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Table of Contents
Prague is the capital city of the Czech Republic. It is also its largest city. It is one of Europe’s best cities, boasting a rich cultural and Bohemian heritage, and being a political and economic hub of central Europe.
See the fact file below for more information on the Prague or alternatively, you can download our 22-page Prague worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.
Key Facts & Information
ETYMOLOGY
- Prague is a Czech name.
- It comes from the Slavic word “práh” meaning “ford” or “rapid” which refers to the city’s origin at the Vltava river.
- Its name is also connected to the legend of Princess Libuše, who was a prophetess and who is believed to have given the order for the city “to be built where a man hews a threshold of his house”.
- Prague is nicknamed “City of a Hundred Spires” based on the count made by 19th century mathematician Bernard Bolzano.
- Other nicknames of Prague include the Heart of Europe, the Golden City, and the Mother of Cities.
GEOGRAPHY
- Prague is located on the northwest of the Vltava river.
- It is at approximately the same latitude as Vancouver in Canada, Frankfurt in Germany, and Paris in France.
HISTORY
- Prague was settled as early as the Paleolithic period.
- It was around the 5th and 4th century BC when a Celt tribe appeared in the region where Prague is now, established settlements, and named the region Bohemia meaning “home of the Boii people”.
- The Celts were slowly driven away by Germanic tribes in the last century BC.
- During the great Migration Period, the Germanic tribes moved towards the west and the Slavic tribes took their place in settling in the Central Bohemian Region.
- In the succeeding three centuries, the Czech tribes built fortified settlements in the region.
- The construction of what now is identified as the Prague Castle began near the end of the 9th century.
- Prague was the capital of the Kingdom of Bohemia.
- It was the main residence of Charles IV and several other Holy Roman Emperors.
REIGN OF CHARLES IV
- During the reign of Charles IV from 1346 to 1378, Prague flourished.
- Charles IV ordered the construction of the New Town adjacent to the Old Town as he himself laid out the design.
- This new design birthed the iconic Charles Bridge of Prague.
- In 1347, Charles University was founded, which is the oldest university in Central Europe.
- He also began the construction of St. Vitus Cathedral upon Prague’s elevation to archbishopric in 1344.
- Prague became a center of trade for German and Italian merchants and bankers.
- On the downside, poor people increased in number and craftsmen’s guilds rose to power and created turbulence among society.
- By the 1360s, a famine had started to spread in the city, which led Charles IV to order the construction of the Hunger Wall, a fortification wall south of Mala Strana, in order to employ workers and to help their families.
- Charles IV’s reign ended when he died in 1378.
- There was great turmoil during the reign of his son, King Wenceslaus IV.
THE REFORMATION AND THIRTY YEARS WAR
- It was a significant city to the Habsburg Monarchy and its Austro-Hungarian Empire.
- Prague had a significant role in the Bohemian and Protestant Reformation.
- Jan Hus, a scholar at Charles University, delivered radical sermons that got him in conflict with Rome and burned at the stake in 1415.
- The first Defenestration of Prague happened four years later where the people rebelled under the leadership of priest Jan Želivský.
- In 1420, Hussite peasant rebels, led by Jan Žižka, and the Hussites of Prague merged to fight and win over the Roman Catholic king Sigismund at Vítkov Hill.
- The next two centuries were marked with wealthy merchants rising into power again and Gothic architecture flourishing.
- In 1526, the Habsburgs began to rule Bohemia and tried to eradicate Czech Protestantism.
- When it became the capital of the Czech republic, Prague played a major role in the Thirty Years’ War.
- The second Defenestration of Prague happened in 1618 and was followed by the defeat of the Protestant side at the Battle of the White Mountain in 1620.
ATTRACTIONS AND LANDMARKS
- The Vltava River that runs through Prague is the longest river in the Czech Republic.
- Next to the famous Charles Bridge, there is a sculpture of a man’s head called Bradáč, which means “Bearded Man” or “Chin Man.”
- The Astronomical Clock which is the world’s third oldest astronomical clock is one of Prague’s most popular landmarks. It is located in front of the Old Town Hall.
- Prague Castle is the biggest ancient castle in the whole world.
- In the Mala Strana quarter, there is a wall with an image to commemorate John Lennon after his murder in 1980.
- Prague’s tallest landmark is the TV Tower, which stands 216 meters tall.
- The TV tower offers panoramic views of the city from nine separate pods.
CULTURE
- Prague locals refer to beer as ‘liquid bread’ and the locals drink more beer than any other country in the world per capita.
- Locals also love pork knee, a popular Czech delicacy.
- Prague is home to central Europe’s biggest club.
Prague Worksheets
This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about Prague across 22 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Prague worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the Prague which is the capital city of the Czech Republic. It is also its largest city. It is one of Europe’s best cities, boasting a rich cultural and Bohemian heritage, and being a political and economic hub of central Europe.
Complete List Of Included Worksheets
- Prague Facts
- All About Prague
- Past of Prague
- Prague Photo Bank
- Nickname into Logo
- Quirky City
- Name The Building
- Czech The Boxes
- Major Events in Prague
- Postcard from Prague
- Poem About Prague
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Link will appear as Prague Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, May 16, 2019
Use With Any Curriculum
These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.