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This book is available in open access thanks to the generous support of the Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań
Defining the Identity of the Younger Europe gathers studies that shed new light on the rich tapestry of early modern “Younger Europe” — Byzantine-Slavic and Scandinavian territories. It unearths the multi-dimensional aspects of the period, revealing the formation and transformation of nations that shared common threads, the establishment of political systems, and the enduring legacies of religious movements. Immersive, enlightening, and thought-provoking, the book promises to be an indispensable resource for anyone interested in the complexities of early modern Europe. This collection does not just retell history; it provokes readers to rethink it.
Contributors: Giovanna Brogi, Piotr Chmiel,Karin Friedrich, Anna Grześkowiak-Krwawicz, Mirosława Hanusiewicz-Lavallee, Robert Aleksander Maryks, Tadhg Ó hAnnracháin, Maciej Ptaszyński, Paul Shore, and Frank E. Sysyn.
Defining the Identity of the Younger Europe gathers studies that shed new light on the rich tapestry of early modern “Younger Europe” — Byzantine-Slavic and Scandinavian territories. It unearths the multi-dimensional aspects of the period, revealing the formation and transformation of nations that shared common threads, the establishment of political systems, and the enduring legacies of religious movements. Immersive, enlightening, and thought-provoking, the book promises to be an indispensable resource for anyone interested in the complexities of early modern Europe. This collection does not just retell history; it provokes readers to rethink it.
Contributors: Giovanna Brogi, Piotr Chmiel,Karin Friedrich, Anna Grześkowiak-Krwawicz, Mirosława Hanusiewicz-Lavallee, Robert Aleksander Maryks, Tadhg Ó hAnnracháin, Maciej Ptaszyński, Paul Shore, and Frank E. Sysyn.
This book is available in open access thanks to the generous support of the Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań
Defining the Identity of the Younger Europe gathers studies that shed new light on the rich tapestry of early modern “Younger Europe” — Byzantine-Slavic and Scandinavian territories. It unearths the multi-dimensional aspects of the period, revealing the formation and transformation of nations that shared common threads, the establishment of political systems, and the enduring legacies of religious movements. Immersive, enlightening, and thought-provoking, the book promises to be an indispensable resource for anyone interested in the complexities of early modern Europe. This collection does not just retell history; it provokes readers to rethink it.
Contributors: Giovanna Brogi, Piotr Chmiel,Karin Friedrich, Anna Grześkowiak-Krwawicz, Mirosława Hanusiewicz-Lavallee, Robert Aleksander Maryks, Tadhg Ó hAnnracháin, Maciej Ptaszyński, Paul Shore, and Frank E. Sysyn.
Defining the Identity of the Younger Europe gathers studies that shed new light on the rich tapestry of early modern “Younger Europe” — Byzantine-Slavic and Scandinavian territories. It unearths the multi-dimensional aspects of the period, revealing the formation and transformation of nations that shared common threads, the establishment of political systems, and the enduring legacies of religious movements. Immersive, enlightening, and thought-provoking, the book promises to be an indispensable resource for anyone interested in the complexities of early modern Europe. This collection does not just retell history; it provokes readers to rethink it.
Contributors: Giovanna Brogi, Piotr Chmiel,Karin Friedrich, Anna Grześkowiak-Krwawicz, Mirosława Hanusiewicz-Lavallee, Robert Aleksander Maryks, Tadhg Ó hAnnracháin, Maciej Ptaszyński, Paul Shore, and Frank E. Sysyn.
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The article examines F. M. Dostoevsky’s visit to London in the summer of 1862, in the course of his first trip abroad, which resulted in the writing of Winter Notes on Summer Impressions. A Summer-Long Feuilleton. The task to untangle the impact of numerous impressions on Dostoevsky’s creative process is initiated and the newly arisen circumstances that he encountered on his return to St. Petersburg highlighted. Winter Notes is viewed as a groundbreaking work in Dostoevsky’s canon that contains the seeds of future great works, though not primarily in accordance with the multiple ideologically based readings that have sought to define it. Instead Winter Notes is recognised for its author’s aesthetic explorations into poetics within the confines of Tsarist censorship which required that ‘Official Nationality’, the imperial ideological doctrine be upheld. Dostoevsky’s visit to the 1862 International Exhibition and its art galleries is addressed for the first time on the basis of his brother Mikhail’s letters and other evidence. The exhibition building and the works of William Hogarth, John Martin and J.M.W.Turner are singled out. Their imprint on Dostoevsky’s feuilleton is observed through the stages of impressions gained via intermedial interplay. It affirms that pre-existing notions in the ‘discourse of Englishness’ were absorbed and reinvented by Dostoevsky with the use of figurative language, clarifying the origin of metaphors used in the text, together with literary and biblical allusions. A list of Russian and British artists exhibiting in the International Exhibition of 1862 is included.
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This essay scrutinizes the symbols and language employed to articulate the emerging identity of a pan-Christian Hungary, a nation often contrasted with liberal Enlightenment values and non-European cultures attempting to settle or transit through the central European state. Hungary’s liberation from Soviet rule in 1989 left it with a population largely disconnected from institutional Christianity’s rituals and ideologies. Hungary’s cultural memory has been profoundly influenced by its catastrophic defeat in the 1526 Battle of Mohács against the Ottomans and its subsequent subjugation by foreign powers, notably the Ottoman and Austrian rulers. The author conducts a detailed analysis of the predominant symbols and rhetoric employed by contemporary Hungarian nationalist movements. He illustrates how these elements have been repurposed and transformed into integral components of a distinctive neo-Christian identity. The author argues that this evolving “Christian democracy” encompasses “pan-Christian” symbols and messages, drawing parallels with the pan-Indian trends observed in North America.
