History of Slovakia
from 12. 2. 2016
From the earliest periods of human presence in Slovak territory, we have no written records. The only evidence of their lives comes from archaeological and anthropological findings. These demonstrate that the first humans settled here as early as half a million years ago. Their material culture reflects social development and technological advancements, as well as the influence of civilizational and cultural stimuli from surrounding areas, particularly the Mediterranean. It reflects not only the birth and development of cultures but also their decline and layering by new developments.
Over time, the population of our territory gradually adopted the processing of organic materials, stone, clay, bronze, iron, and other raw materials, in line with developments in the surrounding world. The periods are named according to the dominant material from a craft perspective (Stone Age, Bronze Age, Iron Age). Over time, technologies improved, and the artistic aspect of artifacts also changed. This complex, uninterrupted development is chronologically documented in the exhibition through hundreds of exhibits exclusively from Slovak territory. These not only testify to the technological and craft level of their creators but also to the gradual social development. Many of them represent true artistic and craft masterpieces that continue to inspire contemporary artists. There are also objects that are part of the pan-European cultural and historical heritage. The exhibition captures the development of Slovak territory from the Paleolithic to the turn of the 9th and 10th centuries, that is, after the decline of Great Moravia and the beginnings of the formation of the Hungarian state.
Part of the medieval period covers the time from the establishment of the Kingdom of Hungary to the Battle of Mohács, defined by the years 1000 to 1526. The exhibition maps the medieval political history, art, and culture. It discusses the emergence of towns, the construction of castles, warfare, and the spiritual life of medieval people. Among the exhibited items, a notable double-edged sword from the 10th century, a late Gothic altar from Palúdzka dating around 1520, a reconstruction of a tiled stove, and a collection of richly decorated medieval tiles as well as a collection of coins from Hungarian kings from Stephen I to Louis II stand out.
The exhibition "History of Slovakia" currently provides a comprehensive overview of historical development and life in our territory from the earliest times of the Stone Age to the medieval period.
