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Moravia

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Moravia is a significant historical region located in the eastern part of the Czech Republic. It is one of the three primary historical lands of the country, alongside Bohemia and Czech Silesia.

MapMorav1906-0523
MapMorav1906-0523

The region is named after the Morava River, which serves as its principal watercourse. This river flows from the north to the south through the heart of the territory. Today, the area covers approximately 22,623.41 square kilometers. It is home to about 3.0 million people, which is a portion of the Czech Republic's 10.9 million inhabitants. The people living here are historically known as Moravians, a subgroup of the Czech people.

The geography of Moravia is defined by its unique position in Central Europe. The region sits between the Bohemian Massif and the Outer Western Carpathians.

Kralicky-Sneznik-03
Kralicky-Sneznik-03

Most highlands in this part of Europe run from west to east. These ranges act as a filter that makes north-south movement difficult. However, Moravia contains a wide depression known as the Outer Subcarpathia. This area provides a comfortable connection between the Danubian and Polish regions. This natural route has historically been important for the migration of large mammals.

Smrk a rameno Šance 1
Smrk a rameno Šance 1

These animals moved through the gap during seasonal migrations triggered by climate changes.

Moravia's landscape is shaped by several distinct geological features and valleys. The core geomorphology consists of three wide valleys: the Dyje-Svratka Valley, the Upper Morava Valley, and the Lower Morava Valley.

Step v říjnu
Step v říjnu

These valleys surround the lower range of the Central Moravian Carpathians. The region's river system is highly cohesive because the borders follow the Morava River watershed. This means almost the entire area is drained by a single stream. The Thaya and Bečva are the largest tributaries of the Morava. The Thaya meets the Morava at the southernmost point of the region, which is only 148 meters above sea level.

The mountains in Moravia reach significant heights along its borders. The highest peaks are located in the Hrubý Jeseník mountains on the northern border. The highest point is Praděd, which stands at 1,491 meters. Other notable massifs include the Králický Sněžník at 1,424 meters and the Moravian-Silesian Beskids.

Smrk a rameno Šance 1
Smrk a rameno Šance 1

The White Carpathians sit along the southeastern border, reaching 970 meters at Velká Javořina. In the west, the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands reach a height of 837 meters at Javořice. These mountains form natural boundaries with neighboring countries like Poland, Slovakia, and Austria.

Human history in Moravia stretches back hundreds of thousands of years. Evidence of the human genus, Homo, dates back more than 600,000 years at Stránská skála.

Vestonicka venuse edit
Vestonicka venuse edit

During the Paleolithic period, early humans settled in the region due to suitable living conditions. They used caves in the Moravian Karst for shelter, such as those used by mammoth hunters.

Punkevní jeskyně12
Punkevní jeskyně12

One of the most famous archaeological finds is the Venus of Dolní Věstonice. This is the oldest surviving ceramic figurine in the world.

Vestonicka nadrz
Vestonicka nadrz

In the Bronze Age, cultures like the Nitra culture settled here. Archaeologists have found many burial sites, including a large site with 400 graves in Holešov.

The Roman era brought new developments to the region. Around 60 BC, the Germanic Quadi succeeded the Celtic Volcae people. During the Marcomannic Wars between AD 169 and 180, Rome established frontier provinces near Moravia.

Dóm Svatého Václava, Olomouc
Dóm Svatého Václava, Olomouc

Archaeologists discovered a Roman fortress at Mušov. This site included masonry buildings like a praetorium and a bath with a hypocaustum. This heating system shows the advanced engineering used by the Romans. Research at this site was supported by President Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk in 1927.

Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk 1925
Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk 1925

In the 9th century, the powerful state of Great Moravia emerged.

Great Moravia-eng
Great Moravia-eng

Its first king was Mojmír I, who ruled starting in 830 AD. Later, King Svatopluk I led the empire to its greatest extent in the 890s. This empire included parts of the modern Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and Poland. During this time, Saints Cyril and Methodius brought important religious missions to the region. They translated liturgical books into Slavonic to help the people. The state eventually fell after being overrun by the Magyars in 907 AD.

Moravia has undergone many political changes over the centuries. It was a crown land of the Bohemian Crown from 1348 to 1918. It also functioned as an imperial state of the Holy Roman Empire for much of that time. After 1918, it became one of the five lands of Czechoslovakia. In 1928, it was merged with Czech Silesia. However, the land system was abolished in 1948 following a communist coup d'état. Today, the historical identity of Moravia remains strong through its cities and culture. Brno serves as the largest city and historical capital, while Olomouc remains a major religious and cultural center.

Dóm Svatého Václava, Olomouc
Dóm Svatého Václava, Olomouc
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CZ traffic sign IS16a - D55.svg
File:Kralicky-Sneznik-03.jpg
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File:Smrk a rameno Šance 1.jpg
Smrk a rameno Šance 1.jpg
File:Step v říjnu.jpg
Step v říjnu.jpg
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Vestonicka venuse edit.jpg
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