THE HISTORY OF ORIENTAL STUDIES IN LVIV BETWEEN THE FIRST AND THE SECOND WORLD WAR

Анотація

This article provides a historical overview of Oriental Studies at Lviv University during the period between the First and Second World Wars. The focus is on the scientific and social context of development of the Oriental Studies within and outside Poland, and how the teaching model, institutions, and scientific organizations supported the development of Oriental Studies in this part of Europe. The interdisciplinary nature of Lviv's Oriental Studies program allowed students to study various oriental languages, such as Armenian, Turkish, Arabic, Persian, and Sanskrit. Professors aimed to teach students how to acquire knowledge and conduct research effectively on their own, while also presenting their latest and unpublished research findings. Despite the relatively short period, Oriental Studies at Lviv University grew rapidly, and the university became a significant centre of Oriental Studies not only in Poland but also in Europe. The article discusses also the establishment of the Polish Oriental Society in 1922, which was initiated by few professors of the Lviv University, and the founding of the influential international journal known as the "Yearbook of Oriental Studies." The article draws on the memories and documents of many researchers, including T. Lewicki, Z. Kozarynowa, A. Zajączkowski, A. Zaborski, and S. Kałużyński, who studied Oriental Studies at Lviv University during that time.