Rob Reacts to... The Animated History of Poland | Part 1

From 4200BC to 1795AD, here is the animated history of Poland!
Original Video: • The Animated History o...
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[@RobReacts1]

If you are enjoying my Polish Reaction Videos, why not go check out our vlog channel where we have visted poland! kzbin.info/aero/PLw4JaWCFm7FeHG7Ad5PtaZzoYd1Vq5EXW

[@sytrostormlord3275]

0:36 Well, myth doesn't say anything about Russia, but about Rus Kingdom/Empire. Rus was a medival country with capital in Kviv (hence, sometimes called Kievian Rus). Once Muscovite kingdom started uniting Rus lands their proclamed themselves as descedants of that medival Rus, which gave them an explanation for expanding further into these lands. They also changed their name to Russia ;) More about Kievan Rus here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kievan_Rus%27

[@tomaszmaciocha4991]

I was storming to the comments to write just that, but you beat me to it, thanks tho, well explained 👍. Although I must add for those who don't know, that name "Ruś"(polish) or "Русь"(russian) (I am sorry I don't know how it spells in ukrainian or belarusian) stands also for three historic regions in central and eastern europe - mainly White Rus, Black Rus and Red Rus, and ultimately territories which were reffered to as "Ruś/Русь" throughout the centuries span from southeastern contemporary Poland, through almost all Belarus, bigger portion of contemporary Ukraine (central and northern), maybe even a bit of contemporary Lithuania, but I am not 100% sure as of that, all the way to smolensk region in contemporary Russia. As a matter of fach though, when it comes to the myth about three brothers I think it is as you said, because from all medieval countries using the name "Rus", Kievan Rus I think was the oldest and perhaps the strongest.

[@TheRezro]

It is obviously a Legend, but according to modern experts. Proto-Slavic Tribes (Yamma Culture) spread from region of Eastern Galicja (=West Ukraine) forming Vistula Veneti (West Slavs), Sclaveni (South Slavs) and Antes (East Slaves). Later Germanic expansion push away them from region during Roman period and after Hun invasion they come back, what lead to misconception that they were younger culture then they were. Even if habitation of Vistula date to Lusatian (Lech?) culture, what later become Veneti. Anyway. When legend was readopted to modern period they take three known at the time cultures, so Moravian's (Czechs), Poles (Lechites) and Ukrainians (Kieven Rus) tribes (Southern Tribes were separated by Hungarians aka Magyars, who were Uralic culture. So they become unknown). So Lech, Czech and Rus (some versions also mention Prus, though Balts were separate culture). Muscovy Orde wasn't really a thing until XIII century.

[@Krokmaniak]

@@tomaszmaciocha4991 I would add that English language already has word for Ruś and it's Ruthenia, and three regions are White Ruthenia, Red Ruthenia and Black Ruthenia

[@anetasotys9334]

Kievan Rus and Red Ruthenia is what "russkie pierogi"(the potato cheese and onion ones) come from, not Russia

[@SairanBurghausen]

⁠@@TheRezro"Yamna were proto-slavs" LMAOOO Also slavs stealing Finno-Ugric achievements: classic!

[@jarosawklejnocki6633]

Two years after the loss of independence in 1795, the Polish army appeared in Italy alongside Napoleon. Then a song was created, which later became our anthem: "Dąbrowski's Mazurka". The first words are: "Poland has not yet perished while we are alive." There was no Poland on the map, but it was in the hearts of Poles. That's why we survived and reborn as a country. Easy:)

[@maciejadams]

It's Gdańsk. The G is pronounced. I am Polish and Polish is my mother tongue. Pronouncing G very lightly could be some sort of a dialectal thing, I would guess. But the official pronunciation in the Polish language is Gdańsk (that is with G).

[@adamlangner9734]

Też jestem z Polski

[@BobbudowniczyXD]

Probably it's from german Danzig

[@xot80]

ludzie etymologicznie G jest praktycznie nieme.

[@jamesbukowski]

We are this wall but it's not funny for us 😆

[@TomashPL58]

@@xot80 Mieszkam obok Gdańska. Nigdy nie słyszałem niemego G... no chyba że ktoś miał grubo wypite... Ale to nie jest oficjalna wymowa.

[@123pik1]

Elected king wasn't the biggest problem of that situation The main problem was a law called "liberum veto", one noble could oppose to a statute and it was dissolving entire session

[@GdzieJestNemo]

those two went together though as to get elected you had to promise stuff to nobles that done the electing

[@123pik1]

@@GdzieJestNemo they were connected, yes But elected king as only elected king would not have as big effect as liberum veto had

[@adamodimattia]

It's nice to have history of Poland be known more and more because it is fascinating. One thing about the Polish occupying Moscow needs clarifying, although most diffused notion is that the "conquered" Moscow, it was in fact the legitimate ruling faction of the Moscovites that asked for the polish support and protection this event had great potential of uniting the two states if it wasn't for the personal shortsighted ambitions and jelousy of the free elected polish king Sigismund the Third Vasa. I encourage everyone to learn more profoundly about it, good stuff.

[@adrianmclean9195]

Did you know, that Australia's highest mountain: Mount Kosciusko - is actually named after a Polish General.

[@RobReacts1]

I didnt, but I do now!

[@Krokmaniak]

10:10 We do prounce G, but keep in mind that there are dozens of dialects of Polish and every single one have different grammar and pronounciation rules. Example: The most distinct is Silesian and there is actually senstece that is actually often used in demontration. "In the hall on the dresser there is a cup of tea" Polish: "W przedpokoju na komodzie stoi szklanka herbaty" Silesian: "W antryju na byfyju stoi szolka tyju"

[@michanowak3001]

It's hard to call silesian as dialect only, when it is practically different langue with words from few others and it would be really hard to understand it. But you are right Poland have many dialects. For me potato is not ziemniak but źimniok.

[@Krokmaniak]

@@michanowak3001True, I even mentioned this in another comment here. Also Kartofel. Pyra etc

[@anetasotys9334]

Polish spirit was to strong to just give up, as the national anthem says. And people in land occupied by austria, in comparison to other two, had it pretty lucky and mostly could cultivate traditions amd speak polish

[@PiotrJaser]

Even in Silesia, people still spoke Polish. And Poland lost Silesia in the Middle Ages.

