Angličtina - 6. Some facts about our country
^Autor:

Our state is situated in central Europe. It has about 10 millions inhabitants and covers area about 80 000 square kilometers. We have borders with Poland on the North, with Germany on the West, with Austria on the South and with Slovakia on the East. Czech Republic has varied landscape. Bohemia is surrounded by a ring of mountains - the Sumava range, the Czech Forest, the Ore mountains, the Jizerske mountains, the Giant mountains and the Eagle mountains. The moravian Plain is protected on the West by Bohemian-Moravian highland, and on the North by the wooded mountainous ranges of Jeseníky and Beskydy. Fertile lowlands can be found in the valleys of big rivers - the Vltava, the Elbe (flowing in the North Sea), the Oder (flowing into the Baltic Sea and the Morava (flowing into the Danube). The climate is mostly continental, the warmest area being in South Moravia.
One of our most significant raw materials is coal. Black coal and anthracite are to be found mainly in the Ostrava coal basin, but also in the area of Kladno. The supplies of brown coal are in the North Bohemia and in the Western Bohemia. The rich deposits of kaolin and clay are for the ceramics and glass industries.
The Czech Republic is traditionally industrial country. The greatest percentage is represented by the engineering industry. In our republic is chemical, food or textile industry too. For example, Center of Chemical Industry is in our region.
Our territory has been inhabited by Slavonic tribes since 5th century. The first Slavonic state was Samo's empire which was founded here in 623. Feudal Great Moravian Empire was formed in the 9th century. After ist disintegration, state activities were concentrated in the Czech lands, where in in the 9th century power was taken over by the Czech tribe headed by the Přemyslid dynasty. The first historically documented Czech prince Bořivoj ruled over territory of the Czech lands and over a considerable part of Great Moravia.
The Czech kings played an important role in Central Europe. When Přemyslid dynasty had died out by the sword in 1306, the Czech throne went by way of dynastic wedding to the Luxembourg, and the Czech Kingdom became also the center of the Holy roman Empire mainly during the reign of Charles IV: and his son Wenceslas IV.. Prague grew into one of the largest European metropolises of that era and was center of education, architecure and arts. In 1348 was founded Charles University - the oldest one in the Europe.
The first part of the 15th century is marked by the Hussite Movement. It is named after Jan Hus, professor, dean and later rector of Charles University. In 1415 he was tried by the Church council in Constance. The leading representatives of the Hussite movement were Jan Žižka and Prokop Holý. I think, it's interesting, that Jan Žižka were never defeated.
After the reign of King Jiří z Poděbrad and after of period of the rule of Jagielonian dynasty there came the period of the Hapsburgs dynasty. These rulers tried to oppress the in favour of the Germans. One of interesting Habsburg's emperors was Rudolf II. He was famous for his interesting in chemistry and arts. During his rule Prague became center of arts in the empire.
The 20th century brought establishing of Czech state and two horrible world wars. After second world war was Czech republic under soviet influence. Turn came in 1989, after velvet revolution. In 1993 was Czechoslovakia divided into two state - Czech Republic and Slovakia. Now, Czech republic is modern, independent state. It want be member of European Unit and North Atlantic pact. I think, it will be very hard work, because our state has many problems with economic and politic.