Obraz dróg lądowych w Rzeczpospolitej w świetle wybranych źródeł narracyjnych i kartograficznych z XVI-XVIII wieku. Zarys problemu
The Image of Land Roads in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in the Light of Selected Narrative and Cartographic Sources From the 16th–18th Centuries. An Outline of the Problem

Summary/Abstract: The article focuses on the study of the depiction of land roads in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth during the 16th–18th centuries, utilizing both narrative and cartographic sources. The main objective is an attempt to characterize them, aiming to examine issues related to understanding the communication network in the Old Polish era. The authors of the text highlight the variety of available sources, including Old Polish legislation, travel reports, periodicals, and 18th-century maps. The authors emphasize the role of narrative sources in providing information about the condition of roads, their infrastructure, and the everyday life of travelers. Simultaneously, they analyze how maps from this period reflect the actual structure of roads, paying attention to possible distortions resulting from the technical limitations of cartography during that era. An important aspect presented in the article is also the comparison of data from various sources, allowing for the identification of areas where there is certainty in information, as well as areas where caution in interpretation is necessary

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