[@marcinmalczewski310]

But pepole in Austria get artificial created pesants revolts called rabacja galicyjska. AustroHungarian rulers created laws to make pesantry super poor in famine and starvation and put the blame on polish land owners nobility(posible source of resistance). They did thry to change name from polish term in to kingdom of Galicja and Lodomeria translated by pols as Golicja and Głodomeria (land of poor to naked skin and hungry pepole). Austro Hungarian Regime with secret police always on its toes looking for revolutioners and ready to aresttawern owner because fly make poo on the Austro Hungarian ruler portrey. This was freadom standard similiar to modern north korea where pepole where arested because they fake they cry about Kim Dzong death. Austro Hungarian empire was more multiethnic than Rusian Tzardoom or Germany(There whaere Austrians, Hungarians, Czechs, Slovakians, Pols and others) but it wasnt home.

[@bessarion1771]

I'm Polish - born and raised (in fact I was born and raised in Gdansk). You DO pronounce "G" in Gdansk.

[@RobReacts1]

Thank you :)

[@TheDekazer]

We pronounce almost everything.

[@TroPtyN]

I confirm pronounce with "G". :)

[@TheRezro]

@@RobReacts1 Maybe they were Kashubians? (they are actually separate nation living in Pomerania). But I don't know for sure if that actually may be the case? Outside that they do have different spelling.

[@szatek88]

​@@RobReacts1 Gdańsk were called by Germans Danzig in the past so maybe that's why😉.

[@Mika-dr9pc]

Is mistake when he tell about Third May Constitution. "Polish revolution" - if we may such call it - wasn't anti-monarchical like French revolution. Then was popular slogan "King with nation, nation with king" and a lot of enlightenment thinkers praised Poland for peaceful reforms, during when in France was violence. What more king Stanislav was one of authors Constitution. Your commentery is great, greetings from Poland. I recommend you "Animated history of Poland" in 8 minutes - this is really beatiful ;) I'm sorry for my weak English.

[@Krokmaniak]

13:20 In PLC king was closer to modern president. He was a head of state, but sejm (elected representatives of nobility) were actually making decision. There is a reason why political system of PLC is called "Noblemen's democracy"

[@parufka7830]

to prawda jednak problem w tym, że w okolicznych krajach zostało to uznane za anarchię, z którą trzeba "coś zrobić".

[@ranma11pl]

Ok. Story of three brothers is a myth/legend BUT!... 1. Czechs have very similar story/myth/legend, but about Czech (the other brother) 2. In some langauges (Hungarian, Lithuanian, Armenian) the word for "Poland" have somethink common with name "Lech".

[@Eliastion]

The REAL problem with elected kings was less about the foreign influences, actually, and more with the domestic ones. The issue there was that winning the elections generally involved one or both of: 1. Appealing to the noble class* of Poland, typically meaning guaranteeing its rights and weakening the royal power 2. Appealing to the informal** high aristocracy that held enormous wealth and influence and were interested in keeping the central power weak and stopping any reforms that might've weakened their power *while the king was elected, the right to vote belonged to the nobles; that being said, Poland was a country with very broad noble class, as much as some 10% of the population counted as nobles **formally, Polish nobility was equal, there was no title hierarchy like the one we know from Western Europe - you either were a noble or not, period. Well, with some small exceptions and a bunch of historical honorary titles that carried no extra influence. This doesn't change the fact that there were some ridiculously rich and powerful people (families) out there, so the nobility was equal in roughly the same way Russian oligarchs are equal to everyone else. Only the king wasn't as powerful as Putin in Russia and the law was even more worthless when "facing" the powerful, since getting the court to take your side in a dispute often meant little more than "ok, you can go and take what's yours, good luck", with no real enforcement power behind it. In normal disputes you could get some friends and neighbours willing to join in for some spoils and rewards, but you can guess how much getting your grievances heard was worth if you happened to be up against the equivalent of Trump that invested in private army rather than ego towers.

[@Kuzcmada]

Tribes on land of Poland you may see as ancient Greeks. they had same gods, language... but each city (tribe) consider some other gods as more worth of worship than others (in who they also believe, but just not prise so mutch). that's my opinion, thoughts

[@hussarya3380]

10:10 I'm Polish and I always pronunce "G" in "Gdańsk"

[@bifa5414]

You should watch some videos about Jadwiga. There is a lot of interesting facts about her, like for example that she was crowned as king at the age of 10, when she was 13 she lead a war campaign and conquered most of Ruthenia (todays Ukraine) or that she cold speak in 6 languages - hungarian, polish, lithuanian, german, french and latin (despite dying youg at age of 25/26) and even after her death her enemies like Teutonic Knights admitted that she was a worthy opponent and there is much more facts about her.

[@Krokmaniak]

6:10 As a Silesian I can confirm we have very distinct culture and language from rest of Poles, but we still see ourselves as Poles (For the most part), but we still argue that Silesian is it's own language, as it has actually less in common in "standard" polish than for example Czech or Slovakian have

[@mpingo91]

Then tell me how semiconductor, differentiation, complex number and subconsciousness are in Silesian.

[@nastka011]

Can't wait for part 2!

[@aminadabbrulle8252]

