Description
Book SynopsisThe book provides a panorama of Italian migrants’ activities in Polish economy, political life and, above all, culture. The motivations of Italians who decided to travel to the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and quite often settled there permanently, the reasons which made this migration possible and approved by the Polish and Lithuanian hosts are described in detail. Various categories of Italian migrants are considered as well as the potential and growing difficulties in their adaptation. These premises serve as proof of social and cultural distances between the Italians and the Poles and underline the tensions between the Italians’ cultural background and the one which they had to cope with. The hypothesis of the lost historical opportunity made possible by numerous arrivals of migrants from more culturally advanced areas is highlighted through the debate on the efficiency of Italian influences upon Polish-Lithuanian realities, and by the catalogue of the causes which effectively hindered Italian impulse for modernity.
Trade Review«This book proves to be extremely useful not only for readers versed in Polish history, but also for specialists in other fields. It represents therefore an important achievement for the popularization of Polish culture and history abroad and should be warmly welcomed by the scientific community.»
(Andrea Mariani, sehepunkte 17 (2017), Nr. 5)
Table of ContentsContents: History – Early Modern Europe – Italy – Poland-Lithuania – Relations – Italians – Travelers – Italian influences – Culture – Civilization – Modernity.