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This essay scrutinizes how the notion of the common good was interpreted within two distinct urban communities of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, in Royal Prussia and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Karin Friedrich underscores that while the discourse surrounding the common good held significant weight in Polish–Lithuanian political and moral deliberations, urban culture was largely overlooked. This was primarily due to the prevalent belief in the moral inferiority associated with urban and commercial activities. Despite this, the essay presents two case studies demonstrating how the principle of the common good, or “bonum commune,” was actualized in the Commonwealth’s cities. The examples provided are Danzig (Royal Prussia) during the city’s dispute with King Stephen Báthory and Slutsk (Grand Duchy of Lithuania) during the period of Prince Bogusław Radziwiłł’s ownership. Friedrich demonstrates that the common good was tightly interwoven with self-interest in urban socio-political and economic life. These two values bolstered each other, creating a potential symbiosis between the common good and individual benefit. Attempts to secure the common good were not perceived as sacrifices but as pursuits of prosperity and overall well-being.
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This essay spotlights the vibrant evolution of Ukrainian literary culture during the latter half of the seventeenth century. It delves into the sermons of Stefan Iavorskii, examined through a wealth of previously unexplored manuscript sources, and considers them within the broader historical, social, and political backdrop of the 1680s and 1690s. The essay highlights the intriguing relationship between Iavorskii and Lazar Baranovych, a leading Ukrainian poet from the same era. The author illustrates the fusion of Western Renaissance motifs with the Church Slavonic Orthodox heritage, emphasizing its importance as a foundational element of modern Ukrainian culture. This integrative aspect significantly sets it apart from the Muscovite tradition. Iavorskii, renowned as a panegyrist, diplomat, Mohylian professor, and court preacher, emerges as a key figure in Ivan Mazepa’s circle. His prominence marks the first real princely court manifestation in Ukraine before the culture was heavily stifled by Imperial Russian oppression. A comparative study of Iavorskii’s sermons and Baranovych’s poetry offers fresh insights into the intergenerational relationship between two cohorts of the Hetmanate’s intellectual elite, profoundly influenced by Western culture and literature.
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This essay delves into the significance of the Khmelnytsky uprising, spotlighting it as a vivid illustration of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth’s political project failure. It examines the lessons the study of the Cossack Hetmanate offers concerning the history of Poland–Lithuania. The author contends that the decline of the Commonwealth’s encompassing power, often pinpointed to 1648, likely began earlier, thus making the Union of Lublin provisions instrumental in modern Ukraine’s formation. Although the Ukrainian revolt has usually been classified as a revolution due to the sweeping economic, social, and political transformations it triggered, it could also be seen as a frontier response to integration into the more advanced economic and social structures of the Commonwealth. The author suggests that current trends in historiography invite an exploration of the uprising through the lenses of slavery, violence, and colonialism. Despite this, the national and proto-national relations between Poles and Ruthenians remain critical in the discourse. Yet, advancements in research on hybrid identities advocate moving away from binary national perspectives. It is evident that the concept of Rus’-Ukraine as a patria was established before the revolt, providing a foundation for the evolution of Cossack Ukraine into an Otchyzna. Although the Cossack Hetmanate adopted many political concepts from the Commonwealth without developing into an equally stable republic, the author asserts that Ukraine’s history must also be examined within this context.
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This essay elucidates some unique characteristics of the early Reformation in the Younger Europe and emphasizes the need for further comparative studies. It concentrates on the period 1523–25 in Stralsund (Duchy of Pomerania) and the initial clashes between the reformative preachers and the Catholic clergy. The author thoroughly analyzes and compares Catholic and Protestant sources, exploring the teachings disseminated during these conflicts, the progression of events, and the attempts from both factions to justify their respective causes. The early Reformation is primarily portrayed as a clerical endeavor in this essay. However, it also highlights the period’s potential for instigating violent breaches of morals and social and political structures.
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This essay centers on the notion of Central (or East-Central) Europe as developed by Polish, Czech, and Hungarian intellectuals during the Cold War. The author seeks to trace the temporal rather than spatial dimensions of the region’s characterization as conveyed in their most significant publications, particularly those referencing the early modern period. Through the examination of different macro-historical concepts often applied to Central and Eastern Europe, the author aims to discern if works produced within this discourse—developed by the region’s historians and thinkers from the 1950s to the 1980s—can be interpreted in the context of temporal divisions of the continent, rather than spatial ones. He explains the diachronic specificity of East-Central Europe’s evolution in historiography during the medieval and early modern periods. The author investigates what critical dates or periods are selected and contemplates the potential utility of “allochronism” and “heterochrony” notions for future analysis.
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This essay delves into the major influences that shaped papal perspectives towards East-Central Europe from 1580 to 1640, focusing on the Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth. It proposes that the main national distinction of interest for the Italian-dominated Curia, or papal court was between Italians and the ultramontane. Consequently, the view of Poland–Lithuania, Scandinavia, Bohemia, and Hungary was not remarkably different from that of France or the England/Scotland/Ireland region. Poland–Lithuania was perceived as a significant Catholic stronghold, serving as a crucial frontier against the Protestant, Orthodox, and Islamic spheres. As observed elsewhere, a relatively generalized categorization of “heretics,” showcasing little to no interest in specific confessional differences among Protestants, was applied and contrasted with the Catholic party. This dismissive attitude was similarly prevalent towards Orthodox Christians, even though Rome upheld the Union of Brest. Across the region, Rome consistently resisted the Confederation of Warsaw, advocated for curbing non-Catholic clergy activities, and strove to minimize the number of influential positions granted to non-Catholics. In geopolitical terms, besides strengthening the Catholic party, Rome endeavored to sway monarchs towards actions beneficial to other Catholic sovereigns while fostering anti-Turkish policies and alliances.