The History of the Czech Republic and Slovakia

This survey of Czech and Slovak history traces the development of two neighboring peoples through the creation of a common Czechoslovakian state in 1918 to the founding of the independent Czech and Slovak Republics in 1993 and beyond.

The Czechs and Slovaks of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire merged to form Czechoslovakia following the First World War and came under Soviet influence after World War II. With the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1989, Czechoslovakia regained its freedom and, on January 1, 1993, split to form the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Both nations have rich histories—yet, are still making their way as relatively new nations.