0:58 Well, that one is just a story, but traveling around and founding your own country did happen in reality in this part of the world. There was a rather notorious guy called Michael of Zahumlje, ruling parts of modern-day Bosnia in the first half of the tenth century. His father was kicked out of his principality in Lesser Poland by Moravians and just wandered around the South Slavic settlements for a while, eventually grabbing the land around Adriatic Sea. 3:18 The name Poland is actually quite an early word, all things considered. It started showing up in the last few years of the tenth century. As for the tribes, while the mentality of favouring your little community over loyalty to the state was a disease that people were generally cured from by the chaos of 1040s, some remnants of them survived quite a long time. For example, the Dunin family are descendants of the former Silensi tribe leaders. 6:10 Due to German colonists having longer traditions in regards of village/town building (nothing like sweeping into the remnants of Roman achievements, eh?), these areas were generally better off than the rest of modern-day Poland. Though sometimes, it went just... bad (in a sizable amount of Western Pomerenian cities, German majority straight-up voted to forbid local Slavs from living in said cities). 7:59 Also, that Habsburg was probably infertile. 8:28 This part is actually wrong, the Lithuanian ruling class did spread around the former Kievan Rus. It's just that they were very quickly undergoing rusification, and later on polonization (thanks to which nowadays people like Radziwiłł family, the strongest noble house of Lithuania, live mostly in Poland - one of them was even recently a Minister of Health). 10:21 This part is also wrong, Warsaw had been a capital of a regional duchy since 1313. 11:53 This interpretation of Polish role in Europe was a part of popular sarmatism ideology. ;) 14:20 It's especially easy to sway elections if the place where people vote is designated in the one area of the country (Masovia) filled to the brim with very poor noblemen, like it was the case with the royal elections (in one county, they made up 47%(!) of the population - due to the fact that Masovia was directly annexed into the kingdom later than most of the core Polish lands, and to make the transitions swift, basically everybody with any claim to nobility, no matter how flimsy, was given the full noble status). 16:21 Fun fact that the map skips over, the first partition did not include the city of Gdańsk, which basically just told the king of Prussia to go fuck himself. Oh, and also there was one little show of patriotism in the troubled times - the Sejm of 1793, meant to ratify the second partition, just outright refused, despite the fact that the MPs were carefully selected by the Russian ambassador from seemingly the most sellable scum he could find, and the Russian army eventually had to aim cannons at the building for three months to enforce the bill.

[@Jump3RPictur3s]

on one hand, growing up hearing all the history, learning in school and at home, reading and watching historical (and para-historical) stories of the ages before me, it is natural to me that of course we bounced back, it was only 123 years, a short period without Poland on the map... but on the other hand when I think about it - there were entire generations of Poles who were born and died and their children were born and died and there was still no country on the map. They all sowed the seeds and continuously sprinkled the water on the soil for their entire lives, keeping the Polish spirit in the hearts of the young ones aflame, knowing full well they will not only not see the trees bear fruit, but not even see the first sprouts see the light of day, only hoping the next gens will carry on... mmm makes me feel such a nice, warm and fuzzy feeling of pride in someone else... who lived 200 years ago.

[@TheRezro]

I mean. Polish flag already has Phoenix. In some versions it was not just normal eagle but mythical Raróg. What would also explain focus on the aspect of the red sky (eghm... Tengen Kujaku).

[@kacperdudenko6828]

I always found it funny how the Polish Lithuanian commonwealth was called in past times when it exist just "commonwealth"

[@sytrostormlord3275]

19:19, knowing that Tzaress Catherine was born in German noble family in Königsberg (Eastern Prussia), you could say, that 2nd and 3rd partition of Poland was done by Germans ;) (1st was done while Peter the Great was ruling Russia) sorry, for comment spam, but i like to comment while watching ;)

[@dorciqch]

Actually Catherine the Great was born in Szczecin (Stettin) not in Königsberg. Her father (Christian August von Anhalt-Zerbst) was at this time commander of Szczecin. Catherine's mother was Princess Johanna Elizabeth von Holstein-Gottorp. Both families were indeed noble. Sophia Augusta (that's Catherine's name before she took conversion to eastern orthodoxy) left Szczecin in 1742. Catherine was not the only tsarina born in Stettin. The other was the wife of Paul I- Maria Fyodorovna (Sophie Dorothea of Württemberg) As you can see, the Russians and Germans often had common interests, which we Poles do not necessarily like ;) Hope you'll find this interesting ;)

[@sytrostormlord3275]

4:26, that's a big mistake... untill 1320 all Polish Kings were coronated in Gniezno and/or Poznań. Frist Ruler to Coronate in Cracov was Władysław Łokietek (father of Casmir the Great, metioned in video at 5:16)

[@charko4191]

no, you do pronaunce the G You say it corectly ;)

[@RobReacts1]

Thanks :)

[@lukaszjaskiewicz9461]

Yup. There is no silent letters in our language .

[@marcinduman2651]

@@lukaszjaskiewicz9461 Aside from maybe "z" occurring after "c" and "s" which makes it into another letter/accent (rarely it does not) and with "c" occurring before "h" which is juest read as "h" (a leftover from slavic throat "h" - kinda read/transcribed as "kh", as latter on the germanic and latin "h" showed up more and more - but that's a theory we discussed back in school, which makes sense but I didn't see any etymologist confirm it)

[@lukaszjaskiewicz9461]

@@marcinduman2651 a diagraph is not a silent letter 🤦‍♂️

[@marcinduman2651]

​@@lukaszjaskiewicz9461 Doesn't change the fact that you say only plain "h" while you have to write down "ch", as you literally ignore the "c".

[@Shelliwelly]

I love how passionate you are about Poland and Polish history. Really love watching your videos, I better subscribe :)

[@Dianus89]

As a citizen of Gdansk since forever (well, since my birth ^^) I can say that we definitely say "G". Also - when someone is going to the old town from the other part of the city we don't say "I'm going to the old town (starowka)" or "I'm going to the city center (centrum)" but we say "I'm going to Gdansk". Yeah, while being IN Gdansk. Don't ask me why, it just is this way.

[@jerzysmyl4875]

❤ ooo man, love your videos. Not sure why you so obsessed with country I came from. But you, by making this videos help others to understand why Poland is... Beautiful, Has impressive history, why squadrons like 305 appeared. And your attempt to understand and enjoy polish comedy/sketch's....this is outstanding. Pleasure to watch it 😂

[@RobReacts1]

I came to Krakow in 2012 then three more times after. I just love the place so thought I should learn a little bit more about Poland

[@WKogut]

You absolutely pronounce G, although you were both wrong, because there is an "Ń" there which is different that "N" (it's pronounced like spanish "Ñ")

[@patrykka8439]

Tsarina Catherine wrote in a letter that the only way to defeat the Poles was to lash them together, and she succeeded, which is why Poland disappeared from the map.

