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Revision as of 17:29, 20 November 2001
The early history of Poland might be thought to begin in the 6th and 8th centuries A.D. During 6th and 8th centuries lands between the Vistula and Oder Rivers were inhabited by several West Slav tribes. Over time in the long process of struggle for power the most prominent one turned out to be Polanians (Polans or in Polish Polanie). Other tribes included the Vestulians, Goplans, Opolans, Silesians, and Pomeranians. (How should we link those tribal groups? A question for the historians!)
There were several strong tribes but after some time of fight for power the tribe called "Polanians" (or "Polans" or in Polish Polanie) came into prominence. In the middle of the 9th century they started massive expansion to the neigbouring territories and consequently pushed away Popielid dynasty. They gained considerable power and were able to take under their rule vast areas of land. From that period emerges one single ruler Mieszko I of Piast dynasty (born ca 930 AD). The real Poland's sovereign state history begins with him. Soon he married a Czech princess Dobrava and accepted Christianity for himself and his kingdom in 966 AD.
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In the 70's and 80's the whole system in Poland was deeper and deeper
in the crisis and was beginning to crumble as was the whole Eastern block
with the USSR as the fading superpower. With the advent of "perestrojka" in
Soviet Union that was started by Michail Gorbachev the change of
the political system that had been unimaginable was becoming reality.
There were fears that the shift of power from centralized one-party system
system led by the ommnipotent Politburo to democracy might turn into bloody
revolution.
Luckily it wasn't the case. There were on both sides, the Communist Party and
the democratic opposition, peacefully-minded reformer groups that prevailed.
Solidarity that was from the outset no-violence organisation believed in
negotiations and was backed by the Catholic Church that clearly managed to
cool down some militant opposition fractions.
In 1989, in so-called "roundtable talks", an agreement was worked out
between the Communist leaders and Solidarity delegates. The roundtable
agreement established the basis for a new political system based on a division
of power between president and parliament and embodied in a provisional
constitution adopted in 1992. At first, the presidency was entrusted to the
head of the previous Communist regime, General Wojciech Jaruzelski. Then in
December 1990, Solidarity leader Lech Walesa was elected president with
nearly 75 percent of the vote.
See also : History of Poland timeline
/Talk