East and West (essay)

May 12, 2009 10:49

From a broad historical perspective, it's actually quite easy to divide Europe into Eastern and Western parts ( Read more... )

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Harmless spices akseiya May 12 2009, 14:05:17 UTC
"weak enough for harmless pickings" - harmless? :D

"the uniquely Polish, weird influence of Italian renaissance" - why weird? For many anti-panslavists, Poland is Western to the core and this influence is only a consequence. We were always more Mediterranean than Sardinians, so it's only natural we welcomed the Italian renaissance so warmly.

There seems to be a dichotomy here: looking at the time when I would consider Steppe-influence the strongest (Sarmatia) I see the kontusz and Hungarian saber on shaved-headed rank and file gentry, but French fashions among the aristocracy. And later - French fashions everywhere. And later English.

And BTW, wasn't our first king crowned by the Holy Roman Emperor, Otto III?

There was an N-war here, too. The 13 year war with the Teutonic Knights. Sure it can't compare with 100 or 30 but anyway :P

Not that your point doesn't seem valid and well-founded :]

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