| Prague is one of important European towns as a traditional metropolis connected with magical importance. Its importance is strongly influenced by the location of the Prague Basin, where the long-distance and trade paths crossed each other since times long gone.
The oldest reports of human presence in the area of Prague come from the oldest Palaeozoic times. The denser and more consistent settlement of the basin began during the early Stone Age. Since then the area has been continually inhabited to the day. During the period of great migration, the first Slavic inhabitants came.
During the 9th century an important stronghold is built here as the cultural and princely centre of the Premyslid state at the Prague Castle. At the beginning of the 10th century probably the stronghold on Vysehrad was built.
The Jewish community appeared during the same period. According to Ibrahim ibn Yaqub, Prague was a city made of bricks (concerning probably the Castle buildings), with the largest market in Slavic countries. The wide spread agglomeration with churches and trade villages continually grew in the Prague Basin between the Castle and Vysehrad.
An important structural change took place in the mid-12th century: the big market was moved from the former unknown location to Rynek (today's Old Town Square), and next to it the Tyn Court - Ungelt was founded. Both banks of the Vltava River were connected by the Judith Bridge made of stone (in place of the former wooden bridge). The Judith Bridge was the biggest bridge in its times in Central Europe.
The Romanic Prague was one of the biggest town-type agglomerations in Central Europe, mainly because of a high number of stone buildings, churches and production settlements. During 1230s another reconstruction took place. Havel's Town was founded and the core of the settlements was surrounded by stone fortification (barrier with towers and stoned moat). This created the Prague Town (later Greater Prague Town , the Old Town today) and also the oldest convent of Sisters of St. Clare was founded north of the Alps - Convent of St. Agnes. As early as in the mid-13th century the Old-New Synagogue was founded. In 1257, Premysl Otakar II. founded the Lesser Town. At the beginning of the 14th century Hradcany were founded as a Prague burgrave town. In 1344, the episcopate was promoted to archiepiscopate and the construction of the new Gothic cathedral started.
Charles IV is responsible for another urban renovation, affecting Prague to the day. The New Prague Town was founded on the great area between Porici and Vysehrad and closed the Old Town. Charles's goal was to gradually connect both towns. He decided to build the Charles Bridge and founded Charles University in 1348. Prague became not only the capital of the Czech Kingdom, but also the capital of the whole empire and, as a matter of fact, of Europe as well.
During the reign of Wenceslas IV Prague was the centre of the Czech Reformist Movement. The acute religious disputes lead to the fight for Prague, which started the Hussite revolution. Prague was the goal of the first crusade against Hussites. The armies of Zikmund of Luxembourg were defeated on 14th July 1420 during the Battle of Vitkov and on 1st November 1420 near Vysehrad. Last works on the Tyn Church date to the Hussite period.
During the 16th century Prague became the Habsburg royal seat and again became a lively international centre. As a part of the centralized Austrian Monarchy the importance of Prague decreased in favour of Vienna. However, the breathtaking reconstruction of the Castle took place. The palaces (Wallenstein, Kinsky, Czernin, Lobkowitz, Clam-Gallas, Tuscany) were reconstructed as well as the majority of the town. Charles Bridge decorations date back to this period and helped Prague represent its role of a head of the rich kingdom and also represented ambitions of the local nobility.
The reforms during the reign of Mary Theresa moved Prague to the second place considering public administration institutions once for all. Still, the social life was very important. Mozart opera openings took place here, cafes and nobility saloons opened. In 1784 the Prague towns were finally connected to one administration unit and other suburbs were gradually added as well (Karlin). Since 1830s another fundamental change affects Prague.
It becomes the centre of national life, and new national scientific (The National Museum) and artistic institutions. As early as 1707 the technical apprenticeship was founded, being the oldest in Central Europe. The industry and trade developed as well. Since 1860s, Prague was at the head of the free Czech political life. It strongly influenced the developed style of the national programme. Between 1868 and 1883 the National Theatre was build from the money received in the national collection.
Fast development of the Czech capital followed (Zivnobanka) as well as development of culture. Newspapers were issued, publishing companies appeared. Since 1890s the sanitation of historical quarters took place and new modern tenement houses were being built. Beginning with the year 1918, Prague is the capital of the country (CSR, Protectorate, CSSR, CSFR, Czech Republic).
Inner segmentation
According to "Act no. 131/2000 of the Collection of Laws from April 13th, 2000 about the capital city of Prague", Prague is the capital of the Czech Republic, in the meaning of both the settlement and the region. In the shift of competence the area of the capital is the borough. The capital Prague is divided into town districts, whose status and competences are stated by the quoted act, special law and Status, approved by the Prague's Municipal Council.
Based on the status of Prague as the capital, approved by the Municipal Council decision No. 25/18, 21st December 2000, Prague is divided to 57 town districts, administered by town district councils, their boards and town district authorities. At the same time, this status transferred some competences to the 22 districts, which are responsible as boroughs for the transferred responsibilities of the remaining town districts.
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