Environmental history of Polish cities from the early modern period untill the end of the 20th century : research synthesis

Recenzowane materiały związane z XXI Powszechnym Zjazdem Historyków Polskich (Białystok, 17-20 września 2024 r.) będące również plonem projektu badawczego "Człowiek twórcą historii" realizowanego w Uniwersytecie w Białymstoku w latach 2022-2024

The subject of this article is to outline the issues in researching the environmental history of Polish cities from modern times to the end of the 20th century. The specificity of the Polish case in the environmental history of cities is related to the frequent changes in borders and the political affiliations of Polish lands. This issue becomes particularly important during the partition period, which placed Polish cities under the realities of three empires, and consequently, three different methods of city administration and environmental management. The partition period coincides with the crucial phenomenon of the industrial-technological revolution for environmental history. The article also outlines the main problematic areas in research on the environmental history of Polish urban centers. These include issues related to the circulation of materials in cities, arising from the necessity to supply building materials, food, and energy, as well as waste disposal and pollution generated by the city, the development of transportation, and the issue of urban biodiversity.