Arts

Numerous German painters have enjoyed international prestige through their work in diverse artistic styles. Hans Holbein the Younger, Matthias Grünewald, and Albrecht Dürer were important artists of the Renaissance, Caspar David Friedrich of Romanticism, and Max Ernst of Surrealism. Architectural contributions from Germany include the Carolingian and Ottonian styles, which were precursors of Romanesque. The region later became the site of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque art. Germany was particularly important in the early modern movement, especially through the Bauhaus movement founded by Walter Gropius. Ludwig Mies van der Rohe became one of the world's most renowned architects in the second half of the 20th century. He conceived of the glass façade skyscraper.

German music includes works by some of the world's most well-known classical music composers, including Ludwig van Beethoven, Johann Sebastian Bach, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Johannes Brahms, Richard Wagner and Richard Strauss. Germany is the largest music market in Europe, and third largest in the world.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toccata_and_Fugue_in_D_minor,_BWV_565

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symphony_No._5_(Beethoven)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Die_Walk%C3%BCre

Germanic peoples

The Germanic peoples (also called Teutonic or Gothic in older literature) are an Indo-European ethno-linguistic group of Northern European origin, identified by their use of the Germanic languages which diversified out of Proto-Germanic during the Pre-Roman Iron Age.

The term "Germanic" originated in classical times, when groups of tribes were referred to using this term by Roman authors. For them, the term was not necessarily based upon language, but rather referred to tribal groups and alliances who were considered less civilized, and more physically hardened, than the Celtic Gauls living in the region of modern France. Tribes referred to as Germanic in that period lived generally to the north and east of the Gauls.

Classification

 The distribution of the primary Germanic dialect groups in Europe in around AD 1:

                            North Germanic

  North Sea Germanic, or Ingvaeonic

  Weser-Rhine Germanic, or Istvaeonic

  Elbe Germanic, or Irminonic

  East Germanic

Origins

Regarding the question of ethnic origins, evidence developed by archaeologists and linguists suggests that a people or group of peoples sharing a common material culture dwelt in a region defined by the Nordic Bronze Age culture between 1700 BCE and 600 BCE. The Germanic tribes then inhabited southern Scandinavia, Schleswig-Holsteinand Hamburg, but subsequent Iron Age cultures of the same region, likeWessenstedt (800 to 600 BCE) and Jastorf, are also in consideration. The change ofProto-Indo-European to Proto-Germanic has been defined by the first sound shift (orGrimm's law) and must have occurred when mutually intelligible dialects or languages in a Sprachbund were still able to convey such a change to the whole region. So far it has been impossible to date this event conclusively.

The precise interaction between these peoples is not known; however, they are tied together and influenced by regional features and migration patterns linked to prehistoric cultures like Hügelgräber, Urnfield, and La Tene. A deteriorating climate in Scandinavia around 850 BCE to 760 BCE and a later and more rapid one around 650 BCE might have triggered migrations to the coast of Eastern Germany and further toward the Vistula. A contemporary northern expansion of Hallstatt drew part of these peoples into the Celtic hemisphere, including nordwestblock areas and the region of Elp culture (1800 BCE to 800 BCE).

At around this time, this culture became influenced by Hallstatt techniques for extracting bog iron from the ore in peat bogs, ushering in the Pre-Roman Iron Age. 

Ludwig van Beethoven

Signature of Ludwig van Beethoven

Ludwig van Beethoven  baptized 17 December 1770 – 26 March 1827) was a German composer and pianist. A crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western art music, he remains one of the most famous and influential of all composers. His best known compositions include 9 symphonies, 5 concertos for piano, 32 piano sonatas, and 16 string quartets. He also composed other chamber music, choral works (including the celebrated Missa Solemnis), and songs.

Born in Bonn, then the capital of the Electorate of Cologne and part of the Holy Roman Empire, Beethoven displayed his musical talents at an early age and was taught by his father Johann van Beethoven and Christian Gottlob Neefe. During his first 22 years in Bonn, Beethoven intended to study with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and befriended Joseph Haydn. Beethoven moved to Vienna in 1792 and began studying with Haydn, quickly gaining a reputation as a virtuoso pianist. He lived in Vienna until his death. During the late 18th century, his hearing began to deteriorate significantly, yet he continued to compose, conduct, and perform after becoming completely deaf.

The Hymn of Joy is today, the European Union
anthem.

                                             

                                           Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. The Hymn of Joy.

CHECKPOINT CHARLIE
 

Checkpoint Charlie was the most famous of the crossing of the Berlin wall between 1945 and 1990. It opened the step to the American control with the Soviet zone. He is only allowed to use military employees and embassies of the allies, foreign workers of the RFA permanent delegation and officials of the GDR.

Charlie denomination comes from the NATO phonetic alphabet and is its third letter. Checkpoint Alpha was the step by the motorway at Helmstedt, Checkpoint Bravo highway passing in Dreilinden.

In October of 1961 Soviet and American tanks were positioned facing each other with heavy ammunition.

Checkpoint Charlie was the scene of fleeing spectacular East Berlin.

The checkpoint was demolished on June 22, 1990. Checkpoint Charlie is one of the tourist attractions in Berlin.

 

Berlin, a lot of worlds just in a city

The first time when you arrive to Berlin, you don’t think that you can find so many completely different things in one city: A lot of worlds. Because, Berlin is very big in extension, but it also is very big in diversity.

 I don’t know if it is The Wall effects, which divided Berlin in two different cities since 1961 to 1989, but walking around its streets is a time journey:

·         The historical part from Alexander Platz through the Museums’ Island and the University, to the Brandenburg Gate.

·         The new zone around the Reichstag (with its crystal dome) and the administrative buildings.

·         The Wall’s remains on the banks of the river Sper or the enormous Tiergarten park.

·         The commercial courtyards near the synagogue or the twin churches.

Each of these things would have value alone for characterising a city. But all of these things all together you only enjoy them in Berlin. A lot of worlds just in a city.

Traditional German cuisine

German cuisine has evolved as a national cuisine through centuries of social and political change with variations from region to region. The southern regions of Germany, including Bavaria and neighbouring Swabia, share many dishes. Furthermore, across the border in Austria, one will find many similar dishes.


Are lots of diferent types of food:

Meat
Pork, beef, and poultry are the main varieties of meat consumed in Germany, with pork being the most popular. The average person in Germany will consume up to 61 kg of meat in a year Among poultry, chicken is most common, although duck. Specially boar, rabbit, and venison are also widely available all year round.

Desserts

A wide variety of cakes are served throughout the country, most commonly made with fresh fruit. Apples, strawberries, and cherries are used regularly in cakes. Black Forest cake is probably the most well-known example of a wide variety of typically German cakes.A pretzel is a type of baked food made from dough in soft and hard varieties and savory or sweet flavors in a unique knot-like shape, originating in Germany. Pretzels in stick form may also be called pretzels in the English-speaking context. For seasoning and decoration various glazes, salt crystals, sugar and various seeds or nuts can be used.




Beer
Beer is a major part of German culture.There are lots of diferent styles of  beer, like, wheat beers, pale beers, dark beers and unfiltered beers

THE ECONOMY OF GERMANY TODAY

The economy of Germany is some of the best economy of Europe. Germany is better economy than Spain, Portugal, Greece etc. because in Germany there are many jobs than the for example Spain.

Germany have many people that work, hence that has very economy. In Germany there are people that receives little money but the country survive in economy. Hence that Germany being of the best economy in Europe.

The president of Germany is Angela Merkel.