CZECH NATIONAL REVIVAL

'Czech National Revival' was a cultural movement, which took part in the Czech lands during the 18th and 19th century. The purpose of this movement was to revive Czech language, culture and national identity. The most prominent figures of the revival movement were Josef Dobrovský and Josef Jungmann.

Contents

Background

Milestones

Results

Background

Following the Battle of White Mountain in 1620, Czech lands suffered from Germanisation politics of the Hapsburg Emperors. The Czech language was more or less eradicated from state administration, literature, schools, Prague University and among the upper classes. Books written in Czech were burned and any publication in Czech was considered to be heresy by the Jesuits. The Czech language was reduced to a means of communication between peasants, who were often illiterate. Therefore, the Revival looked for inspiration among ordinary Czechs in the countryside.

Milestones

Josef Dobrovský published his Czech grammar book in 1809. Josef Jungmann published the five-volume Czech-German dictionary in 1834-1839. It was a major lexicographical work, which had a great formative influence on the Czech language. Jungmann used vocabulary of the Bible of Kralice (1579-1613) period and of the language used by his contemporaries. He borrowed words not present in Czech from other Slavic languages or created neologisms. He also inspired development of Czech scientific terminology, thus, making it possible for original Czech research to develop.
With the renaissance of language, Czech culture flourished. Czech institutions were established to celebrate the Czech history and culture. The National Theatre opened in 1883 and the National Museum in 1890.

Results

As a result, the Czech language has been restored as an official language in the Czech lands and is now used by the majority of Czechs, and serves as an official language in the Czech Republic and the European Union.