Prague

PRAGUE (prig; Czech prah'ha; Ger. prahg), capital of Bo hemia and Czechoslovakia, situated on both banks of a large meander of the Vltava. There is ample evidence that the site has been continuously inhabited since Palaeolithic times but its fixed population dates from the Neolithic period, when the advantages of a more open plant association in the valley slopes were exploited by an agricultural people. A fertile soil, mild cli mate, the shelter of surrounding heights and terraced valley slopes contributed to establish a strong and flourishing settlement which avoided the floor of the valley, subject to inundations.

History.--The

early history of the town is obscure and leg endary but the site was doubtless selected by Slav chieftains as a convenient central position from which to govern their domin ions. Historical records after the loth century indicate a large settlement protected by two castles, one on a hill of the right bank—the Vykhrad, and a later one on the HradCany hill of the opposite bank. Geographically the town has never formed a perfect route centre and its supremacy as a political centre is largely the artificial creation of the successive rulers of Bohemia, who systematically furthered its growth. German colonists, in vited to settle by King Vratislav during the iith century, founded a settlement on the right bank at a place known as Pofi.6, now forming part of the "New Town" (Prague II.), and later a second settlement, the "Old Town" (Prague I.), was built and walled in by them. About the same period the Jews had a separate settle ment first under the shadow of the Vykhrad but later between the Old Town and the river, and now known as Prague V. or Josef's Town.

In the early part of the 19th century Prague, which had be come almost a German city, felt the stirrings of a movement to revive the Czech nationality. At first purely literary and fos tered by the "Society of the Bohemian Museum," founded 1822, it gradually assumed a political character. In 1848 a Slav con gress was held in Prague. Trouble and conflict occurred between

students and soldiers of the garrison, and barricades were erected but the town surrendered after a severe bombardment. From that time on the history of Prague is the history of the rebirth of the Czechoslovak nation. Once more it was occupied by the Prussians in 1866, this time without resistance, and here the treaty of peace between Austria and Prussia was signed. This blow to Austria weakened her power in Bohemia and Czech feeling in Prague grew rapidly in face of great opposition until its triumph resulted in the establishment of the republic of Czechoslovakia in 1918, with Prague as the capital.

larger part of the modern town lies on the east or right bank of the Vltava, the houses spreading up the terraced slopes, often interrupted by parks, and overflowing into side-valleys. This is predominantly the commercial and industrial side of the town, though the "Old Town" and the adjacent parts of the "New Town" retain their ancient appearance. The former is remarkable for several features. Here is the "Ring" or market place with the fine old 14th century town hall, faced by the TSin church ( t4th–t5th centuries) memorable as the religious centre of the Hussite movement and for its tomb of Tycho Brahe, the astronomer. Leading from the town hall to the limit of the old town is the Celetna ulice, at the extremity of which is the so called powder tower, an elaborate building occupying the site of one of the old gates, at the corner of the Pfikopy, which, with its continuations, is on the site of a trench that once encircled the fortifications of the old town. These and the fortifications around the new town are now laid out as parks. The new town lacks the crooked streets and quaint relics of the old, which sur passes it in romantic beauty and interest, but has much that is worth notice, e.g., the National museum (1891) at the head of the Wenceslas place, and the 14th century Karlov church, restored in the 18th century.