Poland's history spans over 1,000 years. Founded in 966 AD, it became a powerful kingdom in medieval Europe. Poland-Lithuania (1569-1795) was a major power, but faced partitions by Russia, Prussia, and Austria. Poland regained independence in 1918, but WWII devastated the country. The Soviet-backed government ruled from 1945-1989. Solidarity's peaceful revolution in 1989 led to democracy. Poland joined NATO (1999) and the EU (2004), becoming a thriving democracy and economy.
