Germany: historical highlights

From the Dark Ages to the Enlightenment, Germany’s turbulent history mirrors the rise and fall of the continent’s great dynasties.

The big names of German culture span the complete range, from philosophy to literature to classical music, all suffused with Sturm und Drang.

Metternich may have redrawn the map of Europe following the Napoleonic Wars, but the Industrial Revolution changed the face of Germany forever. Bismarck unified Germany under Prussian rule, but this achievement was squandered by Nazi dictatorship and two World Wars.

In the aftermath of World War II, Germany remained a divided country until the fall of the Berlin Wall. Reunification first brought joy, then consternation. Germans increasingly beganto question their social values and their role within Europe.

Today, Germany is the economic powerhouse of Europe. Its industrial products are second to none and its people continue to enjoy one of the world's highest standards of living.