Poland

Poland - Is officially known as the Republic of Poland. Poland is a European Country and shares borders with Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania, the Baltic Sea and Russia the exclave of Kaliningrad Oblast. Poland is an ancient nation that was conceived near the middle of the 10th century. Its golden age occurred in the 16th century. During the following century, the strengthening of the gentry and internal disorders weakened the nation. In a series of agreements between 1772 and 1795, Russia, Prussia (former kingdom and state of Germany) and Austria partitioned Poland amongst themselves. Poland regained its independence in 1918 only to be overrun by Germany and the Soviet Union in World War II. Poland joined North Atlantic Treaty Organization in 1999 and the European Union in 2004. Gross Domestic Product per capita is still much below the European Union average, but is similar to that of the three Baltic states. Unemployment is falling rapidly, though at roughly 12.8% in 2007, it remains well above the European Union average. Poland has steadfastly pursued a policy of liberalising the economy and today stands out as a successful example of the transition from a state-directed economy to a primarily privately owned market economy.
The most famous archaeological find from Poland's prehistory is the Biskupin fortified settlement dating from the Lusatian culture of the early Iron Age, around 700 BC.