Źródła do badań nad obrazem Francji w XVIII-wiecznej Rzeczpospolitej – podstawowe problemy metodyczne w pracy nad materiałami geograficznymi

The way France was presented in early modern Poland has been researched so far by many historians. However, the state of modern research is still considered insufficient and thus it is important to organize and, if possible, quantify the source material which can be used in this kind of analysis. There are still many manuscripts containing an enormous amount of information concerning the visions of France in early modern Poland, which are yet to be recognized by modern historiography. This report is an attempt to name the most important ones – such as geographical compilations, astronomy handbooks and even poems – all not used frequently enough in this kind of inquiry. This attempt at organization leads to conclusions that there are many historical sources left behind in the archives. They can be used not only to analyse the image of France in the eighteenth century, but also prove to be an excellent basis for more wide speculations – such as reflections on the state of literature and science in Poland in the given period. The fact that most of them were used for educational purposes can be used in advantage for a researcher – one can also analyse the state of early modern Polish education