History of the Czech Republic
Early History
The Czech lands have a rich and complex history that dates back to the Paleolithic era. The first known inhabitants were the Boii tribe, a Celtic people who established the first significant settlement in the region, known as Bohemia. The Boii were eventually displaced by the Marcomanni, a Germanic tribe, in the 1st century AD.
During the 5th and 6th centuries, the region was settled by the Slavic tribes, who would form the basis of the Czech nation. The Slavs established the Great Moravian Empire in the 9th century, which was a significant political and cultural center in Central Europe. The empire was Christianized by the Byzantine missionaries Cyril and Methodius, who also developed the Glagolitic alphabet, the first alphabet used to transcribe Old Church Slavonic.
Medieval Period
The Great Moravian Empire collapsed in the early 10th century, and the Czech lands were subsequently incorporated into the Duchy of Bohemia. The Duchy of Bohemia was elevated to a kingdom in 1198, becoming the Kingdom of Bohemia. The Kingdom of Bohemia was a significant regional power during the Middle Ages, and it was a key state of the Holy Roman Empire.
The Přemyslids were the first ruling dynasty of the Duchy and later the Kingdom of Bohemia. The most notable Přemyslid ruler was Ottokar II, who expanded the kingdom's territory and influence. The Přemyslids were succeeded by the Luxembourg dynasty, under whose rule the kingdom reached its zenith of power and prestige. The Luxembourg King Charles IV was elected Holy Roman Emperor in 1346, and he made Prague the imperial capital.
Hussite Wars and Habsburg Rule
The 15th century was marked by religious conflict and social upheaval, known as the Hussite Wars. The wars were sparked by the execution of the Czech religious reformer Jan Hus, and they resulted in significant changes in the religious and political landscape of the region.
The Kingdom of Bohemia came under the control of the Habsburg dynasty in the early 16th century, marking the beginning of a period of intense Germanization and Catholicization. Despite these pressures, the Czech language and culture managed to survive and even flourish in certain periods.
19th Century National Revival
The 19th century was a period of national revival in the Czech lands. The Czech National Revival was a cultural and political movement aimed at the revival of the Czech language, culture, and national identity. The movement was successful in its goals, and it laid the groundwork for the establishment of an independent Czech state.
20th Century and Independence
The 20th century was a period of significant change and upheaval for the Czech people. The Austro-Hungarian Empire, which the Czech lands were a part of, collapsed at the end of World War I, and the independent state of Czechoslovakia was established.
Czechoslovakia was a democratic state until 1938, when it was dismembered by the Munich Agreement, and subsequently occupied by Nazi Germany during World War II. After the war, Czechoslovakia was reestablished as a communist state within the Eastern Bloc.
The communist regime was overthrown in the peaceful Velvet Revolution of 1989, and the Czech Republic was established as an independent state in 1993, following the peaceful dissolution of Czechoslovakia.