POLSKA QUICK INFO

Poland is a large central European nation that borders on the Baltic Sea. Warsaw is Poland's capital and largest city. Poland is named for the Polane, which was a Slavic tribe that lived more than a thousand years ago in what is now Poland. The name Polane comes from a Slavic word that means plain or field. Flat plains and gently rolling hills cover most of the country. Rugged mountains form part of the southern boundary, and thousands of small, scenic lakes dot the northern regions. The people of Poland have a rich heritage that includes many folk traditions and a strong loyalty to the Roman Catholic Church. But the 1900's brought many changes to Poland, and some old customs have disappeared from everyday life. Before World War II (1939-1945), Poland's economy depended heavily on agriculture. Today, agriculture remains an important economic activity. However, Poland has also developed into a major industrial nation, and most of its people live in cities and towns. Poland has had a long and varied history. At one time, the people of Poland ruled an empire that stretched across most of central Europe. However, foreign powers conquered and divided Poland and brought an end to its existence as a separate nation. After more than a hundred years of foreign rule, Poland became an independent republic in 1918. Poland became a Communist country during the mid-1940's. Its Communist Party controlled the Polish government and placed many restrictions on the freedom of the Polish people. Non-Communists came to power in 1989, and restrictions on the freedom of the Polish people were lifted.