Why read The Making of the Polish-Lithuanian Union 1385-1569?

Book cover of The Making of the Polish-Lithuanian Union 1385-1569: Volume I

Book description

The history of eastern European is dominated by the story of the rise of the Russian empire, yet Russia only emerged as a major power after 1700. For 300 years the greatest power in Eastern Europe was the union between the kingdom of Poland and the grand duchy of Lithuania,…

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European history

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Why read it?

1 author picked The Making of the Polish-Lithuanian Union 1385-1569 as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Richard Butterwick-Pawlikowski

Author

The first volume of Robert Frost’s trilogy is a superbly researched account and explanation of how two very different realms—the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania—came together to forge a shared Commonwealth that covered most of east-central Europe. While it supports republican ideas of liberty serving the common good, it steers an impartial course between rival nationalist narratives and offers important lessons for the making and maintenance of unions between states and communities.

From Richard's list on The best books on Central and Eastern European history.