|
|
Article: Czechoslovakia
- Article from:
- The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition
CopyrightThe Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. Copyright 2008 Columbia University Press. (Hide copyright information)
|
Czechoslovakia , Czech
Československo
, former federal republic, 49,370 sq mi (127,869 sq km), in central Europe. On Jan. 1, 1993, the
Czech Republic
and the Slovak Republic (see
Slovakia
) became independent states and Czechoslovakia ceased to exist. (For history prior to 1918 as well as geographic and economic information, see
Bohemia
;
Czech Republic
;
Moravia
;
Slovakia
.)
History
The Emergence of Czechoslovakia
The creation of Czechoslovakia was the culmination of the long struggle of the Czechs against their Austrian rulers. It was largely accomplished by the nation's first and second presidents, T. G.
Masaryk
and Eduard
Beneš
. The union of the Czech ...