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The course focuses on symbolic figures in Czech history (e.g., St. Wenceslaus, Jan Žižka, Jan Hus, and many others) and on the changing interpretations of their roles over time. Attention will be paid to the interaction between ideology and history, historical narratives and myths, and collective memory and historical consciousness.
The aim of the course is to familiarize students with significant milestones and symbolic figures in Czech history, while also demonstrating the ambiguity and variability of their interpretations in different political and historical contexts.
Poslední úprava: Marková Alena, Mgr., Ph.D. (04.01.2026)
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The aim of the course is to familiarize students with significant milestones and symbolic figures in Czech history, while also demonstrating the ambiguity of their interpretation in different political and historical contexts. Thus, the primary goal of the course is to develop and promote students’ critical thinking skills. Poslední úprava: Marková Alena, Mgr., Ph.D. (04.01.2026)
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Course completion requirements: Students are expected to actively participate in class discussions and to attend classes regularly. Only two unexplained absences are permitted. Terms of passing the course: Submission of a final essay or delivery of a presentation Final essay: The final essay (2,200–2,300 words, including a List of References) must be on a pre-agreed topic and include accurate citations for all sources, including e-sources. The essay must contain a bibliography (or List of References) with a minimum of five sources. Anonymous e-sources, such as Wikipedia, are allowed but not encouraged due to their general nature and lack of identifiable authorship. Clear, precise, and comprehensive citation is essential. The essay must have a well-defined structure, including an introduction, a statement of objectives and/or research questions, critical analysis, a conclusion, and a bibliography. Please submit your essay in an editable format (Word). PDF submissions are not acceptable, as the document must allow for comments and editing. Deadline: June 21, 2026 Proposed Essay Topics (Students Choose One): 1. National identity and Identity Formation. What is (your) national identity? Can it be consciously “created”? What are the main components of national identity? Do we need a national identity in a globalized world? Is there, today, a “pan-European” identity – and is it possible or even necessary? Does a united Europe have a future? What role does national history play in shaping national identity? Which significant events from your own national history contribute to your sense of identity? Does (your) national history include the notion of a “national enemy” (for example, the traditional German “villain” in Czech historiography)? Is the concept of such an enemy necessary to strengthen national identity? OR: 2. National History and its Role during the Process of Nation- and State-formation. What role does national history and its conceptualization play in the processes of modern state-building and nation-formation (i.e., in the 19th and 20th centuries)? Why have historians often been at the forefront of national movements? What types of arguments and forms of reasoning did they provide to support national movements, defend statehood, or advance national demands? Does this role persist in the 21st century? Consider examples from post-Soviet statehood and nationalism. Provide historical illustrations of such argumentation, for example: - 19th century: František Palacký and Charles IV. - early 20th century: T. G. Masaryk and the Hussite movement or other examples (use your national history) Can a national movement succeed without a well-developed concept of national history or history-based claims to statehood? What is the concept of your own national history? Is a national history still necessary today in a globalized world? OR: 3. National Myths, National Heroes, National Memory, and National History Use the following questions to guide your essay: Who are the national heroes or symbolic figures in your national history? Which is your favorite national hero or national myth? What role do these heroes or myths play in shaping national history, identity, consciousness, and collective memory? Has the interpretation of these figures or myths changed over time? Can you provide an example of a national myth? Should all myths be critically deconstructed? Can you identify examples of the interrelation between historical policy, historical interpretation, ideology, or propaganda? What role does national history play in forming national identity? Which significant events from your national history contribute to your sense of national identity? Does your national history include a “national enemy” (e.g., the traditional German “villain” in Czech historiography)? Is such an enemy necessary for strengthening national identity? Students are encouraged to reflect critically on these questions and integrate examples from both historical sources and scholarly interpretations. Guidelines regarding use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools: This course permits students to use AI tools (chatGPT and others) as long as students do so in an ethical and responsible manner. In other words, you can think of these tools as ways to help you learn but not to entirely create work for assignments (i.e., essays and presentation slides). AI is not a replacement for your independent thinking. The final essay is a defence of your views rather than a simple presentation of content knowledge. How to deal with AI: - do not use AI tools to replace your own thinking or analysis or to avoid engaging with the course content. - be transparent and honest about how you used the AI tool and how it contributed to your assignment. Explain what you learned from the AI tool, how you verified its accuracy and reliability, how you integrated its output with your own work, and how you acknowledged its limitations and biases. Quoting or reproducing the text created by AI in your paper: Any use of AI tools must be properly cited or explained. If you use ChatGPT or other AI tools in your research, you should describe how the tool was used in the Method (or Methodology) section or in the Introduction. Your statement should explain both why and how the AI was used. The total amount of text generated by AI must not exceed 15% of the essay. You should: - cite a generative AI tool whenever you paraphrase, quote, or incorporate into your own work any content (text, image, data, or other) that was created by it. - acknowledge all functional uses of the tool (for example, editing or translating words) in a note, your text, or another suitable location. - provide the name of the AI tool, the date of access, and the URL of the interface. - in your text, provide the prompt you used and then any portion of the relevant text that was generated in response. Please use Chicago citation format: https://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/qanda/data/faq/topics/Documentation/faq0422.html ) Using AI tools in an unethical or irresponsible manner, such as copying or paraphrasing the output without citation or transparency, using the output as your own work without verification or integration, or using the output to misrepresent your knowledge or skills, is considered a form of academic dishonesty and will result in a zero grade for the assignment. Presentation Students may prepare and deliver a PowerPoint presentation (approximately 25 minutes) on a pre-agreed topic during the semester instead of submitting a final essay. Please note that the number of presentation slots is limited!! Evaluation Method: Grades will be based on the following components: - attendance: 20% - active participation in discussions: 20% - final essay or presentation: 60% Poslední úprava: Marková Alena, Mgr., Ph.D. (09.05.2026)
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Structure and teaching methods: lectures, discussions, presentations Poslední úprava: Marková Alena, Mgr., Ph.D. (04.01.2026)
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Course Syllabus 1. Introduction: goals of historical research, approaches to studied topics, key questions. 2. Methodology: objectivity in history and historiography and source criticism. How not to be misled by propaganda. 3. Historical consciousness and collective memory: formation, sources, and theoretical approaches to their study (models by Talcott Parsons, Jiří Šubrt, and Miroslav Hroch). 4-5. Symbolic centres and symbolic figures: theoretical definitions. Charles IV as the Father of the Country and the Golden Age of the Bohemian Crown. 6. Patron saints of the Czech Crown. Good King Wenceslaus and the formation of his legend. 7. Ideology and historical myths: introduction. 8. Jan Hus, the Hussites, and the Hussite revolution: transformations of their interpretation throughout the history. 9. Jan Hus and Jan Nepomuk: two saints, two contrasting narratives. 10. Josef Toufar and the Číhošť Miracle. 11-12. Final discussion. Student presentations Poslední úprava: Marková Alena, Mgr., Ph.D. (25.04.2026)
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