Urban life in Lithuania during seventeenth and eighteenth century

ENTwo essays from the legacy of historian Dr. Stasys Samalavičius (1930-1992). In the article "The Great Plague in Vilnius", the author discusses how the plague hit Vilnius, the capital of the Grand Lithuanian Duchy, in the mid-seventeenth century, immediately after the war with tzarist Russia. The functions of the city's administration during the plague is analyzed as well as the behavior of urban dwellers who deserted the city during the pandemic and returned after it was over. The author provides insights into the consequences of plague for Vilnius urban life during the period. The article, "The Merchant Fleet in Lithuania in the Seventeenth-Eighteenth Century' (same decision as above) provides an account about what vessels were used for transportation of goods in Lithuanian rivers, what were the functions and responsibilities of their crew, and what problems were encountered by those who transported their merchandise to Lithuanian cities by river. [From the publication]