of the so-called East Central Europe with the end of the 18th c. were divided in to three empires: already mentioned Russia, but also Austria and Prussia. That happened when the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth as an empire ceased to exist in 1795. Chronological scope.

2. Western Christianity – Latin or Roman-Catholic Church and its place in the formation of East Central Europe. The extent and scope of the Western civilization (Latin Church borderland). The time of enlargement. The time of stabilization (in the limited zones divided between Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and Russia). Time of repressions and diminishing of the structures of the Roman Catholic Church on the East. Russia in power – the new state of affairs. Roman Catholic church in Russia (the Mohylew RC Church metropolis). Continuation with the expanded repressions in Bolshevik Russia and the USSR.

3. Russia as an empire and the holy land – its sacred idea of the mixed Orthodoxy with the state. The idea of sacralizing the territory and its nation. The Mystery of Russia. Orthodoxy as a governing church in Russia.

4. The Orthodox Church – the Important Religious Denomination on the Continent. Its beginnings in Greece, Ruthenia and Moscovy, and its place in the East Central Europe. Greek Orthodoxy – some remarks. Russian Orthodoxy. Two Patriarchates – Two Metropolis – Kiev versus Moscow. Controversial issue of who was the first, and who is the real numero uno.

5. The Orthodoxy vs. Protestant churches. Russia as the Holy Land but very poor and cruel because of its Tsars. On the other hand the Land exceptional and incomparable with any other country.

6. Jewish community in Poland and in the East Central Europe in the interwar period of the 20th c. (continuation). Hasidism – Tsadiks – Haskalah.

7. The Gypsy (Roma) community in East Central Europe.

8. The Grand Duchy of Lithuania – its legendary origin. The fairy-tale history and its place in creating the nation. Ethno-genetics.

The legend of Palemon – the origins of the Lithuanian dynasty in the ancient Rome. The fairy-tale history. The place of the legend and fairy-tale in the history of state and nations i.e. The protoplast of the Witenes and Giedymin Palemon – the father of the nation as legendary Lech in Polish popular history. Palemon - as a base for the legend of the Roman background and Roman ancestry of Lithuanians. The legend (Stryjkowski) that Lithuanians came from the son of Lech called Litwo (alias Litwon; 16th c.; a side – effect of the Sarmatian legend). The Roman beginnings of Lithuania. Idolatrous veneration – idolaters – Lithuanians as idolizers.

9 . Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and its Nobility – the class barriers and ethnic circles of the gentry vs. peasantry

The society of Lords (Pany) and peasants (chłopy). The social divisions in the Kingdom of Poland (provinces), and in the Grand duchy of Lithuania (provinces). Idea of freedom. Idea of freedom which is very deeply settled in Polish political thought and national behavior, took its origin from the common opinions of the circle of the Commonwealth gentry. The other was the idea of equality, which although very popular was a kind of a myth if compared with the real economic situation of the various circles of the gentry.

10. Social stratification of the nobility. In Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania the problem of the huge part of the gentry that was its poverty. The number of the gentry might be established from 10% do even 20% at the beginning of the 19th c. (to explain why such big number after the partitions). The majority was very poor. There were numerous categories of the gentry which were traditionally treated on a level comparable top beggars and paupers. These were popular categories of: szaraki (from the hares origin), szlachta zaściankowa, drobna szlachta (petty gentry), szlachta okoliczna (surrounding gentry), and even the so called – bobyle (those who were and lived there, but with out any land). Idea of nobility as a highest value.

11. Nobility and its ethnical origin and relation to the peasantry. Peasantry and the national or proto-national roots.

12. Mixed marriages in the East Central Europe according to the traditional customs and the official law.

13. The ethnic minorities in the East Central Europe in general.

14. Resume.

Type of course

general courses

Mode

Blended learning
Classroom
Remote learning

Prerequisites (description)

