Exhibition of Central Europe around year 1000
Have you ever wondered how much developments in Central Europe around the year 1000 have affected Central Europe today? According to the historians, modern society was to a great extent shaped by historic events and turning points that happened a thousand years ago, and many say today's generation of Central Europeans can learn a lot from their predecessors. Dita Asiedu has more:
To prove this point and give visitors a chance to see what life was like around the year 1000, the National Museum in Prague and the Czech Academy of Sciences have organised an exhibition at the Old Royal Palace under the auspices of the Czech, German, Hungarian, Slovak and Polish Presidents. Dr Milena Bravermanova is from Prague Castle's art collections' department:
"The main idea is to introduce the history about the year 1000. At this time, the Roman Emperor, Otto III, was in power and he accepted the idea not to continue fighting but to connect Central Europe on a common idea, continuing with the antique and Christian traditions and he wanted to connect all nations on this basis. We, the Czechs, Poles, Hungarians and Slovaks, were a part of Europe. The horrible events of the second half of the twelfth century we were divided and so we want to connect the idea about the year one thousand and the contemporary ideas."
Most of the artifacts on show are important Czech, Hungarian, Polish, Slovak, and German national cultural treasures. Along with videos and detailed explanations, they all help to create an atmosphere that takes the visitor one thousand years back in time:
"We want to connect the idea about the year 1000 and the contemporary ideas. The exponents which will be introduced here are mostly the same as the ones that were introduced abroad - nearly 3000 items. These items are very unique and original manuscripts from the second half of the tenth century and first half of the eleventh century, we can mention the symbols of power, crowns, swords, and other very precious art items and we can also introduce the contemporary life with the ideas that we mainly received from the archeological circumstances."
