Week 1

Introduction: Czech Countries in the Context of European History

Beginning of the Human Settlement; Slavic peoples, Ancient Bohemian Legends; The Chronicle of the Czechs - Cosmas of Prague; European powers, the Great Moravia.

Week 2

Czech dukes & Bohemian Kings

Frankish Empire and Medieval France; Medieval Poland and Hungary; Přemyslid dynasty, National Saints – St. Wenceslas.

Week 3

Last Přemyslid Kings & Luxemburg Dynasty Charles IV.; bohemian reform movement; the schizm - role of popes in European society; Hussite wars; Hussite program; civil war, peace agreement - the Compacts.

Week 4

Bohemian Reform Movement European Devotio Moderna; the Schizm, role of popes in European society, Hussite Wars.

Week 5

Era of Jiří of Poděbrady Turkish problem in Europe.

Jagelonian kings and Middle Europe

Week 6

The House of Habsburgs in Europe Bohemian Kingdom since 1526, the Thirty Years' War in Bohemia; society in 17th - 18th century; the enlightment and civil reforms.

19th century - Era of National Rebirth (Czechs and Germans in Bohemia; modern political system in Middle Europe; political parties, economy, society.

Week 7

World War I. and Bohemia

Independence of Czechoslovakia (T.G. Masaryk; politics; Sudeten Germans; E. Beneš; 30's economic depresion).

Theme for discussion: World War I.; Russian Revolution (1917) and Rise of USSR

Week 8

The First Republic 1918 - 1938

The Second Republic September 1938 - March 1939

The end of Czechoslovakia Munich Agreement; The Second Republic; Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia.

Week 9

World War II.

1945-1948 - the bridge between East and West expulsion of Germans; Communists' coup d'état.

Week 10

People's democracy political trials in Soviet block; other communist countries in Europe.

Week 11

60's - Prague Spring A. Dubček; Soviet invasion; the real existing socialism.

Week 12

Normalisation Charter 77; the end of communist era; the velvet revolution.

Middle Europe in 90's