Początki turkologii w Warszawie na tle ówczesnych uwarunkowań 1923–1934

Archive materials enable us to find out about the beginnings of turkology in Warsaw. Polish-Asian Association (1923) organised courses in oriental languages. Later, the Oriental Knowledge School (since 1928) attached to the Oriental Institute in Warsaw was granted state subsidies. It trained officials, military men and private individuals. The Middle East Department of the School taught: Turkish language, knowledge about culture and history of Turkey. Language courses and lectures were given by some turkologists: Tadeusz Kowalski and Ananiasz Zajączkowski. Majority of lectures on social-political subjects were arranged by the authorities of the Oriental Institute. Orientalists (Lvov, Cracow, Warsaw) could not reach an agreement whether turkology studies should be organised in Lvov or developed in many universities. Support of Warsaw historians and of a prominent turkologist, Tadeusz Kowalski resulted in setting up turkology department at the Warsaw University (1.01.1934). Ananiasz Zajączkowski became the head of this department.