Polish writers are in the habit of dividing the history of their
language into five periods.[4]
The _first_ period extends from the introduction of Christianity to
Cassimir the Great, A.D. 1333.
The _second_ period extends from A.D. 1333 to A.D. 1506, or the reign
of Sigismund I.
The _third_ period is the golden age of the Polish literature, and
closes with the foundation of the schools of the Jesuits, A.D. 1622.
The _fourth_ period comprises the time of the preponderance of the
Jesuits, and ends with the revival of literature by Konarski, A.D.
1760.
The _fifth_ period comprehends the interval from A.D. 1760 to the
revolution in 1830.
As the Polish literature of our own day bears a different stamp from
that of former times, we may add a _sixth_ period, extending from 1830
to the present time.
Before we enter upon a regular historical account of these different
periods, we will devote a few words to the history and character of
the language itself.
The extent of country, in which the Polish language is predominant, is
much smaller than would naturally be concluded from the great
circuit of territory, which, at the time of its power and
independence, was comprised under the kingdom of Poland.
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