Z dziejów mongolistyki w Polsce

From the History of Mongolian Studies in Poland

The focus of interest in this article is the history of Polish interests in the Mongolian studies. Describing the development of these interests, the author underlines historical circumstances: when the Polish and the Mongolian people were brought closer by different factors (for example in the 13th or 19th-20th centuries) these interests were increasing and resulted in valuable works; at other times, they decreased. However, they have never ceased to exist: in the 18th century the Polish did not bring any contribution to Mongolian studies; nevertheless, judging by the amount of space devoted to the Mongols in Polish encyclopaedias of the time, the subject was still interesting for many. The author regards Benedict from Wrocław and an anonymous person known as C. de Bridia as the first Polish Mongolists. They both went to Mongolia (1245–1247) assisting the pope’s envoy, Giovanni da Pian del Carpine, and, just like him, they gathered a substantial number of information. Among the writers of the Renaissance he mentions, most importantly, Maciej of Miechów (1457–1523), known as the “discoverer” of peoples and states which appeared on political scene after the fragmentation of the Mongolian Empire. The author speaks little of the works of later compilers, and proceeds to describe the accomplishments of Józef Kowalewski (1801–1878) and Władysław Kotwicz (1872–1944). Writing both about these eminent Polish scholars of Mongolian Studies and about their successors, he pays special attention to characteristics of times in which they had to live.