Here is a little history on Prague. As I said, Prague was probably settled for the first time sometime between 800 and 900 in medieval times. Because of its location on the Vlatava River, it grew into a prosperous trading town. Prague became important as an economic, cultural and political center of Bohemian life. St. Vitus Cathedral became the spiritual center of the country. The kings of Bohemia were crowned there. At one time the kings of Bohemia lived on the Hradcany-the Castle Hill which olds not only the Cathedral but also the Castle itself. The president of the Czech Republic lives there now.
The Holy Roman emperor Charles IV made a huge and beneficial impact on the city. In fact, it was Charles more than anyone else who made the city the tourist magnet it is today. He founded the Charles University in Old Town in 1348. It is the oldest university in the center of Europe, and a must visit for any tourist. The other masterpiece for which the king is responsible is the Charles bridge, which connects the right and left banks of the Vlatava River.
In the 15th century a religious eathquake took place in Prague. Jan Hus began a reformation of the Catholic Church about one hundred years before Martin Luther. This reformation was unsuccessful, and Prague suffered from the violence that it brought to the city. The Tyn Church in the Old Town Square became the spiritual center of the followers of Hus-called, appropriately enough, the Hussites. The church still stands.
This was only the beginning of Prague's religious troubles. When the Reformation started by Martin Luther made its way to Bohemia, the city suffered another spiritual earthquake about two centuries after Hus. The worst war in Europe's history (until the 20th century) started in Prague when Protestant Bohemians threw a couple of Habsburg diplomats out the window! This ignited the Thirty Years War which initially pitted Roman Catholic Habsburgs against Bohemian Protestants. Soon most of the powers of Europe were fighting. By the time the war ended in 1648, the German states were devastated by fighting.
That's it for now. Next time, I'll back up a bit and talk about the Jews of Prague. Take care.
Rabbi
