Knowledge of a host country’s broader historical context is essential for gaining an understanding that country’s modern-day society, its politics, economy, and interpreting attitudes and behavior of its inhabitants. This course provides an overview of the milestones of the history of the Czech Lands going back to primeval times, exploring the highlights of Czech history, such as the empire under Charles IV, religious wars in the Middle Ages, the impact of world wars and the struggle of the Czech people under the communist regime, in the broader cultural context of Europe.
It will examine the different ethnicities that populated the territory, including Celtic, Germanic, and Slavic tribes, Czechs, Germans, Jews and Slovaks and the general features of their political, social, and cultural life, and their impact on historical developments as well as modern-day Czech Republic.