Czechoslovakia

Czechoslovakia (pronunciation: /ˌtʃɛkoʊsloʊˈvækiə, -kə-, -slə-, -ˈvɑː-/), was a sovereign state in Central Europe that existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until its peaceful dissolution into the Czech Republic and Slovakia on 1 January 1993.

Etymology

The name "Czechoslovakia" is a compound of "Czech" and "Slovakia", reflecting the decision to create a single state encompassing the historic Czech lands and Slovakia. The name is derived from the Slavic tribes, the Czechs and Slovaks, who inhabited the region.

Related Terms

Czech Republic: A landlocked country in Central Europe. It was part of Czechoslovakia until 1993.
Slovakia: A landlocked country in Central Europe. It was part of Czechoslovakia until 1993.
Velvet Revolution: A non-violent transition of power in what was then Czechoslovakia, occurring from 17 November to 29 December 1989.
Velvet Divorce: The peaceful dissolution of Czechoslovakia that occurred on 1 January 1993.
Prague Spring: A period of political liberalization and mass protest in Czechoslovakia as a Communist state after World War II.
Warsaw Pact: A collective defense treaty among eight communist states of Central and Eastern Europe in existence during the Cold War, of which Czechoslovakia was a member.