Undergraduate Program in Central European Studies CERGE-EI and the School of Humanities at Charles University

Address: Politických vězňů 7, 110 00 Praha 1 Tel. : +420 224 005 201, +420 224 005 133, Fax : +420 224 005 225 E-mail: [email protected]

Web: http://www.cerge-ei.cz/abroad

PRAGUE AS A LIVING HISTORY

section 1 – Tuesday 14.00-17.00 (O. Skripnik, P. Soukup) section 2 – Wednesday 14.00-17.00 (O. Skripnik) section 3 – Wednesday 14.00-17.00 (P. Soukup) Lecturers: Mgr. Ondřej Skripnik Pavel Soukup, Ph.D. E-mail: [email protected] [email protected]

OUTLINE OF THE COURSE: This course, consisting mostly of excursions, will introduce students to the history of the Czech Republic and of its capital Prague while also showing the development of its urban structure and main social functions. On this single - and beautiful - example students should gain a deeper understanding of the particularities and intricacies of urban life as it evolved through the centuries.

After an introductory lecture in the classroom, most of the time shall be spent walking through the town, visiting historical sites, churches, museums and galleries, as well as places of actual interest. Students should gain a certain ability to look at historical buildings and art objects, to discern their style, age and provenience as well as to connect them with the historical and contemporary social functions. Other excursions will be devoted to interesting places, showing recent and contemporary life-style of Prague inhabitants, including social periphery.

GRADING POLICY:

Short class presentation 30%; Final test 30%; Brief essay, related to the required reading 40%

REQUIRED READING:

Josef V. POLIŠENSKÝ: History of Czechoslovakia in Outline, Praha: Bohemia Int., 1991, 144 p. Petr ČORNEJ – Jiří POKORNÝ: A brief history of the Czech lands to 2000, Praha : Práh, 2000, 94 p.

Further readings will be given in the class.

WEEK: TOPICS: 1 How Statues Speak: Charles Bridge and the Lesser Town 2 The Medieval Town of Prague: Prosperity and revolution 3 Prague as Heavenly Jerusalem: The New Town of Charles IV 4 The City Made of Paper: Municipal Museum and Langweil’s Model of Prague 5 Expanding the City: Vinohrady and Žižkov a hundred years ago 6 Modern Architecture: from “Art Nouveau” to the Dancing House 7 Prefab Housing: Prague’s suburbs in the era of “Real Socialism” 8 Baroque Devotion in the Landscape: Petřín Hill and Strahov Monastery 9 The Castle: Power and defense, security and luxury 10 Escape from the City: The nature in the Prokop Valley 11 Vyšehrad Castle: Legends and memory 12 Final Test, Evaluation, Closing Discussion