[@aggiecat]

You need to watch: Historia bez cenzury - Poland first to fight. The history of the beginning of the 2nd World War is presented very directly and sometimes funny 😊

[@xxKeymaxx]

yes!!! kzbin.info/www/bejne/bZ3YZKuDn5V7nLM here

[@Clausinio]

I like your video and reaction about Poland

[@RobReacts1]

Cheers mate

[@Ruunawayboy]

3:54 It was exactly as you say, but the history of ancient Poland from before 966 AD has been lost, lost in the mists of time or intentionally erased. Apparently this country was called Lechistan and Lechites lived in it, the word Lechita comes from Lech and Lech, Lach means Lord. The President of Turkey in 2017, visiting Poland in an official conversation with the President of Poland Andrzej Duda in front of the cameras, called Poland Lechistan and said that he would continue and cherish our centuries-old relationship between our countries. Case ? I don't think so

[@susankemble-jones3021]

thanks to you we are learning about history of europe which is so facinating thank you once again

[@RobReacts1]

Glad your enjoying the polish videos

[@polskihusar1800]

The electoral monarchy was basically what made Poland fall, because every time a monarch was elected he NEEDED to give the Nobility some sort of "gift" like lovering taxes from them, giving up his possibility of making new laws withou the aprooval of nobles ( which was close to impossible) and many more

[@LatinEmperor123]

1:07 'who cares about consistency' - the old name for Poland was actually Lechia, after the Lechici tribe (or Lech, if you believe the legend). It was renamed Polska when the Polanie tribe became more prominent

[@goviczek]

In Polish you pronounce G in name Gdańsk. The misunderstanding probably came from the fact, that there is no G in German name of this city: Danzig

[@mecx7322]

There are more connections between first rulers of Poland and Anglo - Saxon England than one would expect. Mieszko's daughter Swietoslawa ( named later Sygryda and Storrada ) became second wife of powerful Sweyn Forkbeard, king of Sweden and Denmark. Her son was famous Canute the Great, ruler of most of English land. Then again, after battle of Hastings in 1066, several children of killed Harold Godwinson moved far to the east. His son Magnus Haroldson became about 1070 ruler of Duchy of Masovia, based in castle in Czersk. It is denied by some historians but nobody can explain why suddenly flag and coat of arms of Duchy pf Masovia changes totally and includes two red wyverns along two white eagles. His grave was most probably discovered in 1966 in the courtyard of Czersk castle. Just south of Czersk lies village Magnuszew, totally alien name in Slavic countries. Harold Godwinson's daughter ( wife, according to some historians ) Gytha of Wessex married ( in 1074 or 1075 ) powerful Vladimir II Monomath, Grand Duke of Kievan Rus. His other son Godwin is most probably the founder of Giedymin dynasty of Grand Dukes of Lithuania.

[@user-fr4es9gj5d]

As for the ancient times. You have to remember, that for the Romans Europe was divided for Romans and Barbarians (Goths in this case). They didn't go north because of dense woods that didn't allow them to spread huge armies. Nor they could use their genious tactics and siege machines that worked so great in Fench fields and middle-eastern steppes. Big loses and little gains was a good argument to choose other directions to expand. In "Gdańsk" "G" is always pronounced,.You might have heard foreigners using German name "Danzig" which is not used in Polish.

[@paulinarapicka]

Something to think about: Poland was never a vassal of the Roman Empire; Roman merchants were guests, here to trade. They wanted amber - "Northern Gold" and probably pelts and iron. They traveled Via Ambra ("Amber Way"). So- why Romans didn't try to conquer those territories, it would be more beneficial to not have to pay for what they wanted. Also- Slavic territories on the west ended on the river Elba - Łaba (Polabian Slavs), so, much further west than modern Berlin.

[@Komix777]

13:20 Bold words for someone from a country where you go to jail for tweets

[@sytrostormlord3275]

6:31 by that time period, people didn't think in terms of coutry or nationality - they were just subjects to one King or another... (and the further we went down through Feudal Lord-Vassal relations... there were pesants, who had their Lord and that was it for them... whoever that Lord served - they were still their subjects)

[@mpingo91]

3:57 Hahaha! Congratulations! You have just discovered Wielka Lechia / Great Lechia and Turbosłowianie / Turboslavs, an empire that reached from the Loire to the Urals. The Roman legions trembled with fear when they heard that name and Alexander of Macedon didn't tremble because he was crushed by Wielka Lechia. P.S. Conspiracy theory, don't go into it. xD

[@wojciechmiler5017]

16:30 fun fact poland wrote a constytution before france did in fact polish constytution was second in world and first in europe (first was USA) Funny is that the most of war where poland expand was in start polish defend war so for exaple russia atack poland but we defend ourself and push their army to russia territory. The reason why poland disapered from map is becose a whole XVII and XVIII century had a lot of war, becose of that Polish nobility become stronger and stronger each yearl and they couldn't agree on anythink. Even when first (i don't remember how it is named) happens in 1772 they still can't agree on what side we supposde to be Ps sorry for my englisch i'm not native speaker

[@Jutrzen]

Constituion of Sweden - 1719. San Marino 1600. That makes Poland third.

[@wojciechmiler5017]

@@Jutrzen oh i don't know about this. My mistake. I wrote it becose in Polish school on history lesson every teacher say that polish constytution was second modern constytution after usa

[@Jutrzen]

@@wojciechmiler5017 Wiem, mi też to wciskali w szkole. A i poza szkołą co chwila politycy to mówią. Polska konstytucja była jedną z pierwszych w świecie, ale nie aż tak bardzo, jak to niektórzy próbują nam wciskać. Pozdrawiam serdecznie!

[@marcusc9931]

All of this has formed a lot of our personality as a nation . On one hand, we have a whole century of literature all about fighting for independence. On the other - all our previous history being "the wall on the border of civilisation". It left us with a bit of a "main character" complex.

[@adammarkowski5502]

Slaves not mean slaves, servants like thinking most people from german/anglosas culture . Slavs root are people who speaking with same language, from "słowa" = words. Other version is from slava, sława = glory.

[@marcusc9931]

Hamlet has some digs on Poland, both on it being constantly at war, and the angry crowd declring Laertes king being a spoof of the elective monarchy thing. It also has some errors there because Shakespeare sucked at geography.

[@grzegorzbrzeczyszczykiewic1139]

6:25 You can't view it through the lenses of modern nationalism. Regular people didn't really care THAT much under what state they were under as long there was stability and prosperity. For example people of Cracov in 14th century preferred Czech rule over Władysław Łokietek, their piast prince who later united Poland and became the first king after the district partition. You also have example of confederation of Prussian cities which rebelled against Teutonic Order to join Poland in 15th century, even though they were ethnically or at least linguistically Germans. But Teutonic Order was killing them with taxes and Poland was seen as a much better alternative.

