Exploring a European Country Research Activity

1. To what extent was this country ruled by others? Use evidence to support your answer.
On January 1 1993 Czechoslovakia split into two nations, Czech Republic and Slovakia.
January 1st is the day Czech Republic became the nation it is today, people in Czech Republic
celebrate October 28 1918 as their independence day.
2. Which 20th century events had the greatest influence on this country? Choose two events
and explain their impact.
World War 2- During the rise of Natzi Germany, Adolf Hitlers aggressive policies helped in the
demise of the Czechoslovak federation. They also entered world war 2 as an ally to Germany
with many people being sent to concentration camps.
Communist takeover- In February of 1948 the Communists provoked a political crisis and
overtook over the government in Prague. Later on the Communist Party became the only
effective party in Czechoslovakia. Around 40 years after the political crisis, 1989 revolts against
the Communist governments swept through many eastern European countries. Many Slovaks
joined with Czechs in mass protests against the Communist government and within a month
later, the government resigned and non-Communists took control of the country.
3. Identify the following:
Topic

Details

Well known cities, regions, or

landforms

Prague- Capital

Relative size (size in relationship

to another place)

Slightly smaller than South Carolina

Description of natural
environment

Hills
Cobblestone streets
Lots of trees
Sunny in the summer

Population size

10,627,448 as of July 2014

Degree of diversity
(1=homogenous; 10=very
diverse) with explanation

Czech 64.3%
Moravian 5%
Slovak 1.4%
other 1.8%
unspecified 27.5%
They are diverse in Czech Republic and on a scale of 110 it would be around a 6. Many people there are of the
czech ethnicity but other people are of other ethnicities.

Languages/Alphabets

Czech 95.4%
Slovak 1.6%
other 3%

4. How does folklore influence the peoples worldview or actions? Explain your answer
using specific details.
Every year in the Czech Republic there is a major folklore festival held in Strznice, located in
eastern Moravia. During the communist era, the government encouraged the country's folkloric

traditions but used them as an instrument of control within a larger framework of political
activities. Some artists, however, managed to express themselves and folklore in forms such as
folk songs and fairy tales.
5. What religion(s) is practiced in this country, and how does it impact the people?
Roman Catholic 10.4%, Protestant (includes Czech Brethren and Hussite) 1.1%, other and
unspecified 54%, none 34.5%. Many of the people in the country are Roman Catholic and they
celebrate Roman Catholic Holidays.
6. Are rites of passage in this country similar to or different from rites of passage in the U.S.?
Explain your answer using specific pieces of evidence.
When it comes to rites of passage in the Czech Republic, most Czechs observe major life
events, such as births, weddings, and deaths. When celebrating these rites of passage they are
normally within either the Catholic or Protestant religious traditions. They are the same as they
would be in the United States for people in the catholic religion and celebrating the birth of a
new baby or the marriage of a couple.
7. What tips on interpersonal behavior might you give to an American who is about to travel
to this country? Provide at least three.
1. Do not show your money out in public, people in the Czech Republic will
pickpocket and try to steal money from you.
2. Dress modestly when walking around cities that have importance to the history of
the Czech Republic, some people are sensitive when talking about the past in Czech
Republic.
3. Be patient when waiting at places, some people in the Czech Republic will get
mad for being in line for a restaurant when there was no line. Always wait and stand firm
when waiting.
8. Is the standard of living in this country better, worse, or about the same as that of the
U.S.? Justify your answer with at least three pieces of evidence.
The standard of living in the Czech Republic is worse than the United States. A lot of everyday
items we use such as milk, transportation and internet are a lot cheaper in the Czech Republic
then in the United States. If someone was to rent in Philadelphia and in Prague, the capital of
the Czech Republic, they would need $2,237.03 in Prague to maintain the same standard of
living in Philadelphia with $4,800. Lastly, the standard of living is worse because people in the
Czech Republic are not in school as long as people are in the United States. With schooling
ending for people in the Czech Republic at 16 or 17 and 18 to graduate high school with most of
the population going onto college or a university, the United States has more jobs available for
people to make more money then someone could make in the Czech Republic.
9. Is family important in this country? Why or why not? Use specific details in your
response.
Family is important in the Czech Republic. Many families have no more than two children if they
live in the city, while families who live in more rural areas tend to be larger. Family is so
important because many families share a car or a country house and they have strong family
ties.
10. Does this country have distinctive traditional clothing? Explain your answer citing specific
details.

The clothing people wear in the Czech Republic are modern and western-style. Today, people in
the Czech Republic wear traditional folk costumes for special occasions. The clothing material is
light and made of either cotton or another simple material.
11. How has globalization impacted food and diet in this country? Explain your answer using
specific facts.
Globalization has impacted food and diet in the country because some of the foods from Czech
Republic have become popular in America. For example, a crepe has become very popular in
America, but is an extremely popular dessert in the Czech Republic.
12. How might your educational experience in this country differ from the schooling you
receive in the U.S.?
The average age for people in the Czech Republic to go to school is 17 years old for females
and 16 years old for males. The country also has a 99% literacy rate for both males and
females, so my schooling in the Czech Republic would be completed this year compared to the
United States where I will be in school until I am 18.
13. What cultural influences or accomplishments is this country best known for? List and
describe at least three.
1. Folk Music
Folk music is very popular in the Czech Republic and everyone plays music. They have a folk
festival every year that is one of the biggest festivals in the country.
2. Food
The Czech Republic is known for the foods they have and that they love to have people who
travel to Czech Republic try the foods. They are proud of the different foods they have and
make it very well.
3. Art
Art is well known in the Czech Republic. The Czech Republic is known worldwide for their
outstanding art glass and crystal. Each piece is individually made, mouth blown and decorated.
Art glass collectors value glass made by master Czech glass blowers in the Bohemian region of
the Czech Republic.
14. Summarize the overall economy of this country in 2-3 sentences.
The economy in Czech Republic is stable and they have a large auto industry in the country.
9.8% of the population in Czech Republic is below the poverty line, with 5.304 million people in
the workforce.
15. How do people of this country spend their leisure time? List at least five activities. Would
you want to live there?
1. Travel
2. Movies
3. Concerts
4. Dancing
5. Television
I would want to live in the Czech Republic. They spend their leisure time outside and like to
travel to the families country homes. They like to spend time outside and living in the country of
Czech Republic it is a country where people love to be outdoor and walking around.
16. List (in order of significance) what you feel are the three biggest problems that this country
needs to resolve.
1. Political System

2. Air Pollution
3. Increase in energy prices
17. Are all people treated equally in this country? Why or why not? Explain your answer using
specific evidence.
People are treated equally in the Czech Republic. Everyone has the ability to hold whatever job
they desire and live wherever they desire. In the Czech Republic family is very important and
everyone can have their own family, whenever they choose to have a family.