The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth is an oddity in history, known as both a Great Power that existed in central-eastern Europe, with power capable of rivaling its neighbours and as a paralytic state, incapable of reform. Yet within less than two centuries after its golden age, the Commonwealth was dismembered by its neighbours. With its demise, Poland as a nation would cease to exist for over a century until the end of World War One. But why? How did a once-mighty state get wiped from the map as if it had never existed at all?

As university has begun again, I'll be drowning in essays (as per usual) so I'll be sticking to a much looser schedule of one video every 3/4 weeks. This could change, especially if I release a shorter video but stay tuned.

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Timestamps:

00:00-00:53 - Intro
00:54-3:11 - Context: Commonwealth's Social Structure
3:12-4:54 - Decline
4:55-6:45 - The First Partition
6:46-8:16 - Regeneration of the Commonwealth
8:17-9:32 - Second and Third Partitions
9:33-12:45 - What Scholars Say
12:46-13:37 - Summary
13:38-13:58 - Outro

Sources Used:
Poland: A History (Adam Zamoyski)

The Partitions Of Poland In Polish Historiography (https://www.jstor.org/stable/25777085)

Historiography of the Countries of Eastern Europe: Poland (https://www.jstor.org/stable/2165490)

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#history #poland #lithuania #military