Lietuvos kultūrinių teisinių ištakų Europos kultūroje istorinė raida

Abstract

Lithuanian cultural traditions rooted during different historical epochs in Europe are analysed in article. The history of modern European states dates back to what the well known French historian Jacques Le Goff described as ,,Western medieval civilization“. Through these nations learned writing in their own languages, developing them in Latin tradition. Almost all European nations had joined the Latin cultural domain by the 11th century. Lithuania lagged behind the other Central European countries by some 400 years and found itself within the bounds of Latin civilization only in the 14th century. Lithuania was a latercomer to Latin Christendom. In the 9-11th centuries, Central and Northen European nations had to assimilate monasteryspread culture. Written language was not a determining factor in the development of a non-enlightened society. Meanwhile, Lithuania had to absorb the urban and university culture without written language had to establish a well-run industry of writing before integrating into Europe. While Bohemia and Poland took Latin civilization in small portions that became larger with time, Lithuania had to adopt it within a very short period.
The Grand Duchy of Lithuania was a state of many nations, with the Belorussians making up the majority of its population. That is why, the Belorussian and Polish languages, not Lithuanian formed the foundation of written communication. Jogaila – grand duke of Lithuania and king of Poland – announced privileges to catholic nobility in 1387. It was a beginning of Lithuanian written law. Lithuanian schools were created spontaneously and the number of Lithuanian priests and teachers grew slowly – which predetermined the dominant role of the polish language.
The first Lithuanian Statute – code of law adopted in 1529 – surpassed the law collections of neighbouring countries. The Second and Third Statute followed in 1566 and 1588. Lithuania attained a cultural level which made her open to the ideas of the Reformation.
The loss of statehood at the end of 18th century and joint struggle against czarist Russia altered the national orientation of the Polish-speaking gentry in Lithuania. It ascribed itself to the Polish nobility. However, at that time Lithuania began to feel effects of European education of the epoch of Enlightenment. Secular Commission of Education was established in 1773 and a main law of the state – Constitution was adopted in 1791.
A large group o democratically-minded intellectuals started to promote nationalist ideas among local population in the 19th century. In the second half of the 19th century, the Lithuanian people joined the national liberation movements of Central and Eastern Europe. In the 19th century, national and cultural identity had became so intertwined, that the definition of culture came to almost coincide with national culture: and those best able to promote the state or nation are of course also best able to promote their culture. In 1918, Lithuania restored its independence and embarked on national progression.
The process of Lithuania's Europeanization was laborious and complicated, but Lithuania managed to attain high European standards and keep its national identity intact.
The issue of cultural pluralism growth in importance and it's directly links with turning point of civilization, which became especially apparent at the end of the 20th century, is analysed in the article. The formation of common European identity is discussed. It emphasizes the loosing role of national factor and its transformation into multiculturalism.
Therefore, the strengthening of the cultural pluralism today arises out of the bankruptcy of ideologies of transformation of the consistent modern Euro-centrism“ into the global, postmodern, poly-centrist, resummation of history, revelation of a new postcolonial model of inter-cultural communication. For the development of cultural pluralism it is especially important that every participant of a polylogue maintain a responsible attitude towards his own ethnic tradition as an open system stimulating further development of spiritual values. The growth of cultural integration and globalization is discussed in the article.