Eduard Štorch
Encyclopedia
Eduard Štorch was a Czech
pedagogue, archaeologist and writer, known for novels set in prehistoric Bohemia
during Stone
and Bronze Age
.
Štorch was born in Ostroměř
, a village near town Hořice
. He studied at the gymnasium
and the pedagogic institute in Hradec Králové
. Štorch worked as a teacher in several location in northern and eastern Bohemia
and since 1903 in Prague, during 1919 - 1921 as a school inspector in Bratislava
and then, until his retirement in 1938, again as a teacher in Prague.
Among Štorch's activities were archeology, ethnography
, biology
, journalism and reform of education system. In 1935, together with Karel Čondl, Štorch wrote a three volumes textbook of history for secondary schools. The textbook was attacked by catholic church
because it documented attempts of the church to obtain political power throughout the history.
Štorch published several scholar works, many novels for the youth and countless number of articles in journals and newspapers. The novels were based on and limited by scientific knowledge of the time. His most famous novel is "Mammoth
Hunters" (1918, Lovci mamutů) set 30,000 - 20,000 years ago among people of Gravettian culture
. Several of the books were illustrated by Zdeněk Burian
. Three novels were filmed: Osada havranů (1977, international title: Settlement of Crows), Na veliké řece (1977), Volání rodu (1978), all directed by Jan Schmidt.
Czech people
Czechs, or Czech people are a western Slavic people of Central Europe, living predominantly in the Czech Republic. Small populations of Czechs also live in Slovakia, Austria, the United States, the United Kingdom, Chile, Argentina, Canada, Germany, Russia and other countries...
pedagogue, archaeologist and writer, known for novels set in prehistoric Bohemia
Bohemia
Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague...
during Stone
Stone Age
The Stone Age is a broad prehistoric period, lasting about 2.5 million years , during which humans and their predecessor species in the genus Homo, as well as the earlier partly contemporary genera Australopithecus and Paranthropus, widely used exclusively stone as their hard material in the...
and Bronze Age
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
.
Štorch was born in Ostroměř
Ostromer
Ostroměř is a village in the Czech Republic.-External links:*...
, a village near town Hořice
Horice (Jicín District)
Hořice is a town in the Hradec Králové Region of the Czech Republic. It has around 9,000 inhabitants.Villages Březovice, Doubrava, Chlum, Chvalina, Libonice and Svatogothardská Lhota are administrative parts of Hořice.- People :...
. He studied at the gymnasium
Gymnasium (school)
A gymnasium is a type of school providing secondary education in some parts of Europe, comparable to English grammar schools or sixth form colleges and U.S. college preparatory high schools. The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, meaning a locality for both physical and intellectual...
and the pedagogic institute in Hradec Králové
Hradec Králové
Hradec Králové is a city of the Czech Republic, in the Hradec Králové Region of Bohemia. The city's economy is based on food-processing technology, photochemical, and electronics manufacture. Traditional industries include musical instrument manufacturing – the best known being PETROF pianos...
. Štorch worked as a teacher in several location in northern and eastern Bohemia
Bohemia
Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague...
and since 1903 in Prague, during 1919 - 1921 as a school inspector in Bratislava
Bratislava
Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and, with a population of about 431,000, also the country's largest city. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two independent countries.Bratislava...
and then, until his retirement in 1938, again as a teacher in Prague.
Among Štorch's activities were archeology, ethnography
Ethnography
Ethnography is a qualitative method aimed to learn and understand cultural phenomena which reflect the knowledge and system of meanings guiding the life of a cultural group...
, biology
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
, journalism and reform of education system. In 1935, together with Karel Čondl, Štorch wrote a three volumes textbook of history for secondary schools. The textbook was attacked by catholic church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
because it documented attempts of the church to obtain political power throughout the history.
