Polish historical regions
Polish historic regions are regions that were related to a former Polish state, or are within present-day Poland without being identified in its administrative division.
There are several historic and cultural regions in Poland that are called ethnographic regions. Their exact borders cannot be drawn, as the regions are not official political or administrative units. They are delimited by culture, such as country traditions, traditional lifestyle, songs, tales, etc. To some extent, the regions correspond to the zones of Polish language dialects. The correspondence, however, is by no means strict.Modern regions of the current Polish state
Within Poland's modern borders are the following historic regions:
Outside Poland are several historic regions which were once part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, a confederal part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, or the Second Polish Republic. While these regions are important for Polish history, calling them Polish is controversial, as they were never predominantly populated by ethnic Poles and now lie beyond the borders of Poland. They are:
- Aukštaitija, Lithuania
- Black Ruthenia
- Smolensk Land
- Livonia
- Podolia
- Samogitia
- Ukraine
- Volhynia
- White Ruthenia, Belarus
Historic regions inside the borders of the current Polish state
Modern Poland is rich in history, including major border and population shifts. It comprises many historic regions:
- Chelmno Land
- East Prussia
- Farther Pomerania
- Kashubia
- Lower Lusatia
- Lower Silesia
- Lubusz Land
- Mazovia
- Neumark
- Polesia
- Upper Lusatia
- Upper Silesia
- Warmia
- West Prussia
- Western Pomerania
