The Czech Republic

in central Europe
the capital city Prague
o the biggest, the most populous
o the seat of the Government, the Parliament, the president
democratic republic
consists of Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia
main rivers:
o the river Vltava
o the river Labe
o the river Odra
o the river Morava,...
mountainous country:
o mountains around
o mountains on the border: Krkonoe Mountains, umava Mountains, Jizerk hory, Orlick
hory,...
o the border between Bohemia and Moravia
history:
o Samo established the 1st tribe union
o 9th Great Moravia
1st Slav ruler
o 10th century Czech state was published, Premysl dynasty unified (united) the Czech state
o Lucemburg dynasty Charles IV founded Charles Bridge, Karlstejn Castle, The Hungry
wall, Roman Emperor (Czech land part of the Holy Roman Empire)
o Husitte wars rebellion, religious reasons
o Habsburg dynasty Rudolf II made Prague a centre of Europe (supported education and
science)
o 20th century Czech land was a part of Australian-Hungarian Empire
WWI
division of it on smaller parts (e.g. Czechoslovakia)
o 1st republic
age of property and economy growth
Czechoslovakia is more developed than France or GB
the first president Tomas Garrigue Masaryk
WWII
occupied by Germany
1939 loss of border areas
Nazi concentration camps (Terezin)
after WWII
part of Eastern Block
under only right party was the communist party
non-democratic system
no private owner ship
no freedom of speech
no freedom of movement (travelling)
1968 Prague Spring regime getting democratic invasion in August (21.8.1969)
1989 revolution
1.1.1993 Czech and Slovak Republics were established
12.3.1999 Czech Republic joined NATO
1997 and 2002 major floods
1.5. 204 The Czech Republic joined the EU
political system:
o democratic parliamentary republic
o the head is the president

Parliament 2 chambers:
Senate (81, for 6 years)
House of Deputies (200, for 4 years)
o 3 powers: executive, judice, legislative
geography:
o mild (temperature) climate 4 seasons
o varied landscape mountains around the border, the highest mountains is Snka (1602 m)
o 3 C (leden) - + 20 C (erven)
o

o The Labe River flows in the North Sea

o lakes: Black, ertovo, ...
o 14 regions
demography:
o 10 million people

o the highest concentration is the biggest cities Prague, Brno

o large minorities: Slovaks, Poles, Vietnamere, Germans, Jewish
o one of the most non-religious European countries
economy:
o 80% of EU income
o one of the most stable and prosperous countries of the post-communist states
o joined the Shenghen Agreement in December 2007
o EURO is expected to be in 2010
tourism:
o 110 000 people employed in tourism
o castles,...
o Prague, Kutn Hora,...
famous people:
o in sport: Neumannov, ebrle, Jgr, Dvok, elezn, Sblkov, Verner,...
o others: Milo Forman, Vclav Havel, Theodor Pitk, Bedich Smetana, Antonn Dvok,
Milan Kundera