Routledge - Libertys Folly: Polish Lithuania History Book

Explore the dramatic history of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth during the eighteenth century. This scholarly work covers the period from 1697 to 1795, a time when political instability led to the eventual extinction of the Polish state. Between 1772 and 1795, a massive territory in Eastern Europe, larger than France, was divided among Russia, Prussia, and Austria. As monarchial absolutism faced challenges in Western Europe, the dismemberment of the Polish noble democracy signaled the rise of absolutism in the East. This book brings together Polish scholarship that was previously unavailable to English-speaking readers. The author provides a detailed examination of the economy, the social structures, and the institutional framework of the era. It is an essential resource for readers interested in the economic and political history of Eastern Europe during a period of massive territorial change.