2. Hello everybody! We are students from Poland and we are very happy that we can take part in an international partnership with schools from all over the world. We would like to show and tell you something about our beautiful country. We hope that you will visit our country one day! Greetings from Poland =)

3. Government Information REPUBLIC OF POLAND (in Polish: Rzeczpospolita Polska) Population: 38,170,000 Area: 312 684 sqkm Language: Polish Currency: 1 zloty = 100 groszy National flag: Colour: top - white, bottom – red National emblem: a white eagle in a crown against a red background

4. Government Information cont. Anthem: Mazurek Dąbrowskiego Capital: Warsaw (Warszawa) Climate: continental, moderate Poland is a country in Central Europe and has borders with Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Belarus, Ukraine, Lithuania and Russia.

5. Important Dates 966 - baptism of Poland 1025 - coronation of the first king of Poland 1364 - founding of the first university 1410 - battle of Grunwald with Teutonic Knights 1596 - transfer of capital from Cracow to Warsaw 1791 - first constitution 1795 - third partition of Polish 1830 - November Uprising 1863 - January Uprising 1918 - Poland regains independence 1939 - 1945 - Second World War 1989 - collapse of communism in Poland

6. History of Poland Territory of Poland was first inhabited by Slav tribes, who were Indo-Europeans coming from the south. The name of Poland comes from the name of the Polanie tribe who lived in western Poland. The Polanie manage to unite most of tribes living in the area. They established the state reigned by the Piast dynasty.

7. The first prince Mieszko I accepted Christianity to strengthen the country and protect it against German invasion. The son of Mieszko, Boleslaw Chrobry, was the first king of Poland. The first capital of Poland was Gniezno. In 1038 the capital was moved to Cracow, and a few centuries later - to Warsaw. The 11 th and 12 th century were a period of civil wars, pagan rebellions and military conflicts with neighbouring countries. In 14 th century Poland managed to unite internally and in 1385 to make a pact with Lithuania, that lasted for two hundred years. Lithuanian Grand Duke Wladyslaw Jagiello became Polish king and started Jagiellonian dynasty. Jagiello defeated the Teutonic Knights, who fought with Poland and Lithuania.

8. 16 th century in Poland was called ‘the Golden Age’ because it was the period of might and prosperity. Polish scientists, such as Copernicus, were widely known in Europe. The knights became noblemen and started to play important role in governing the country. Poland was also a safe country for people of different denominations, who were persecuted in western Europe.

9. Since 1537, kings were elected by noblemen deputies. Until the end of the 18 th century Poland went through many periods of wars and prosperity. Then, due to internal anarchy and political weakness, Poland was partitioned by Russia, Prussia and Austria and disappeared form the map of Europe for 125 years. The Poles tried to regain independence in two uprisings, but with success.

10. Poland regained independence in 1918, after the First World War. For 20 years the authorities tried to unite and modernize the divided parts of the country. In 1939 Poland was invaded by Germany and Russia. Poland lost more than 5 million people during the war. The end of WW II in 1945 brought communist rule over Poland that dominated all fields of life. In 1989 the communist government was forced to enable first free election and Poland became a sovereign country. In 1999 Poland became a member of NATO, and in 2004 – the European Union.

11. Famous Poles MIKOLAJ KOPERNIK (1473-1543) – first astronomer who formulated a comprehensive heliocentric cosmology.

12. FRYDERYK CHOPIN (1810-1849) – famous composer and pianist, one of the greatest masters of Romantic music.

13. MARIA SKLODOWSKA – CURIE (1867-1934) – famous chemist who discovered two elements, received two Nobel Prizes.

14. JOHN PAUL II (1920-2005) – Roman Catholic clergyman, archbishop and pope.

15. LECH WALESA (1943- ) trade-union and human rights activist, co- founder Solidarity movement, Peace Nobel Prize in 1983.

16. Works Cited Prepared by students from Publiczne Gimnzajum im. Orla Bialego in Jablonna, Poland. Authors: Ewelina Bucholc, Paulina Ryszewska, Kaja Karmel, Aleksandra Stawecka, Emilia Ernest, Paulina Madej, Urszula Cyran, Martyna Stefaniak, Aleksandra Graczyk, Adriana Lubiecka, Julia Rozbicka.