National Programme for the Development
of Humanities
Grant no. 2bH 15 0156 83

logo grantu
 Grant title:

'Cultural transfer as the transdisciplinary element of the science of intercultural relations, as exemplified by the impact of Arabic culture on the cultural heritage of Poland'


Hosting institution:

Faculty of Oriental Studies, University of Warsaw

Project duration:

2016-2023

Principal Investigator:

Prof. Agata S. Nalborczyk

Grant Secretary:

Mustafa Switat Ph.D.

Grant description

The aim of the project "Cultural transfer as the transdisciplinary element of the science of intercultural relations, as exemplified by the impact of Arabic culture on the cultural heritage of Poland" is to understand the mechanisms of cultural transfer in intercultural social relations on the example of selected Arab elements in the cultural heritage of Poland. Poland's contacts with the Arab world - due to geopolitical and ideological conditions - took various forms. Poles got to know the territories of the present Arab countries during religious (pilgrimages), commercial, military, diplomatic, as well as travel and sightseeing expeditions, while the Arabs during diplomatic, commercial, educational and tourist expeditions.

As a result of reciprocal (direct and indirect) Polish-Arab contacts, over the centuries, certain elements of Arab culture have been subject to assimilation, infiltration and diverse influences on Polish culture and, as a result, the influence of Arab culture on various areas of life, science, cultural activity and creativity in Poland is evident.

The researchers focused on various elements, areas, and finds, manuscripts by early Arab travellers, to direct travels by Poles and the memoirs they left, their participation in diplomatic relations with the Arab world, and finally to science, literature, and arts. The project also included studying the role of intermediaries of other ethnic origins in the transfer of the Arabic culture into the Polish culture. The researchers also paid attention to the spiritual sphere, including philosophy, even religion, as well as language and linguistic issues. As one may see, the range of interactions between the Polish and Arabic cultures has been extensive, multidimensional, and multifaceted.

The direct and indirect Arab influences in Polish science and art and the role of 'intermediaries' in the cultural transfer from Arab lands to Poland were examined first, especially during the period of the formation of Polish statehood, during the Ottoman Empire from the 16th century onwards and during the establishment of independent Arab states. In the second stage of the work, selected influences were analysed in terms of theories from the field of, inter alia, sociology of culture.

Participants: Prof. Tadeusz Majda, Prof. Jan Tyszkiewicz, Prof. Janusz Danecki, Prof. Ewa Machut-Mendecka (†), Prof. Marek Dziekan, Prof. Katarzyna Pachniak, Prof. Mieczysława Demska-Trębacz, Prof. Czesław Łapicz, Prof. Jacek Knopek; Prof. Hieronim Kaczmarek, Prof. Joanna Kulwicka-Kamińska, Dr habil. Mateusz Bogucki, Dr habil. Dariusz Adamczyk, Dr. habil. Małgorzata Grupa, Dr. habil. Andrzej Drozd, Dr habil. Tomasz Nowakiewicz, Jacek Adamczyk Ph.D., Beata Biedrońska-Słotowa Ph.D., Krzysztof Gajewski Ph.D., Mikołaj Getka-Kenig Ph.D., Anna Kozak Ph.D., Paweł Libera Ph.D., Marcin Łukasz Majewski Ph.D., Anna Nowakowska-Wierzchoś Ph.D., Magdalena Pinker Ph.D., Małgorzata Redlak Ph.D., Marek Trela Ph.D., Marek Tuszewicki Ph.D., George Yacoub Ph.D., Mykhaylo Yakubovych Ph.D., Mateusz Wilk Ph.D., Bogusław R. Zagórski Ph.D., Karolina Krzywicka M.A.

Reviews of grant books


Exhibitions organised in the framework of the grant
in the Asia-Pacific Museum

'Power of Silver. Traditional Jewellery from Arab countries'
7.12.2018-03.03.2019


Link to the Museum website with a description of the exhibition


'The Work of Poland-based Artists of Arab descent' 07.12.2018-27.01.2019


Link to the Museum website with a description of the exhibition


A.S. Nalborczyk, M. Switat, J. Tyszkiewicz (ed.), The First Polish-Arabic Contacts
- vol. 1 of the series: Transfer of Arabic Culture in the Polish History

A.S. Nalborczyk, M. Switat (ed.), Transfer Links. On the Role of Intermediaries between Arabic and Polish Culture
- vol. 2 of the series: Transfer of Arabic Culture in the Polish History

T. Majda, A.S. Nalborczyk (ed.), The Influence of Arab Culture on the Polish Art: Handicraft, Architecture, and Painting
- vol. 3 of the series: Transfer of Arabic Culture in the Polish History



A.S. Nalborczyk, M. Switat (eds), "Arab Influences in Polish Non-Material Culture: Science, Literature, Language"
- vol. 4 of the series: Transfer of Arabic Culture in the Polish History


A.S. Nalborczyk, M. Switat (eds), "Travel and Diplomacy. Direct Polish-Arab Contacts"
- vol. 6 of the series: Transfer of Arabic Culture in the Polish History


H. Kaczmarek, Poles and Egypt throughout the Centuries. Writings, Journals and Travel Memoirs
- vol. 7 of the series: Transfer of Arabic Culture in the Polish History