History of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth : State – Society – Culture – Editorial Work by Iwo Hryniewicz – Translated by Grażyna Waluga (Chapters I–V) and Dorota Sobstel (Chapters VI–X)

The book presents an outline of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth from the 16th to the 18th century and offers a view of the realities of political life, organization of the judiciary, the economy, coexistence of different ethnic groups and religions, high and popular culture and achievements of art. While the federal character of the state and multicultural society is often overlooked in the synthesis of this period, the creation of civil society in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, and the cultural heritage was the joint achievement of its residents, regardless of their state and ethnic divisions. The book presents a synthetic outline constitution of the Polish-Lithuania Commonwealth from 16th to 18th century, the realities of political life, organization of the judiciary, economy and defense, coexistence of different ethnic groups and religions, conditions of life, high and popular culture and achievements of art, science and literature.