Czech Republic
Archaeologists uncovered the Venus of Dolní Věstonice in 1925, a ceramic figurine dating to approximately 29,000, 25,000 BCE. This artifact stands as the oldest known ceramic figurine in human history. The region now called the Czech Republic has been inhabited since the Paleolithic era. Celtic migrations during the third century BC brought the Boii tribe to Bohemia. They founded an oppidum near the site of modern Prague. Germanic tribes like the Marcomanni and Quadi settled there later in the first century AD. Slavic peoples from the Black Sea, Carpathian region arrived after being pushed by invasions from Siberia and Eastern Europe. Huns moved westwards into Bohemia and Moravia during the sixth century. Samo became ruler of the first documented Slavic state in Central Europe during the seventh century. His empire supported Slavs fighting against nearby Avars. Great Moravia arose in the eighth century under the Moymir dynasty. It reached its zenith in the ninth century during the reign of Svatopluk I of Moravia. Byzantine missionaries Cyril and Methodius Christianized the area. They codified Old Church Slavonic language and created the Glagolitic script. The Duchy of Bohemia emerged in the late ninth century when unified by the Přemyslid dynasty. It formally became an Imperial Estate of the Holy Roman Empire in 1002.
The Hussite Wars raged between 1419 and 1434 as followers of Jan Hus seceded from Roman Church practices. Jan Žižka led his forces to victory at the Battle of Kutná Hora on the 21st of December 1421. He remains honored today as a national hero. Nearly 90% of the population in Bohemia and Moravia were considered Hussites over the next two centuries. Petr Chelčický inspired the Moravian Brethren movement which separated completely from the Roman Catholic Church by mid-15th century. The Defenestration of Prague occurred in 1618, marking the start of the Thirty Years' War. Habsburg rule consolidated after the Battle of White Mountain in 1620 crushed the rebellion. Leaders of the Bohemian Revolt faced execution in 1621. Nobility and middle-class Protestants had to convert to Catholicism or leave the country. Population declined by one-third during the war due to expulsion, disease, famine, and conflict. The era from 1620 to late 18th century became known as the Dark Age. Ottoman Turks and Tatars invaded Moravia in 1663. A great plague struck Vienna and the Czech lands between 1679 and 1680 alongside serf uprisings influenced by famine. Serfdom was abolished between 1781 and 1848. Several battles of the Napoleonic Wars took place on current territory. The Holy Roman Empire dissolved in 1806, degrading Bohemia's political status. Bohemian lands became part of the Austrian Empire.
Nazi Germany occupied Western Czechoslovakia following the Munich Agreement in 1938. They established the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia within the Third Reich. One Nazi concentration camp existed at Terezín north of Prague. Most Jews in the Protectorate were murdered in Nazi-run camps. German occupation ended on the 9th of May 1945 with arrival of Soviet and American armies. The Prague uprising occurred that same day. Most German-speakers were forcibly expelled under an organized transfer confirmed by the Soviet Union, United States, and Great Britain at the Potsdam Conference. Communist Party gained 38% of votes in 1946 elections becoming largest party. A coup d'état came in 1948 forming a single-party government. For 41 years the state conformed to Eastern Bloc economic and political features. The Prague Spring liberalization attempt stopped by Warsaw Pact invasion during 1968. Analysts believe this invasion caused communist movement fracture leading to Revolutions of 1989. In November 1989 the Velvet Revolution ended communist rule restoring democracy. On the 31st of December 1992 Czechoslovakia peacefully dissolved into independent states of Czech Republic and Slovakia.
Václav Havel led the Velvet Revolution as one of most important figures in Czech history during twentieth century. He served as last president of Czechoslovakia and first president of Czech Republic. Slovak national aspirations strengthened after democratic transition creating what analysts called Hyphen War. Both countries underwent economic reforms and privatizations since 1990 when they shared common state. World Bank recognized Czech Republic as developed country in 2006. Human Development Index ranked it nation of Very High Human Development in 2009. Czech Republic joined NATO on the 12th of March 1999 entering European Union on the 1st of May 2004. It joined Schengen Area on the 21st of December 2007 abolishing border controls with all neighbors. Centre-left Social Democratic Party or centre-right Civic Democratic Party led governments until October 2017. Populist ANO 2011 movement won elections that month with three times more votes than closest rival. Andrej Babiš became prime minister appointed by Miloš Zeman in December 2017. Petr Fiala became new prime minister following narrowly defeated ANO 2011 in 2021 elections. Retired general Petr Pavel won presidential election January 2023 succeeding Miloš Zeman. Russian forces began large scale war against Ukraine on the 24th of February 2022. Czech Republic took half million Ukrainian refugees largest number per capita worldwide. Babiš returned to office December 2025 after ANO party win October parliamentary election.
