1. Traditional business in the Czech Republic …..up to 1989

2. An appreciation of dates Pre 1914 –Austro-Hungarian empire; Czechoslovakia created 1918 1918-1939 1939-1945 –German occupation 1945-1989 –Communist regime (Influenced by Russia) –“Prague spring” 1968 –“Velvet revolution” November 1989 Post 1989

3. Traditional industries (1) “Heavy industry” Engineering Skoda Tesla Mining “Black” coal “Soft” coal

8. “Open-cast” coal mining at Doly Bilina

9. Traditional industries (1) “Heavy industry” Engineering Skoda Tesla Mining “Black” coal “Soft” coal Clay Graphite (Portuguese: “argila”) Silver  Uranium

11. Traditional industries (2) Specialised –ShoesShoes –Glassware and Porcelain Cut glass (glass with a decorative pattern cut into the surface ) Glass crystal (transparent glass of very high quality, usually with its surface cut into delicate patterns )

12. 14 th century glassmaking

13. 18 th century glassmaking areas

17. Traditional industries (2) Specialised –ShoesShoes –Glassware Cut glass (glass with a decorative pattern cut into the surface ) Glass crystal (transparent glass of very high quality, usually with its surface cut into delicate patterns ) –Contact lenses

18. Prof. Otto Wichterle Inventor of the “soft” contact lens

19. On this home-built apparatus, Prof. Wichterle produced his first “soft” contact lens in his kitchen in 1961

20. Traditional industries (2) Specialised –ShoesShoes –Glassware Cut glass (glass with a decorative pattern cut into the surface ) Glass crystal (transparent glass of very high quality, usually with its surface cut into delicate patterns ) –Contact lenses –Films

21. A selection of traditional Czech films

22. Traditional industries (2) Specialised –ShoesShoes –Glassware Cut glass (glass with a decorative pattern cut into the surface ) Glass crystal (transparent glass of very high quality, usually with its surface cut into delicate patterns ) –Contact lenses –Films –Chemical –Medical –Musical instruments etc, etc, etc………

23. Traditional industries (3) Other –BrewingBrewing …….also, wines and spirits –Agribusiness Livestock  milk/cheese/meat Timber Fruit/vegetables etc, etc, etc………

27. Thank you! You can find this presentation at http://www.richardinprague.eu