[@sytrostormlord3275]

2:48 , before that date, there were many polish tribes rules by indepentent rulers. Mieszko by baptising himself and oficialy changing his religion from polytheism to monoteism gained a strong argument for conquests of nearby tribes - if there's one God, there should be only One Ruler. 4:00 some people suggest, there was a Federation of Tribes, each ruled by it's own ruler, but uniting when under danger....

[@RobReacts1]

What if there is no god? ;)

[@bobeczek01]

Religion is often used as a tool rather then a actual ritual/mystical experience. Especially in Europe the Church throughout the centuries was as big of player as any king or whole kingdoms. Look to the crusades, or just look how rich the church become in early middle ages...it came from few people hiding in caves to worship Jesus and being prosecuted my the emperor to actually establishing the Holy Church and giving the head of the church the power to coronate the ruler in the name of one true God. Also in Catholic church officially priests /bishops were not allowed to have children not because of the chastity vows but, to officially deny their legitimate offspring any money, it all stayed within the church. But that is a different story altogether. Mieszko was smart and he knew he needed to different himself from the pagan world and be on the "right side" and he had the first example in Moravians just few years before. Of course "national" baptism didn't mean that people became Christians in a day, it took years, decades but through the centuries poles did came to an understanding they are martyrs and religion helped them express it, and by the time reformation came people didn't want to concert because they saw the power in stron roots of orthodox believe. And then , under foreign rule religion helped them unite , and again when comminsm came and said religion should be banned it was taken as an attac on traditional yet again. Of course yes in the past the citizens of the Commonwealth were much more divers and there were differen religions practised but it also was much more peaceful time. It always comes to sort of and idea of them v us. Anyone from outside can have bad intentions and that is truly expressed in personality of Poles. We don't smile to any person or will do a quick smirk , because we are "sizing u up"; once we know it's worth our time and we can trust you , no matter where you are from , you become "on of us" and then it's true , meaningful and you can count on us. Same with the situation in Ukraine, as history showed Polish -Ukrainian history was never straightforward and we always despised Russia (sorry but that is true) and Ukraine was always in the middle , choosing sites and secretly wishing they had their own independence. But even then in the past whe there were vast Ukrainian steps, it was considered the land of freedom, the step and yes Cossacks lived there , refusing any ruler , but not all Ukrainians did. Some were happy under Polish rule or rather happy where they were not minding who sat on the throne. All European nations have long , complicated history, maybe some have it slightly more than others. But today's generation are seeing things differently, sort of to a point of both having the "fighting" heart anymore , preferring to go live aboard if homeland doesn't suit them anymore. Current Ukrainian situation is rekindling it slightly dough, because year again we see the war and independence is not a thing of the past , nor Is the Russian imperialistic idea.....but to be fair to everyone , that idea was sort of a family affair once.. Look at the state of Europe when 1st world war started....all major player were descendants of German houses....ain't that funny

[@grzegorznowak3313]

Yes, tomorrow is the symbolic anniversary of the baptism of Poland 14 of April

[@halthammerzeit]

It was a cauldron of germanic and slavic tribes. Brenna( now Berlin) was for example slavic.

[@stanisawpokropek5775]

There are no silent letters in Polish. I think it's quite simple in our language because you pronounce every letter you see and its pronunciation doesn't change from word to word. Of course there are "ni", "rz", "ci", "si", "zi", "dź" and "dzi", but these are probably the only sounds that sound different in this particular combination. I think the difficulty of our language comes from pronunciation itself and how difficult it is to go from one sound to another.

[@Ally5141]

Lech, Czech and Rus story makes more sense if you know that Poland was called Lechia at the time.

[@FaustVII]

10:55 That is completely untrue :) the wings IF worn were made of bird feathers. Hussars were light cavarly, they weren't in full plate armour and the horses weren't large. Speed and ability to manoeuvre was key so imagine how much weight a bunch of steel feather wings would add to the horse or the riders back, utter nonsense! If you had hundreds of Hussars in formation charging the enemy, everyone shouting "Matko Boska - Holy Mother" or "Jezus Maria - Jesus Mary" (both common warcries)...if someone was to hear feather noises in all this commotion especially at the enemy camp should be considered a super human. Wings have been mostly a ceremonial thing when Hussars were during a procession AND they were on a saddle, not the armour. Wings on armour were added much later by artists on paintings and by smiths to actual armour or replicas. A lot of armours had sockets for wings added in 19th century. So basically, they started making the legend real just for it to sell. If you want to see how a real Hussars looked like I recommend checking out a painting by Jozef Brandt called Husarz from 1890. Most authentic portait of a Hussar I've seen so far. I don't normally go on rants but I don't like to propagate historical misconceptions in my countries history :D Peace Rob, love your vids!

[@sytrostormlord3275]

18:50 one of main reasons for PLC to collapse was it's internal weakness and shift of power to Nobility Estate. Same Noblility Estate who had the right to elect King and same Nobility who had right to "veto" during parliament meeting and effectively stop any new laws from happening. To show the scale of Nobility power: there was a group called "Maganates" who were insanely rich and as such were able to support private armies - many of which were bigger and stronger than King's or Crown's army. Many of those Noble families were so powerful they had their own political agenda. They married their daugthers to foreign Kings or heirs and convinced forein rules to interfere whenever they felt their position was in danger- whether to fight other Magnates (their political enemies) or King himself. The Elective Monarchy was a nice experiment, but it ended up poorly, with 'lobbists' (aka Magnates) screwing the whole thing. Magnates were in position of power - they had lands equal or bigger than crownland, they were able to bribe or intimidate parliament members to vote the way Magnates wanted.

[@emzdanowicz2775]

It's "Gdańsk" with "G" but Poles do not accent "G" so hard as foreigners (as we are used to consonant being one next to another xd) while saying it so it may sound like its not there. But it is :P

[@ireeus.]

Before "Poland" there was a country called "Lechistan" or "Lechia" that's why there were three brothers and the first one was called "Lech". The oldest signs of culture in the region were even before the piramides were build. The oldest trace of the wheel attached to a trolley drawn on a pot was discovered in current Poland so it could be easily said " the poles invented the wheel" 😂

[@bambyda18thc]

961 was predecesor to first king of poland who then accepted katolicism but the date of his legal election is when poland was funded not when they became katholic. The geographical area was known as pol-land for ages because it was a swampy place and all structures were standing on fundations made of large wooden poles stuck deep into the ground. Name was made oficial on a day when POLAND was funded by the pre-king.

