Peter J. Martyn

Urbanity on the Fringes of Polish Statehood. A Celebration of the Unique Cities of Vraetslav and Leopolis

The essay outlines the history of two important Polish cities - Wrocław (Breslau) and Lwów (Lvov, Lemberg) - focusing on their development against the backdrop of the formation of a social and cultural consciousness. According to the author, the interpretation of post-medieval civilization from the perspective of the city allows one to steer clear of racial stereotypes, as the concept of citizenship in these cities constituted an older and more powerful form of social and cultural identity than the state.

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