Historian Petr Vorel received another award for his work. The expert on Czech and European history of the early modern period has been awarded The František Palacký Honorary Medal for “Merit in the Historical Sciences”. A renowned historian and numismatist, he also continues his work as the Vice-Rector for Science and Creative Activity of our University.
Professor Petr Vorel has been active in this field since 1986. He specialises in the economic and political history of Central Europe and the history of monetary circulation. He is the author of a number of scientific articles and publications. Some of them have been published in other languages in Europe and America and have brought him international recognition. One of his most important recent publications is From the Silver Czech Tolar to a Worldwide Dollar. Other books include Silver in the European Monetary Circulation during the 16th and 17th Centuries, The Imperial Diets and their Influence on the Development of the Lands of the Bohemian Crown in the years 1526–1618, and the seventh volume of The Great History of the Lands of the Czech Crown. He has also prepared several successful exhibitions abroad and is a member of the commission of the Czech Historical Institute in Rome, a foreign branch of the Czech Academy of Sciences.
He thanked his teacher
In his acceptance speech during the gala evening, he recalled his teacher, the famous historian Josef Petráň: “In the very uncooperative and unfriendly environment of the Faculty of Arts at Charles University in the early 1980s, he taught us the exact opposite: not to envy the success of our colleagues, because it is our success too. After all, we all represent our field.” He also ended his speech with his favourite quote: “We are not as good as we appear in our best moments, but neither are we as bad as we are in our worst.”
Professor Petr Vorel received the medal from the President of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Professor Eva Zažímalová, at a ceremony on Friday, 6 December. The medal was also presented to Alain Soubigou, a French expert on the history of Czechoslovakia. The two laureates were joined by the renowned medieval historian and archaeologist Petr Sommer, who received the medal De scientia et humanitate optime meritis. “We do not award medals to everyone; it is a difficult selection, and in the case of these three laureates, there was no doubt. They are the best of the best,” said Eva Zažímalová, President of the Czech Academy of Sciences, at the ceremony.