[@MasterZeus94]

Polack here: There are no silent letters in our language. Gdańsk is pronounced with the /g/, although it's a /g/ soft enough it's sometimes inaudible.

[@anetasotys9334]

Nie ma czegos takiego jak Polack. Polak po angielsku to "a Pole"

[@RobReacts1]

ah ok. Or maybe locals just shorten it. Thanks :)

[@corvoos]

​@@RobReacts1 not shorting it, just Polish do not put so much effort into pronouncing G and D together. It is a natural sound for them

[@aminadabbrulle8252]

Remember kids, always pronounce every letter in "sześćset".

[@bartoszjasinski]

@@aminadabbrulle8252 "szesiet" :D Co innego pisać, co innego mówić. Istnieje coś takiego jak "Hiperpoprawność". I to jest wielki babol. Dla przykładu (którego większość dzbanów nie ogarnie). Napiszesz: 'będę' ale powiesz 'bende'. - teraz czas na hejt - a teraz możemy pomówić o spłycaniu spółgłosek w mowie. :)

[@aliceinclockworks]

Of course we spell "g" in Gdańsk! It's Polish language, we cling to every consonant like a drunk to a wall! BUT. We do have some dialects too, so it may be echo of that. During German invasion some Polish cities were given German names, and Gdańsk was changed to Danzig, so it may came from this.

[@Lola_in_the_Black]

It's Gdańsk with clear "G" but there are some German influences from their name for the city - Danzig which leads to a bit weird pronunciation mix of the two.

[@babayaga4295]

Yes Rob, they were just tribes. I was an archeologist and we still don't know exactly how why and from where specific Slavs shown here and why there were so backward.

[@RobReacts1]

I just dont understand how they were only small tribes. It makes me think of groups like Aboriginals from Aus etc.

[@sytrostormlord3275]

11:52, last of such defences happened in 1919-1920 when Poland defended Western Europe from freshly formed Soviet Union, who wanted to spread revolution into Germany and further West ;)

[@omega9216]

As a descendant of the Polish Szlachta I would like to apologise for all the problems my ancestors may have caused my country , but I would also like to regain ownership of the castle that used to belong to my family before they were killed by russians

[@siejac7894]

There were lor of Polish tribes before Poland as a country. It's like tribal, small pricipalities. Only duke/prince Mieszko from Polan tribe united other polish speaking tribes in to one, before 966. He even fight with other Lechitic/Polish tribes that don't want to join to Poland - Veleti and Obordites tribes.

[@TheFifthHorseman_]

12:41: And even today, we're the only nation Russians celebrate independence from. Not the Mongols who had them in a choke hold for centuries, just Poles who held Moscow for less than two years.

[@12jkp59]

Thank You

[@Golombo]

Areas that was constantly changing owners have separated people with different languages and cultures - Kashubians and Silesians

[@ZmieniK]

Jadwiga was crowned King because there was no such thing as a ruling Queen in Polish politics (Queen was only Kings wife, just a title)

[@spavatch]

Definitely with a G. Greetings from Gdansk ;)

[@radosawsikora559]

Well, there is a classic mistake in the movie you comment. It's true that Poland collapsed in 1795. But not for a century. Kingdom of Poland revived in 1815, so it happened 2 decades after the third partition.

[@makrusthebrute735]

you made a good job Rob ❤

[@Woooojcio]

The biggest problem that drove PLC to it's downfall was: economy. PLC was once the biggest exporter of food in Europe. But the three-field system revolution pushed aside the PLC importance in Europe economy. The magnates turned to previously unimaginable offers of betrayal for money. Just like the poor nobility. It was more complex why the defender of Europe fell.

[@mecx7322]

Not all Polish elected kings were so bad. King Stefan Batory ( Hungarian Prince of Transylvania Istvan Bathory ), ruled 1576 - 1586, is regarded as one the best Polish kings. King John III Sobieski defeated huge Turkish army at Vienna in 1683, saving Austro - Hungarian Empire. Grateful Austrians took part in partitions of Poland 100 years later.

[@12jkp59]

Rob I’m full respect to You, I’m Proud Polish who love Smart Intelligence People 👍👌🙏❤️

[@bobstone0]

12:25 Already in the 17th century, Poland was called the bulwark of Christianity and Europe. Today, if Ukraine did not take up the fight, it would be similar. The last free country to the east would be Poland (I see Finland as the north and Romania as the Balkans). Today, Ukraine is fighting for freedom and Belarus has been occupied by a pro-Russian dictator for 30 years.

[@niepodam1521]

About tribes in times of The Roman Empire and later. There are two theories about when Slavs came to lands of Poland. In 3rd millenium BC, or in V and VI century AD. The second is the one that most archeologist believe in. But many people want to us beeing here since many millenia. Years ago also at school they heard that version so it's popular. During times of Roman Empire socalled "barbarians" lived in tribes. Many Tribes where part of bigger organisation. So in sothern and central Poland between II BC and V AD we had Przeworsk culture. It was by Lugies (Germanic/Clets) and (since III AD) Wandals (Germanic). In northern and easten Poland we had Wielbark culture. They were Gots (another eastern-germanic tribes). When you see "tribe" don't think about gatherers and hunters. They were farmers. Their wealth were cattle. And it is not truth that they always were fighting Romans. Many of them were Romans allies, but was changing in time. The great migration of Slavs was in V-VI AD, when many of Germanic tribes found their new home in ruins of Western Roman Empire: Vizygots (western Gots) in Spain, Ostrogots (eastern Gots) in Italy, Wandals (with Alans - Sarmatic tribe) in north Africa (sic!). The Migration Period changed whole Europe. Germanic people apeard in western Europe. Slavs arrived at Pelopones Peninsula in sothern Greece (to south), Elbe river in central Germany (to the west) and Moscow region (to the north). At plains of Hungaria came Awars (Turkish tribe).

