"Whoever rules over Bohemia is the lord of Europe," says a late medieval proverb. Emperor Charles IV initiated fundamental imperial reforms from Prague and founded the first German university there in 1348. About 200 years later, under Emperor Rudolf II, Bohemia once again became the political and cultural center of the Holy Roman Empire and the Habsburg monarchy. For centuries, Bohemia was an integral part of this empire and was able to maintain its intermediary position between East and West until the 20th century, thanks in large part to its geographical location in the heart of Europe. This book presents, for the first time, a comprehensive overview of the historical beginnings of the lands of the Bohemian Crown (Bohemia, Moravia, and temporarily Silesia as well as the two Lusatias) based on the latest research findings.