Historic adoption of Christianity: what Poles think
PR dla Zagranicy
Paweł Kononczuk
15.04.2016 11:13
Almost three in four Poles know that the landmark event known as the Baptism of Poland – which marked the nation's adoption of Christianity – took place in the year 966.
Photo: Flickr.com/Waiting For The Word
Poles have a better knowledge of historical dates relating only to two other events: the outbreak of World War II and the Battle of Grunwald – in which Polish and Lithuanian forces defeated the Teutonic Knights.
The year 1939 was correctly associated with the former by 82 percent of Poles, and 1410 with the latter event by 80 percent of respondents.
According to a survey by the CBOS Institute, 70 percent of Poles consider the adoption of Christianity as one of the most important, watershed events in the nation’s history prior to Poland regaining independence in 1918.
Eighty-nine percent of respondents said they believed the 966 Baptism of Poland was a good decision by ruler Prince Mieszko, primarily on religious grounds but also in geopolitical terms.
The survey was conducted a month ago on a representative group of 1,007 adult Poles, using computer-assisted personal interviewing. (mk/pk)