The tour in the morning and afternoon in Krak\u00f3w helped contextualize the Polish kingdom and Polish Jewry as well as reinforced the theme of memory culture. Early in the semester, we discussed the Polish hierarchy of the peasants, serfs, szlachta (i.e. the Polish nobility), and magnates. We were able to see and discuss feudal structures such as the fortresses and moats that protected the city from invaders, and town squares like Rynek G\u0142\u00f3wny where people conducted legislative and economic activity. There were many historical churches around the town, which demonstrates how religion, specifically Christianity, is intertwined with Polish identity. We also saw monuments referring to the Czartoryski family, who belonged to the peak of the feudal hierarchy. If there were any old taverns or establishments that were run by Jews around the 17th-18th century, it would have been nice to visit them because we discussed at length concerning their socioeconomic status. As the tour progressed, the prevalence of certain monuments demonstrated what contemporary Poles place importance on. For example, key figures discussed during the tour were Polish King Kazimierz the Great and Adam Mickiewicz. The Jewish quarter Kazimierz was named after the king; murals and other art honoring him can be observed throughout the town. His memory lives on because of his acceptance of Jews by giving them various privileges. Similarly, Adam Mickiewicz\u2019s presence is ubiquitous in Krak\u00f3w because of his literature that promotes Polish nationalism. In the evening in Krak\u00f3w, the tour focused more modern history of Poland regarding Jewish ghettos and the World War II era.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"