Ethnicity and Imperia – East Central Europe in the national, confessional and cultural context. Questions for the exam – proposals. Lesson1. Ethnicity and Empires in East Central Europe. A case of Poland and Russia, the 18th to 20th Century. 1. What does mean ethnicity? 2. What does it mean imperia? 3. What are the borders of Eastern and Western Europe? 4. How those borders were changed thru the history? 5. What is Lituania Magna, Historical Lithuania? 6. What is right bank Ukraine, and the left bank Ukraine? 7. What does in mean Intermarium? 8. Where was Red Ruthenia, and why it was so important? 9. Where is Podolia? Its historical roots. 10. Where is Volhynia? Its historical roots. Lesson 2. Western Christianity – Latin or Roman-Catholic Church and its place in the formation of East Central Europe. 1. Eastern Schism of 1054. 2. Florence union 1439. 3. Kievian Rus/Ruthenia – when and where. 4. Grand Duchy of Lithuania – when and where? 5. Commonwealth of Poland and Lithuania – when and where? 6. Union of Lublin 1569 – why was important? 7. Union of Brest 1596 – why was important, and made so many troubles? 8. Name few Roman-Catholic Orders and their role in the society. 9. Basilian Order and its role after 1596. 10. Jesuits – why are they so hated in the East, and loved in Poland? Lesson 3. The Orthodox Church – the Important Religious Denomination on the Continent. Its beginnings in Greece, Ruthenia and Moscovy, and its place in the East Central Europe. 1. The concept of saint Russia. 2. The concept of the Third Rome. 3. Two Patriarchates – Two Metropolia – Kiev versus Moscow. Controversial issue of who was the first, and who is the real numero uno. 4. 1652 – Patriarchy Nikon’s reforms in Russia. 5. Who were ,,Old Belivers” 6. What is the Greek Cross, and other examples of crosses. How used it? 7. The coat of arms of Poland, Lithuania, Belarus, Ukrainie, and Russia. What is the meaning of theris state symbols? 8. Triangle – the symbol of what? 9. Gedimins Posts – the symbol of what? 10. The Saint George killing a dragon – the symbol of wahtand where? Lesson 4. Russia as an empire and the holy land – its sacred idea of the mixed Orthodoxy with the state. The idea of sacralizing the territory and its nation. 1. Is Russia an empire? 2. Pravoslavie-Samoderzhavie-Narodnost’ – Orthodoxy-Autocrasy-Nationality: what does it mean? Who invent this. 3. What was Musovy, Moskovy? A place, territory, idea. 4. What was so-called ,,Golden Ring”, concerning Moscow? 5. Who was and who is the head of the Russian Orthodox Church? 6. What was ,,Smuta” in Russian history? 7. When Russia started to be empire? 8. Peter the Great – who was that fellow? 9. Catherina Secunda – Catherin the Great – who was that girl? 10. Why in Russia vodka is so important? Lesson 5. Jewish community in Poland and in the East Central Europe.. Hasidism – Tsadiks – Haskalah. 1. Who are Askenazi Jews? 2. Who are Sephardic Jews? 3. What is Yiddish? 4. What is Ladino? 5. What is Hasidism? And what are the main scriptures of the Mosaic/Jewish religion? 6. What is haskallah? 7. Who is Tsadik? What is the difference between him and regular Rebbe? 8. Who is Rebbe? What is the difference between him and the regular priest? 9. What is Antisemitsm? Is there a Philosemitism? 10. Name few fameous people of the Jewish origin, and why they are important? Lesson 6. Germans in Poland and Russia, and in the East Central Europe in the 18th to 20th c. 1. Black legend of Germans in the East and Central Europe? 2. Who were the Theutonic Order Knigts? 3. What was the character of the German emigration to our part of Europe? 4. What were the regions of Europe: Russia and Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, where Germans were setteled? 5. Famous Germans in Polad/Lithuania? 6. Famous Germans in Russia? What was the place of their origin? 7. Who were Mennonites? 8. What are the origins of Russo-German friedship? 9. Is the North Stream pipe an example of Russo-German friedship? 10. Approach of Angele Merkel to Pution? Love or separation? Lesson 7. Social Stratification in East Central Europe – traditions and myths of Polish-Lithuanian Republic versus Russian Empire. The role of nobility and gentry. 1. Who are aristocrats? Who is upper class? 2. Who are Nobelmen. 3. The divisions in the Nobility stratum? 4. Who are Boyars? 5. Who are Cossacks? 6. What is the Table of Ranks? 7. Are Poles descendats of Nobles? 8. Are Russians only peasants in their family roots? 9. Are modern Lituanians, Belorusians, and Ukrainians descendants of peasnats? 10. Do you know any Polish myths concernig the origins of Poles or other nations of the Commonwealth? Lesson 8. Social Stratification in East Central Europe – the 20th century – new divisions and new classes. The ideological background and the results. 1. What was a New Class? Milovan Dijlas. 2. Who was the so-called Apparatchik? 3. What was the end of aristoracy and noblity in the comminist block? 4. Who were Bourgeoise people? What was their final fate? 5. Kolchoz & Sovchoz – what is it? 6. Who is ,,Homo Sovieticus”? What is Proletariat? 7. What is the so-called ,,working intelligetsia”? 8. What is the stratum of ,,intelligentsia” and its role in East and Central Europe? 9. What is the difference between ,,white” and ,,blue” collar? Does it worked in socialist society? 10. What was Politburo? What was its position in the Central Committee? Lesson 9. Middle Class – Intelligentsia – Intellectuals in East Central Europe. 1. What is the so-called ,,working intelligetsia”? 2. What is the stratum of ,,intelligentsia” and its role in East and Central Europe? 3. What is the difference between ,,white” and ,,blue” collar? Does it worked in socialist society? 4. Social conservatism and liberal democracy: what are the differences? 5. Social democracy and neoliberalism: what are their common and separate sides? 6. Structure of middle class in Russia. 7. Intellectuals and its role in our society. 8. Alexandre Sozhenitsyn and his view on Russia. 9. Leszek Kolakowski and his view on human nature. 10. Do intellectuals might lead the society? Lesson 10. Lithuania and its position in the history. Mithology and reality. 1. The Roman beginnings of Lithuania. 2. What are Latopises? 3. The Story of the passed years (Povest’ vremmiennych let) and Nestor: why it is important from historic point ofview? 4. Who was Jan Długosz? 5. Why Vilnius is the most important for Lithuanians? 6. What is Samogitia (Żmudź): why is so important for Lithuanians? 7. Aukshtota – where is that region, and why is also very important in East Central Europe? 8. Latgalia – Polish Inflants – Where is it, and why its important? 9. Courland and Semigalia Principality – wher is is, and what was its role? 10. Who is the Lithuanian hero? Name few. Lesson 11. Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and its Nobility – the class barriers and ethnic circles of the gentry vs. peasantry. 1. Why idea of freedom is so strongly based in the Polish identity? 2. Do you know any Polish proverbs? 3. What and when was Reformation and Counter-Reformation? 4. Who were Lutherans? 5. Who were Calvinists? 6. Who were Arians (Polish Brothers)? 7. Who were petty nobles? 8. Who were Golota? 9. What was: Liber generationis plebeanorum ("Liber chamorum"), by Walerian Nekanda Trepka (1626-1639)? 10. Was Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealt a prototype of the European Union? Lesson 12. Theories and its implementation in East Central Europe in the 20th c. 1. Marxim-Leninism-Stalinism. Its core and specificity. 2. Marxist divisions of society. 3. Class struggle. 4. Theoery of revolution. 5. Theory of Basic Probability. Theory of Probaility. 6. Technological determinism theory. 7. The chaos theory. 8. The Butterfly effect. The disasters theory. 9. The conspiracy theory. 10. The black swan theory. Lesson 13. East Central Europe in the 20th c. – revolutions. 1. 1917. 2. 1948. 3. 1952. 4. 1956. 5. 1968. 6. 1970. 7. 1976. 8. 1980. 9. 1989. 10. 1990. Lesson 14. TOLERANCE. What does it mean?