Štorch published several scholar works, many novels for the youth and countless number of articles in journals and newspapers. The novels were based on and limited by scientific knowledge of the time. His most famous novel is "Mammoth
Mammoth
A mammoth is any species of the extinct genus Mammuthus. These proboscideans are members of Elephantidae, the family of elephants and mammoths, and close relatives of modern elephants. They were often equipped with long curved tusks and, in northern species, a covering of long hair...
Hunters" (1918, Lovci mamutů) set 30,000 - 20,000 years ago among people of Gravettian culture
Gravettian
thumb|right|Burins to the Gravettian culture.The Gravettian toolmaking culture was a specific archaeological industry of the European Upper Palaeolithic era prevalent before the last glacial epoch. It is named after the type site of La Gravette in the Dordogne region of France where its...
. Several of the books were illustrated by Zdeněk Burian
Zdenek Burian
Zdeněk Michael František Burian was a Czech painter and book illustrator whose work played a central role in the development of palaeontological reconstructions during a remarkable career spanning five decades...
. Three novels were filmed: Osada havranů (1977, international title: Settlement of Crows), Na veliké řece (1977), Volání rodu (1978), all directed by Jan Schmidt.
Scholar works
- Člověk diluviální (Diluvial man, 1907), targeted to the youth,
- Vznik vlastnictví (Birth of proprietorship, 1907),
- Počátky života pozemského (Beginnings of life on Earth, 1908),
- První lidé v Čechách (First people in Bohemia, 1909),
- Původ náboženství (Origin of religion, 1909),
- Praha v době kamenné (Prague during Stone Age, 1910),
- Vývoj tvorstva a vznik člověka (Development of life and origin of the humankind, 1912),
- Život v pravěku (Prehistoric life, 1912),
- Praha v pravěku (Prehistoric Prague, 1916),
- Praha v době prehistorické (Prague in prehistoric times, 1921).
Novels
- Čarodějův učedník (Sorcerer's Apprentice, 1910), set in Bronze Age,
- Bohatýr Vratislav (Vratislav, The Hero, 1917), heroic stories from ancient times,
- Lovci mamutů (Mammoth Hunters, 1918), depicts life of PaleolithicPaleolithicThe Paleolithic Age, Era or Period, is a prehistoric period of human history distinguished by the development of the most primitive stone tools discovered , and covers roughly 99% of human technological prehistory...
hunters. This is the most popular work by Eduard Štorch, - Libuše a Přemysl (LibušeLibušeLibuše, Libussa or, historically Lubossa, is a legendary ancestor of the Přemyslid dynasty and the Czech people as whole. Libuše was the wisest of the three sisters and prophesied the foundation of Prague from her castle Libušín...
(Libussa) and PřemyslPremyslPřemysl is a Czech Slavic name that can refer to:* Přemysl, the Ploughman – mythical founder of the Bohemian royal dynasty of Přemyslids* Přemysl I Otakar – king of Bohemia * Přemysl II Otakar – king of Bohemia...
, 1919), from Czech mythology, - V šeru dávných věků (From the Dark of Ancient Times, 1920), four stories set in Bronze Age,
- Osada havranů (Settlement of Ravens, 1930), story about settled Paleolithic group located on Kunratický brook (Kunratický potok) near Prague,
- Bronzový poklad (The Bronze Treasure, 1931), inspired by discovery of bronzeBronzeBronze is a metal alloy consisting primarily of copper, usually with tin as the main additive. It is hard and brittle, and it was particularly significant in antiquity, so much so that the Bronze Age was named after the metal...
needles near SedlčanySedlcanySedlčany is a town in the Central Bohemian Region, Czech Republic.Sedlčany is famous for its cheese Hermelín, which is more commonly known as Brie, or Camembert. -External links:*...
, - U veliké řeky (At the Great River, 1932), life in Prague basin 5,000 years ago, the river is VltavaVltavaThe Vltava is the longest river in the Czech Republic, running north from its source in Šumava through Český Krumlov, České Budějovice, and Prague, merging with the Elbe at Mělník...
