East in the European literature

Abstract

The article deals with the history of the Poland-Turkish literary-cultural connections. Those
literary connections begin from 1414 years with the first diplomatical attitudes of Yagellow with Turkey.
Beginning from 15th century till 19th century the Turkish theme reflected in the Poland literature and
science.
The main part with the development of commodity-money relations, Europeans join the achievements of
material culture, which were mainly determined by the growth of cities and the development of commodity
production. A significant role was played by the increased trade and acquaintance with the culture of the
Muslim East, partly taken out of the Crusades (1096-1270). The direct contact of the Western European
chivalry with the peoples of the East expanded their mental horizons, introducing them to the vast world of
new life forms and concepts, poetic tales, and products of a more complex and subtle culture. In the
environment and under the influence of all these mental acquisitions, Europeans are culturally growing and
developing, rebuilding. Chivalry retains its class nature with all its typical features, feudal wars and robberies
still remain its main occupation, its way of life and customs retain their original rudeness and cruelty. But,
under the influence of Eastern culture, at the same time, a new moral and ethical ideal is being formed in the
advanced circles of chivalry and the sprouts of secular culture are outlined: magnificent courtyards arise,
where good manners are adopted, beautiful outfits, music, poetry, grace, the ability to feel delicately and
gently, are developed, sing, dance, play musical instruments, compose poetry, court ladies. Singers and poets
are in the service of the court. The new style exerts its influence on the reform of the European language and
metrics; the language of chivalrous poetry strives for purity, elegance; it affirms a cheerful ideal as opposed
to church-ascetic dogma. Of great interest, in terms of revealing the influence of the East on the spiritual
culture of Europeans, is the book of the English orientalist Peter Malcolm Holt “The Middle East from the
Crusades to 1517”, which shows the collapse of the once-existing myth that the military and cultural
successes of Western civilization are associated with the moral superiority of the Western, European world
over the Eastern, Asian, African.