Course coordinators

Leszek Zasztowt

Learning outcomes

KNOWLEDGE:
Extended knowledge of the historical context of events in the region and the impact of historical memory on the present situation (W04);
A solid understanding of the main problems of antagonisms in the region (especially Polish-Russian), the institutions and people who played an important role in this regard, as well as the main problems of politics, including their impact on the international situation in this part of Europe (W05)
In-depth knowledge of the historical interdependence of the system of political equilibrium in Europe (W10);

SKILLS:
Mastering the methodological and analytical skills allowing for independent analysis, diagnosis and forecasting of directions of development of the political, ethnic and economic situation in its historical context in the region (U01);
Having the skills of comparative analysis and comparing dependencies in the field of proton-national and ethnic transformations in the region (U04);
Ability to independently assess the origins and conditions of conflicts in the region, especially in the historical context (U06);

SOCIAL COMPETENCE:
Has in-depth knowledge of historical conditions of inter-confessional and inter-ethnic relations for the formation of mono-confessional and proton-national social ties in the region (K05);

Assessment criteria

Oral or written exam
Attendance

Bibliography

Selected literature:
Timothy Snyder, The reconstruction of nations. Poland, Ukraine, Lithuania, Belarus, 1569-1999, Yale 2003.
Andreas Kappeler, The Russian Empire. A multiethnic history, Harlow 2001.
Robert Service, A history of 20th c. Russia, Harvard 1998.
Geoffrey Hosking, Russia. People and empire, Harvard 1997.
Martin Malia, Russia under western eyes. From the bronze horseman to the Lenin mausoleum, Cambridge 1999.
Theodore Weeks, Nation and State in the late imperial Russia. Nationalism and russification on the Western frontier, 1863-1914, DeKalb 1996.
Theodore Weeks, From assimilation to antisemitism. The ,,Jewish Question” in Poland, 1850-1914, DeKalb 2006.
Darius Staliunas, Making Russians. Meaning and practice of Russification in Lithuania and Belarus after 1863, Amsterdam 2007.
Leszek Zasztowt, Europa Środkowo-Wschodnia a Rosja XIX-XX wieku. W kręgu edukacji i polityki, Warszawa 2007.
Jan Malicki, Leszek Zasztowt (ed.), East and West. History and contemporary state of Eastern studies, Warsaw 2009.
Bohdan Cywiński, Szańce kultur. Szkice z dziejów narodów Europy wschodniej, Warszawa 2013.

Additional information

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