In the paper I try to reconstruct the main theoretical assumptions underlying Paul Veyne’s vision of the ancient world that are to be found in his book L’empire gréco-romain. First of all, recalling the opposition between two ways of making the past intelligible: “explication” versus “explicitation”, I show how the French historian uses that second type of historical analyse to reveal some ancient phenomena (i.e. “democracy”, “imperialism”, “soul”, “faith”) in their original and singular forms. Then, I pass to the question of causality and genesis in history. It seems that in Veyne’s book we can distinguish three different “models” of becoming: 1) “time of a project”, 2) “epigenesis” and 3) “discourse effectiveness”. All these fi ndings lead me to the conclusion that Veyne’s writing of history is essentially “essayistic”.

This article deals with the name of the town Węgrów on the river Liwiec, whose name is based on the obscure hydronym Węgra Potok. This name is juxtaposed with another place name, Węgra, which is found near Przasnysz and is named after the river Węgra (today known as Węgierka), as well as other names beginning with wągr-||węgr-. The author challenges Witczak’s (2015) hypothesis that the name of Węgra comes from the Sudovian (Jatvingian, Yotvingian) language. The article raises historical, archaeological and geographical arguments that oppose the possibility of a Yotvingian influence in these regions. Consequently, the author contends that the place names have a Slavonic root, linked to the noun węgorz (a type of fish), or the meandering nature of both rivers. There is also a discussion of the name patok||potok (stream/brook).

In this article the author tries to resolve the problem of what is the relation (is it a dialogue?) between Christianity and the European culture in the past and today. He tries to see it in the light of John Paul II’s teaching in a few steps: the role of Christianity in the origin of Europe, the role of Christianity in the history of Europe, the role of Christianity in the identity of Europe and its culture, and the modern European culture in its relation to Christianity. Christianity has created Europe and the culture (and ethos) of dialogue. Christianity was present in – sometimes tragic – history of Europe motivating many positive changes, although christians were not always following the principles of their religion. Christianity is the most important element of the Europe’s identity and culture, although during its history some other elements, far from Christianity, appeared. Modern european culture, which is still in a process of building its identity, consists of many tendencies – far or close to christianity. far from it do not dialogue with it, but close to it – do so. Christianity and the Church, who represents it, is ready to the dialogue, although she is aware of its diffculties and necessity.