Introduction

The 1986 surface surveys in the planned Świnna Poręba - Mucharz reservoir area covered the plateau of the Eastern Beskid Mały and the Skawa River gorge in the Beskid Średni. Nine sites produced around a dozen lithic artifacts, ranging from Levallois Paleolithic flakes to Bronze and Early Iron Age tools. Only the flake from Zagórze 2 could be stratigraphically dated to the Warta terrace; other finds were dated typologically. The scarcity of artifacts and intensive raw‐material recycling reflect local flint shortages and continuity of knapping traditions. Site distribution and artifact function suggest seasonal settlement and fishing activities within a forest‐based subsistence model from the Paleolithic through the Early Iron Age.

The article examines the concept of state and government in the Henryków Book through the roles of dukes (dominus dux), prelates (domini), and local lords or „tyrants”. It argues that medieval Latin terms (dominus, regnum, tyrannus) do not align neatly with the Slavic political reality, where the state was seen as a collection of „lords”. Three coexisting models are identified: the universal ecclesiastical state, feudal dominions of knights, and a princely monarchy grounded in Roman legal maxims (quod principi placuit legis habet vigorem). The study highlights the complex interplay between ecclesiastical and secular powers and shows that princely absolutism was effectively constrained by canon law and local magnate influence.

The article presents a source-critical study of the Liber fundationis episcopatus Wratislaviensis (c. 1305), a key document for the medieval church organization of Upper Silesia. It demonstrates that villages liable for tithes were grouped „circa” their nearest market towns rather than by established archipresbyterate or castellany boundaries. The author compares the nine secular castellany seats, twelve archipresbyterates of the mid-14th century, and twenty „circa-centers” listed in the Liber. He concludes that at the turn of the 13th/14th century the archipresbyterate network was still emerging, and the Liber reflects this transitional phase by organizing parishes according to town proximity instead of formal diocesan districts.

The article examines the medieval Cistercian community at Kamieniec through its necrology, one of the few sources illuminating the convent’s internal life. The author recounts the fate of the original Book of the Dead-destroyed in the flood of 1405-and the multilayered manuscript that survived, comprising a base text (13th-early 15th centuries) and a later medieval continuation. From this evidence he estimates the size and demographic shifts of the convent (growth until around 1359 and decline after the Hussite wars), outlines the hierarchy of choir monks and lay brothers, and shows how each group was commemorated in the liturgy. His conclusions stress the necrology’s value as a key to understanding the monastery’s structure, daily discipline, and fraternal bonds.

The article presents a long-term demographic analysis of the population in the Hradiště region of southern Moravia from the end of the Thirty Years’ War (1648) to the mid-19th century. Drawing on microanalysis from Roman Catholic parish records, it explores how wars, epidemics, famine, and social reforms affected population dynamics. Following the war, a period of demographic regression was exacerbated by a Tatar invasion (1663), epidemics (e.g., plague in 1715, cholera in 1831 and 1836), and famines (notably 1770-1772). The 18th century saw the development of parish structures and improvements in record-keeping, while the 19th century brought population growth through enhanced healthcare and administration. The study also reveals social differentiation-from burghers and peasants to cottagers-and the impact of religion and state policy on daily life.

The article analyzes the development of the linen industry in the Czech lands between 1830 and 1914, within the framework of the Habsburg monarchy’s economic policy. The author explores how the empire’s multinational structure, customs policy, and free trade system influenced industrialization. Initially a dominant sector, the linen industry gradually declined under pressure from the expanding cotton industry and diminishing demand for linen products. Challenges included dependence on imported raw materials, unsuitable tariff policies, rising production costs, and shrinking domestic consumption. Despite modernization efforts and exports, the Czech linen industry faced deep crisis on the eve of World War I, with its growth constrained by state economic policy.

Teresa Kulak’s article traces the evolution of Polish political and historical thought regarding the state boundary along the Oder River from the medieval Piast era to the end of World War I. It reviews post-WWII and interwar historiographical debates on the Oder and Lusatian Neisse, as well as earlier Polish-German disputes over Piast heritage in these regions. The views of Staszic, Kołłątaj, Romer, and Pol are analyzed for portraying the Oder as both a natural defensive line and a symbolic divide between Slavic and Germanic worlds. Romantic literature, émigré political thought, and National Democratic ideology fostered the idea of a „return to the Oder”, supported by ethnographic, geographic, and economic arguments. Finally, the article outlines the territorial proposals of Dmowski, Wakar, and Parczewski up to 1918, which envisaged Poland’s western border along the Oder.

The article explores the little-known history of Silesians settling in Australia from the 19th century. The first arrivals-mainly Lutheran settlers from Lower Silesia and Greater Poland-founded Klemzig near Adelaide in 1838. Catholic migrants and gold prospectors followed, spurred by sheep farming and the 1851 gold rush.
A key figure was Wilhelm Blandowski, a Silesian geologist and zoologist who pioneered studies of Victoria’s flora and fauna and established Melbourne’s natural history collections. The study also highlights other Silesian connections: Major von Tempsky in New Zealand, legionnaire Jerzy Zichy-Woynarski on Victoria’s goldfields, and WWII chaplains and veterans such as Fr. Jośko and Lt. Col. Roczniok. Post-1945 Polish migration brought 60-70 000 newcomers by 1951, including many Silesians.