[@pepitka1234]

For me monarchy has one big plus The king can think about long term benefits. Right now many parties just want to stay as long as possible to get as much money as they can Soooo... That's why we have so much promises that are only short time resolution. And the monarchy with good plan can work they whole life to achieve it slowly trying to get better (if they are not stupid or corrupt... and if they have any pride)

[@G4nd4lf]

From what I know, in 966 Mieszko accepted Christianity, but he already had been ruling this region and his tribe had already conquered much part of Poland's territory before that time. But because there is not exact date when Polans get in controll tha 966 was choosen. After quick search: Polans expansion started in early X century, but the first grod (slavic fortified town) which is believed to be associated with first chieftain of Poles was build even earlier in the middle od IX century. Also there were no Poles during the Roman empire, because first tribes of slavic peaple apper in Poland in VI/VII century, while western Roman empire collapsed in 476.

[@JB1978]

What's wrong with the sound in this episode? Gdańsk definitely with G in the beginning :) And no, Poland has never disappeared. It was merely removed from the maps.

[@RobReacts1]

A little bit got copyrighted

[@trikizmechaniki]

Poland knows what occupation is. I recommend a short film about Poland ipntv The Unconquered

[@RobReacts1]

Already done that :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/aKSWiGOOoLOcoMU

[@trikizmechaniki]

@@RobReacts1 Ok pozdrowienia z Polski 🇵🇱

[@janeq6146]

The land of actual Poland before taking Catolic it was named Lechia from name of Lech. There are some legends and also some facts about it like some contacts with East Roman Empire

[@PiotrJaser]

People in Gdańsk/Danzig spoke German. But they were the most loyal subjects of Polish kings.

[@PiotrJaser]

@Julia Poland Julio, nie obraź się, ale Twoja znajomość historii jest na poziomie przedszkola. Słowianie żyli tam od tysięcy lat? To brzmi jak jakiś manifest religijny - ty nie masz wiedzy, ale masz swoją wiarę. Czemu nie poczytasz, co mają na ten temat do powiedzenia historycy? I owszem, Danzig, bo językiem urzędowym Gdańska był niemiecki. Autonomia miast pruskich zatwierdzona była już po Wojnie Trzynastoletniej przez Kazimierza Jagiellończyka i potwierdzana przez kolejnych królów, aż do Stefana Batorego, który próbował przywileje gdańszczan podważyć. Ze względu na szokujący brak elementarnej wiedzy o historii Polski zapewne nie wiesz też, że wszystkie polskie miasta zakładane były w Średniowieczu na prawach niemieckich i zasiedlane niemieckimi kupcami. W Średniowiecznym Krakowie zdecydowanie dominował język dolnoniemiecki. Dla zwykłych Polaków taka wiedza jest oczywistością, dla Ciebie może być czymś nowym i szokującym. Ciekawe czy będzie tzw. efekt wyparcia.

[@PiotrJaser]

@Julia Poland nie wiem czy jesteś ruskim trollem czy osobą niepełnosprawną intelektualnie. Śmianie się z takich ludzi jest nieetyczne. Żegnam.

[@marekdomanski4741]

This wall is called "antemurale christianensis".

[@Nexox2115]

Yeah you pronounce "G" in Gdańsk. Approved by 100% Polish Person.

[@hkwinto4082]

This legend is was "upgraded" by communists to justify "brotherhood" between poles and russians. Some historians says that Rus(if he existed - like Lech and Czech - at all, he was Lech's grandson).

[@TheBullterrierFan]

I live here, I was born here and It is Gdańsk with G in the front my matey.

[@Asgarden]

Co to za mapa? Przecież w czasach 1. króla - Bolesława - nie tylko Szczecin i Dolny Śląsk były w Polsce, ale i trochę słowiańskich ziem za Odrą.

[@KS-xx5xq]

Poland is not dead until the last of us lives. You can eviscerate it and erase it from map, but until last person that has Poland in heart lives theres still hope that Poland will rise up like Phoenix from ashes.

[@jarosawklejnocki6633]

No właśnie "when", a nie "until", bo oryginalne słowa hymnu, to ..."kiedy my żyjemy", a nie, jak błędnie sądzi wielu "...póki my żyjemy".

[@KS-xx5xq]

Moja wypowiedź nie była w apostrofach, nie stanowi tłumaczenia hymnu per se i nie jest błędna logicznie ani semantycznie. Chyba, że ktoś potrafi wytłumaczyć logicznie błąd użycia "póki my żyjemy" bez powoływania się na "specjaliści tak mówią" i "bo tak".

[@KS-xx5xq]

@@jarosawklejnocki6633 Ponadto język polski zmienił się w formie od czasów Józefa Wybickiego, dzisiaj uzycie formy "kiedy my żyjemy" implikuje czas teraźniejszy, jakby powiedzieć "teraz, kiedy my żyjemy jeszcze Polska nie zginęła" co trąci bluźnierstwem i wróży jakąś inną przyszłość a w oryginale sens jest taki, że nie zginęła, kiedy żyją (jeszcze) Polacy, ergo "póki żyją Polacy" po dzisiejszemu.

[@jarosawklejnocki6633]

