The szlachta ([ˈʂlaxta] ( listen), exonym: Nobility) was a legally privileged noble class with origins in the Kingdom of Poland. It gained considerable institutional privileges between 1333 and 1370 during the reign of King Casimir III the Great.:211 In 1413, following a series of tentative personal unions between the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Crown Kingdom of Poland, the existing Lithuanian nobility formally joined this class.:211 As the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (1569–1795) evolved and expanded in territory, its membership grew to include the leaders of Ducal Prussia, Podolian and Ruthenian lands. 

The origins of the szlachta are shrouded in obscurity and mystery and have been the subject of a variety of theories.:207 Traditionally, its members were owners of landed property, often in the form of "manor farms" or so-called folwarks. The nobility negotiated substantial and increasing political and legal privileges for itself throughout its entire history until the decline of the Polish Commonwealth in the late 18th century. QUESTIONS:

Q1:
1. Where are the szlachta from?
2. What are the origins of the szlachta?
3. What country do the szlachta come from?
Q2:
1. The szlachta were in power until when?
2. Up until what time period were the szlachta in power?
3. When did the szlachta have power until?
Q3:
1. Who qualified to be a part of the szlachta?
2. Who was allowed to be a member of the szlachta?
3. Who had the right to be a szlachta?
Q4:
1. What did nobles need to posess to be a part of the szlachta?
2. What did a noble need to have in order to belong to the szlachta?
3. If a noble was to enter into the szlachta, what did they need to be in possession of?
Q5:
1. Who did the szlachta gain power under?
2. Who was king when the szlachta took control?
3. Under which ruler did the szlachta come into power?
Q6:
1. Who was added to the szlachta later on that wasn't in it originally?
2. What members not in the original szlachta were added later on?
3. Who became members of the szlachta at a date after its creation?
Q7:
1. In what year did the existing Lithuanian nobility become szlachta?
2. What year was the szlachta expanded to include the existing Lithuanian nobility?
3. When were the existing Lithuanian mobility subsumed into the szlachta?
Q8:
1. Where did the szlachta expand?
2. What territories did the szlachta go out to?
3. How far was the expansion of the szlachta?
Q9:
1. When did the szlachta expand?
2. During what years did the szlachta expansion occur?
3. What was the time period when the szlachta was expanding?
Q10:
1. What Polish word refers to a legal class of nobility?
2. What is the word in Polish for a former legal class of nobles?
3. How were the legal class of nobility once referred to within the Kingdom of Poland?
