The International Relations in the Eastern and Central Europe in the XVI Century in the Interpretation of Polish Historical Studies (Valery Bobyshev, Oleg Yanovsky

Раздел - "Международные отношения""The International Relations in the Eastern and Central Europe in the XVI Century in the Interpretation of Polish Historical Studies" The international relations in Eastern and Central Europe in the XVIth century remain some of the most complicated and dramatic in Slavonic history. The geopolitical changes in this region both at the turn of the XVth century and in the end of the 80s of the XXth century determined the heightened interest of the reseachers in the foreign policy of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the Moscow state, the Kingdom of Poland and other actors in the events of this historical period as a necessary element for the analysis of the interrelations of the states of this region in the end of the XX century. In contrast to Polish studies, a number of international relations problems in Eastern and Central Europe can be regarded as "blank spots" of Belarusian history studies. In the XIX — XX centuries Polish historical research has elaborated and accumulated sizeable material in this area, acting at the same time as an important factor in shaping national identity. It is possible to trace there both the changes in methodological approach and in the researchers' evaluation and also in the range of problems studied. The international situation of Poland in the late Middle Ages was most fully described in the XIX — the beginning of the XX centuries in the works of L. Kolanovsky, F. Koneczny, A. Szelagowsky and other authors. The studies of that period researched the evolution of "the Baltic question" (A. Szelagowsky, V. Novodvorsky and others), different aspects of the union of Lublin of 1569 (O. Balzer, St. Kutrzeba et al), the specific events of international relations in Eastern and Central Europe in the XVI century, the policy of separate states (France, the Holy Roman Empire, Vatican etc.) towards the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the Rzec Pospolyta. Many Polish historians of the XIXth — the beginning of the XXth century published a great number of documents and other sources and made them available for researches. This interest of Polish historians persisted also after the Second Rzec Pospolyta was established. The reasons for this were rooted in the Eastern policy of the revived Polish State. The problem of Gdansk acquired new content in Polish historical studies in the framework of the policy of Poland in the Vistula estuary and of the Baltic shore (St. Bodniak, Sz. Askenazy, K. Lepszy et al). After World War II Polish historians focused on the Western policy of the Kingdom of Poland and Rzec Pospolyta. A separate object of study was presented by the Yagellons policy towards Hungary, Moldavia and the connected issues of the relations with the Osman Empire and the Gabsburgs. Despite this wide range of topics, the eastern direction of the Kingdom of Poland in the XVI century remained beyond Polish researchers' attention. The geographical changes in Eastern Europe in the 80s — 90s of the XX century face Polish historians with new relevant challenges in studying the position of Poland in Europe, the character and the lessons of the relations with the neighbours. Recent studies reflect new approaches and views on the problems of international relations in Eastern and Central Europe in the XVIth century. Polish historians actively debate the contentious issues with historians of other countries. Resolving contentious issues and liquidation of "blank spots" are only possible within the framework of a running dialogue of researchers, which ought to promote understanding and collaboration among the people, who have been living on the lands of Central and Eastern Europe side by side for many centuries