The article examines the evolution of teachers’ rights and duties in primary schools of the autonomous Silesian Voivodeship, 1922-1939. Under the 1920 autonomy statute, schooling fell under the Silesian Sejm and voivode but largely followed national law. Between 1922 and 1926 pay regulations were the main focus. In 1923 Silesian authorities enacted a law on salaries and social benefits, and in 1927 passed comprehensive “teacher pragmatics” covering hiring, evaluation, duties, promotion, transfers, and discipline. In 1932 the voivode implemented the nationwide reform of pragmatics, and 1933-1938 ministerial and presidential decrees further aligned rules with regional needs. Repeal of the celibacy rule for married female teachers and gradual removal of Prussian and Silesian legal peculiarities created a unified system for all Poland.

The article examines relations between the Catholic Church and the Sanation regime in the autonomous Silesian Voivodeship, 1926-1939. After the May Coup, Voivode Grażyński and Katowice’s bishops acknowledged the need for cooperation, despite disagreements over the German minority’s status, the schooling system, and the role of immigrant teachers. The local hierarchy defended Church influence in education and minority rights, while Sanation authorities welcomed clerical support in charity campaigns, cathedral construction, and Catholic Action.
Key issues included joint involvement in parish appointments (state approval vs episcopal review of nominees), bans on clergy participation in electioneering (bishops’ apolitical directives), and debates over primary school reform (clash between Silesian pragmatics and national law). Despite tensions-especially on nationality and schooling-Church and state forged a modus vivendi based on mutual respect for prerogatives and social collaboration.

The article discusses the stance of Wojciech Korfanty and the Silesian Christian Democracy towards the German minority in the Silesian Voivodeship during the interwar period. The author traces Korfanty’s ideological evolution - from strong nationalism and declared hostility towards Germans to a pragmatic approach emphasizing cooperation and integration of the German minority within the newly reborn Polish state. Korfanty believed loyalty to the state was essential for minority rights. He advocated respect for minority rights while also defending Polish national interests and supporting the polonization of public life. Though frequently criticized by nationalist circles, he engaged with German economic capital, which stirred controversy in Polish public opinion. While not ideologically uniform, Christian Democracy largely supported his views on coexistence and social harmony in the ethnically complex region.

Article explores the wartime ideological visions of Polish nationalist groups during WWII, centered around the myth of Slavic unity. Two primary political projects dominated: the establishment of a "Great Poland" and the formation of a Central and Southeastern European federation under Polish leadership. Among the groups supporting Slavic ideas were the People's Party, Democratic Party, Polish Workers’ Party (PPR), Union, Pobudka, Confederation of the Nation, and SN-Secesja. In contrast, the mainstream National Party rejected Pan-Slavism due to fears of Soviet dominance and territorial losses. The most elaborate vision was offered by the Confederation of the Nation, advocating a two-stage Slavic Empire encompassing the Baltic States, Ukraine, Belarus, Czechia, Slovakia, and eventually Russia, Hungary, and the Balkans. Fertacz concludes that these concepts often overestimated other nations’ willingness to accept Polish hegemony—illustrated by Czech tendencies toward pro-Soviet alignment.

German nationality policy in the territories incorporated into the Reich between 1939 and 1945 was characterized by brutal Germanization and denationalization of Poles. This goal was achieved through deportations, the elimination of Polish culture and education, as well as repression and terror. As a result, there were enormous demographic and cultural losses, Polish society was mentally and physically devastated, and Polish national identity in the annexed territories was permanently destroyed.

The article examines the Senate debate of December 1, 50 BCE, between Pompeian optimates and Caesarian advocates over the governance of the Gallic provinces. It details the optimates’ political strategies, including tribune Gaius Scribonius Curio’s interventions and consul Gnaeus Claudius Marcellus’s procedural maneuver to split the Senate’s questions and sway the vote. In the first round, senators rejected stripping Pompey of power but approved appointing Caesar’s successors. A combined motion to remove both leaders then passed overwhelmingly (370:22). This outcome revealed Caesar’s faction’s growing ascendancy and delayed a definitive resolution, paving the way for civil war.

The article analyzes demographic changes in three major cities of Upper Silesia - Gliwice, Bytom, and Zabrze - during the post-war period from 1945 to 1950. The author discusses in detail the impact of World War II, forced and voluntary migrations, natural population movements (births, deaths, marriages), the expulsion of the German population, as well as the repatriation and settlement of Polish citizens. The study draws on statistical data, archival documents, and official sources. It shows that despite the initial population decline, these cities rapidly repopulated, mainly through migration and natural growth. The article also examines the nationality verification process and the social and occupational structure of new settlers.

Marek Nita’s article explores the development of the pulp and paper industry in Poland between 1950 and 1955, focusing on the effects of socialist management, planning, and implementation. It details the postwar reconstruction of factories, nationalization of enterprises, organizational changes in administration (creation of new ministries and restructures), and the implementation of the Soviet-style Six-Year Plan. Despite ambitious goals, the industry’s prewar production potential was not fully restored due to excessive centralization, inefficient governance, lack of qualified personnel, and outdated technical equipment. The author examines the production of paper, pulp, and cardboard, highlighting the difficulties in meeting planned targets and their impact on employment, infrastructure development, technical documentation, and the rise of public literacy.

This article examines the development of the communist approach to the so-called „Gypsy question” in Czechoslovakia between 1948 and 1960. The author explores how, despite the formal abolition of discriminatory laws, the communist regime failed to successfully integrate the Roma population into mainstream society. The core issue lay in the authorities’ inability to understand the specific cultural and social characteristics of the Roma, leading to unrealistic and often contradictory policies. Assimilation efforts - including forced settlement, labor inclusion, and education - proved largely ineffective and sometimes counterproductive. The study also highlights the discrepancy between central policy and local implementation, with a detailed focus on the Ostrava region.