, - Zlomený meč (Broken Sword, 1932), about the war between MarcomanniMarcomanniThe Marcomanni were a Germanic tribe, probably related to the Buri, Suebi or Suevi.-Origin:Scholars believe their name derives possibly from Proto-Germanic forms of "march" and "men"....
tribes led by king MarbodMarbodMaroboduus , was king of the Marcomanni. The name "Maroboduus" can be broken down into two Celtic elements, māro- meaning "great" , and bodwos meaning "raven"...
(Marobud) and the Roman EmpireRoman EmpireThe Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
. - Junáckou stezkou (On Trail of Heroes, 1934), an Iron AgeIron AgeThe Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
story, - Hrdina Nik (Hero Nik, 1934), romance story from the time of SamoSamoSamo was a Frankish merchant from the "Senonian country" , probably modern Soignies, Belgium or Sens, France. He was the first ruler of the Slavs whose name is known, and established one of the earliest Slav states, a supra-tribal union usually called Samo's empire, realm, kingdom, or tribal...
's Realm, during incursion of AvarsEurasian AvarsThe Eurasian Avars or Ancient Avars were a highly organized nomadic confederacy of mixed origins. They were ruled by a khagan, who was surrounded by a tight-knit entourage of nomad warriors, an organization characteristic of Turko-Mongol groups...
, finalling with Battle of WogastisburgBattle of WogastisburgAccording to the contemporary Chronicle of Fredegar, the battle of Wogastisburg was a battle between Slavs under King Samo and Franks under King Dagobert I in 631. The Frankish armies were advancing the area of Slavic tribal union in three streams - Alamanni, Lombards, and Austrasian Franks...
, - Volání rodu (Call of the Tribe, 1934), story of Forefather Čech,
- O Děvín a Velehrad (About DěvínDevinDevin may refer to:*Devin , a Gaelic name*Devin , a Hindu name. Short form of Devindra , a title applied to the Hindu god Indra.*Devin, Bulgaria, a town in Bulgaria*Devín, a borough of Bratislava, Slovakia...
and VelehradVelehradVelehrad is a village in the Uherské Hradiště District of the Czech Republic. It has a population of 1,323 and is the most important pilgrimage place in the Czech Republic...
, 1939), set in Great MoraviaGreat MoraviaGreat Moravia was a Slavic state that existed in Central Europe and lasted for nearly seventy years in the 9th century whose creators were the ancestors of the Czechs and Slovaks. It was a vassal state of the Germanic Frankish kingdom and paid an annual tribute to it. There is some controversy as...
, - Zastavený příval (The Storm Stopped, 1940), about failed incursion from Frankish EmpireFrankish EmpireFrancia or Frankia, later also called the Frankish Empire , Frankish Kingdom , Frankish Realm or occasionally Frankland, was the territory inhabited and ruled by the Franks from the 3rd to the 10th century...
in 805, - Meč proti meči (Sword Against Sword, 1946), stories from the early periods of Czech statehood and decline of Polabian SlavsPolabian SlavsPolabian Slavs - is a collective term applied to a number of Lechites tribes who lived along the Elbe river, between the Baltic Sea to the north, the Saale and the Limes Saxoniae to the west, the Ore Mountains and the Western Sudetes to the south, and Poland to the east. They have also been known...
, - Statečné mládí (The Brave Youth, 1946), stories of youth in prehistoric times,
- Minehava (Minehava, 1950), novel set in period of transition from matriarchyMatriarchyA matriarchy is a society in which females, especially mothers, have the central roles of political leadership and moral authority. It is also sometimes called a gynocratic or gynocentric society....
to patriarchyPatriarchyPatriarchy is a social system in which the role of the male as the primary authority figure is central to social organization, and where fathers hold authority over women, children, and property. It implies the institutions of male rule and privilege, and entails female subordination...
.
External links
- Short biography (in Czech)