@@KS-xx5xq Po pierwsze - bo "póki" jest ingerencją w kształt oryginalny tekstu - a nie poprawiamy na ogół artystom ich tekstów. Choć akurat Mazurek z wersji oryginalnej (o czym niżej i dalej) podlegał redakcji i zmianom w procesie uznawania go za oficjalny hymn państwa. I właśnie dlatego po drugie - Mazurek został oficjalnie hymnem państwowym w 1926 roku i jest w tej wersji chroniony tak jak barwy państwa czy jego godło. Oczywiście organy ustawodawcze mogą zmieniać te kształty, tak jak po II wojnie "zdjęto" orłowi (dopuszczalna wersja celownika na zmianę z "orłu") koronę, a po 1989 r. "założono". Zatem owszem, jest taka możliwość. Po trzecie - nie zgadzam się z tezą, że pola semantyczne obu wyrazów obecnie interferują ze sobą lub też, że dzisiejsze "póki" zawłaszczyło część znaczeń onczesnego "kiedy". Oba słowa wciąż istnieją, a nie zanikły i z grubsza znaczą to samo, co pod koniec XVIII wieku. Co najwyżej zachodziła wtenczas interferencja semantyczna między "kiedy" i "jeśli"(tak jak dziś między "który" i "jaki"). Po czwarte: i póki, i kiedy nie implikują tego czy innego czasu - co najwyżej w sferze wyobraźni - NIE gramatycznej, bo to czyni forma czasownika: my żyjemy - czas teraźniejszy. Można się spierać, ale myślę sobie, że gdyby Wybicki chciał tę domyślną przyszłościowość wprowadzić, to by mógł użyć np. sformułowania typu: "póki żyć będziemy" - nawet się zgadza z metrum i można śpiewać bez zgrzytów:). Jeszcze może argument czy też interpretacja historycznoliteracka: Mazurek w oryginale nosił tytuł "Pieśń Legionów Polskich we Włoszech" i to był tekst użytkowy (oczywiście artystyczny tekst użytkowy) do śpiewania dla żołnierzy w czasie marszu. To był tekst dla nich konkretnie, nie miał tego wymiaru symbolicznego, co dziś. A to byli wtedy niemal jedyni polscy żołnierze w jakiejś polskiej formacji zbrojnej nie podlegającej zaborcom. Więc kiedy żyli - byli wolną Polską, to miał być zapewne taki sens podnoszący na duchu, sens godnościowy - zgodnie z ugruntowującym się wtedy światopoglądem romantycznym eksponującym większą wagę sfery duchowej nad materialną. Nie orientuję się aż tak bardzo, ale wydaje mi się, że "póki" zaczęło wypierać/zamieniać "kiedy" w XIX wieku, czyli stuleciu przegranych powstań i zrywów, gdzie do głosu doszła właśnie straceńczość implikowana przez "póki". Ale też Twoja teza ma sojuszników i to nie byle jakich: "Jerzy Bralczyk jest jednak innego zdania. "Trochę dziwne jest połączenie czasownika dokonanego (»zginęła«, »umarła«) z niedokonanym (»żyjemy«) przez »kiedy«. Normalne byłoby »żyje, kiedy my żyjemy«. A jeszcze bardziej »żyje, póki my żyjemy«. Jeśli »nie zginęła«, mniej niezręczne i bardziej jednoznaczne jest »póki« (...) »Póki« w hymnie nie razi. Wolę je w każdym razie od banalnego, mniej gramatycznie i znaczeniowo dopasowanego »kiedy" - napisał w swojej książce "500 zdań polskich" (...) doprecyzował swoją myśl: - Tutaj "kiedy" było z początku raczej tożsame z "jeśli": jeśli my żyjemy nadal, to Polska nie zginęła. Natomiast w naszych czasach to "kiedy" brzmi nieco dziwnie i niezręcznie. Znacznie bardziej pasowałoby mi tutaj: "…skoro my żyjemy". Wydaje mi się na koniec, że w angielskim tłumaczeniu lepszym nawet od when czy until byłoby "while" - bo łączy jakby znaczenia "kiedy" i "póki". Mam nadzieję, że jako "specjalista" od literatury i trochę od języka podałem nieco wyjaśnień i argumentów, a nie zasłoniłem się aroganckim akademizmem: "bo specjaliści tak twierdzą" :) Choć, jak widać po wypowiedzi Bralczyka, i wśród akademików zdania są podzielone. Pozdrawiam.

[@KS-xx5xq]

@@jarosawklejnocki6633 @Jarosław Klejnocki Dzieki wielkie za włożony trud. Właśnie chodzi o tą niejednoznacznosc w "kiedy", bo jak kiedy? Teraz? A za chwilę co? A "póki" jednoznacznie wskazuje na związek życia Polski i Polaków. W dzisiejszych czasach "kiedy" używamy raczej do dat, czasu (którego dnia? O której godzinie?) a nie jako synonimu słowa "póki". Ale faktycznie, nie powinno się poprawiać oryginalnej wersji a w tej jest "kiedy". Możliwe, że autor użył tego słowa celowo a to ja nie jestem na tyle mądry jeszcze, żeby to rozumieć. Póki co... No, właśnie, "póki". Również pozdrawiam serdecznie.

[@zbigniewzielonka3829]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/d2THiKmwd8pmZtE On one hand 966 is certainly a symbolic date of Polish birth as a country. However, before Mieszko I the land of future Poland was inhabited by many tribes. Mieszko I conquered them and united into one state. He also built the infrastructure like, first of all, fortificated towns which allowed him and his successors to defend their territory. The baptism allowed him to join the family of European countries that in medieval ages was strictly connected with Christianity. Therefore it is fully reasonable to recognize 966 as the beginning of Poland as a country and Mieszko I as the real founder of Polish state.

[@Thedino6000]

I am from Poland and I can’t confirm that it is pronounced Dansk not Gdansk

[@koza9993PL]

As a Pole who isn't from Gdańsk I will always pronounce "G" in Gdańsk

[@zubi9995]

10:05 Gdansk is Gdansk. maybe he confused it with the German danzig

[@sylwiaflanczewska2711]

Lech, Czech and Rus is of course a legend only, but slavic nations are rather close what even now is clear to notice. Russia however, is a much younger creation. Before Russia happened, Rus (Kijowska) was already few century established

[@edck.]

I like your take on nationalism. I think about it and wonder why someone should be proud of being Polish, Russian (;) English, etc... I live in the UK I can see the difference. We should have fun and enjoy these differences and not be proud (!?) It's pointless. This human ego software is irritating. In life, sometimes there are emotions, you need to set certain boundaries because even though we are all the same, there are differences in perception that actually make us see things very differently. So many thousands of years and we still can't understand it (?) but war is a total exaggeration, it's pathologis and madness that I can't accept. This is why we can't go to space - Hello! it's a closed ward such a cosmic room without handles 🙃 . I love it when nationalism annoys you my friend!

[@niepodam1521]

Myth of Lech, Czech and Rus. Rus wasn't founder of Russia (Russians sees them selfs as the only descendants of Ruś - but also Belrussians and Ukrainians were evolved from Ruś), but The Ruś (Kiev). Don't mix those two terms (thats, what Putins prapaganda is doing).

[@baird5682]

0:58 Tell that to Romulus. Or Charlemagne Or Willhem the Conqueror Don't even get me started on Alexander the great or the Yellow Emperor.

[@floriandorian9468]

Unfortunately, he did not add any sources on the burning of synagogues in medieval Poland. I never heard about it, and it sounds like the transfer of problems from other countries of the period.

[@robertmikicki6126]

10:05 you pronounce the G (I have lived 10 km away all my life)