Poland - A History (Adam Zamoyski, 2009)

I find this author quite readable (here, and here).  Motive for reading this book - I know so little about Poland, yet it appears my wife has about 3/4 of her heritage there (meaning 3/8 for our kids)  - that's a lot.

Zamoyski comes from a family with a long history in Polish nobility.

So what did I learn?  Way too much to keep straight, but some useful strands:

1.  Poland had very large land territories at various stages in what I'll call early-modern times.  Arrangements with Lithuania, Ruthenia (Ukraine), etc.  Often lightly populated and loosely controlled - but a large power player.

2.  Russia got stronger.  German states got stronger, culminating in 19th century unification.  But even somewhat before that - an essential issue for Poland is its unfortunate position between Russia and Germany.  A huge effect on its history especially in early 18th century and after.

3.  Hard to believe that Poland was simply partitioned off the map following a sequence of moves primarily involving Germany, Austria, Russia.  Polish politics wrapped up in regaining the homeland; less experience addressing practical governance.

4.  And of course there was the Soviet era.

5.  Farther back - a governing method that involved an elective king and required lots of consensus - in some ways probably quite modern - but in the end this paralyzed the state.

6.  As I've gotten to understand better - in part because of the Zamoyski books linked above - the concept of the "nation" and "patriotism" are incredibly slippery, and dangerous.  So much is invented after the fact for reasons of state.  There does seem to be a core . . . but on the margins, what really is "Poland" and "Polish?"  Borders and peoples have moved around for as far back as our knowledge extends.

7.  A consequence of being positioned so far east - Cossacks, Tatars, Turks.  Important roles in fighting the Ottomans.

8.  And the incredibly large Jewish population - at least compared to other European countries - lightly-populated areas welcomed Jews getting kicked out of western European countries.  Though once in place - often mistreated.

9.  Roman Catholicism certainly not a sure thing!  Look at the geography.

10.  Lots of diplomatic noise in 19th and 20th century about re-forming a nation of Poland - but mostly talk, as the balance of power seemed to work - and radical change like this could upset things.  Short-lived state post WWI.