The country lies mostly between latitudes 48° and 51° N and longitudes 12° and 19° E. Bohemia consists of basin drained by Elbe and Vltava rivers surrounded by low mountains including Giant Mountains range. Highest point Sněžka reaches elevation within this region. Moravia eastern part is also hilly drained mainly by Morava River containing source of Oder River. Water flows to three different seas: North Sea, Baltic Sea, and Black Sea. Country leases Moldauhafen lot middle Hamburg Docks awarded by Treaty of Versailles Article 363 allowing landlocked nation place transfer goods from river to seagoing ships. Territory reverts to Germany in 2028. Four national parks exist including Krkonoše National Park oldest Biosphere Reserve. Others include Šumava National Park Biosphere Reserve Podyjí National Park and Bohemian Switzerland. Wettest area found around Bílý Potok Jizera Mountains driest region Louny District northwest Prague. Average temperature at highest peak Sněžka differs significantly from lowlands South Moravian Region where average reaches higher levels. Coldest month usually January followed February December. Snow occurs mountains sometimes cities lowlands during these months. Spring characterized higher water levels rivers melting snow occasional flooding. Warmest month year July followed August June. Summer temperatures about higher than winter. Autumn begins September still warm dry October temperatures fall below freezing deciduous trees shed leaves. By end November temperatures range around freezing point. Coldest measured temperature occurred Litvínovice near České Budějovice 1929 hottest measured Dobřichovice 2012. As 2020 country ranks 21st most environmentally conscious world Environmental Performance Index.
Czech Republic developed high-income export-oriented social market economy based services manufacturing innovation maintaining welfare state European social model. Per capita GDP rate purchasing power parity reached $51,329 nominal value $29,856. Country experienced 4.5% GDP growth 2017. Unemployment rate lowest EU 2.4% 2016 poverty rate second lowest OECD members 2016. Industrial sector accounts 37.5% economy while services account 60% agriculture 2.5%. Largest trading partner both export import Germany EU general. Dividends worth CZK 270 billion paid foreign owners Czech companies 2017 becoming political issue. Automobile manufacturer Škoda Auto largest company revenue utility ČEZ Group conglomerate Agrofert energy EPH oil processing Unipetrol electronics Foxconn CZ steel Moravia Steel. Transportation includes Škoda Transportation fourth largest tram producer world nearly one third trams come Czech factories. Tatra heavy trucks second oldest car maker world Avia medium trucks Karosa SOR Libchavy buses Aero Vodochody military aircraft Let Kunovice civil aircraft Zetor tractors Jawa Moto motorcycles Čezeta electric scooters. World largest vinyl records manufacturer GZ Media producing about 6 million pieces annually Loděnice. Defense traditionally important part industry Czechoslovakia world largest arms exporter 1934 1935. Largest defense companies 2025 included Czechoslovak Group worth €13,57 billion STV Group worth €1,13 billion Colt CZ Group worth €1,09 billion Omnipol worth €0,58 billion.
Czech lands long well-documented history scientific innovation going back early modern times including Tycho Brahe Nicolaus Copernicus Johannes Kepler. Scientific community formally organized under charter Royal Czech Society Sciences 1784 now known Czech Academy Sciences. Nobel laureates include biochemists Gerty Carl Ferdinand Cori chemist Jaroslav Heyrovský inventor polarography electroanalytical chemistry recipient Nobel Prize Otto Wichterle chemists responsible invention modern contact lens silon-synthetic fiber physicists Ernst Mach critic Newton theories space time foreshadowing Einstein theory relativity Peter Grünberg physiologist Jan Evangelista Purkyně chemist Antonín Holý scientist involved creation most effective drug treatment AIDS 2009 Sigmund Freud founder psychoanalysis born Příbor Gregor Mendel founder genetics born Hynčice spent life Brno logician mathematician Kurt Gödel born Brno. Other famous scientists Stanislav Brebera inventor plastic explosive Semtex Václav Prokop Diviš inventor first grounded lightning rod Jakub Husník improved photolithography process Jan Janský serologist neurologist discovered ABO blood groups Karel Klíč painter photographer inventor photogravure František Křižík electrical engineer inventor arc lamp Jan Marek Marci mathematician physicist imperial physician one founders spectroscopy Vladimír Remek first person outside Soviet Union United States go space Jakub Kryštof Rad inventor sugar cubes Josef Ressel inventor screw propeller modern compass. Current important scientific institutions include Academy Sciences Czech Republic CEITEC Institute Brno centers world powerful laser Dolní Břežany Prague seat administrative center GSA Agency operating European navigation system Galileo European Union Agency Space Programme.
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Common questions
When was the Venus of Dolní Věstonice uncovered and how old is it?
Archaeologists uncovered the Venus of Dolní Věstonice in 1925. This ceramic figurine dates to approximately 29,000 to 25,000 BCE.
Who founded Great Moravia and when did it reach its zenith?
Great Moravia arose in the eighth century under the Moymir dynasty. It reached its zenith in the ninth century during the reign of Svatopluk I of Moravia.
What happened during the Battle of White Mountain in 1620?
Habsburg rule consolidated after the Battle of White Mountain in 1620 crushed the rebellion. Leaders of the Bohemian Revolt faced execution in 1621.
How many Ukrainian refugees did Czech Republic take per capita during the war against Ukraine?
Czech Republic took half million Ukrainian refugees which represents the largest number per capita worldwide. Russian forces began large scale war against Ukraine on the 24th of February 2022.
When did Czech Republic join NATO and the European Union?
Czech Republic joined NATO on the 12th of March 1999. The country entered the European Union on the 1st of May 2004.