Julius Caesar on the Germans

This is an extract from Julius Caesar’s ‘Commentaries on the Gallic Wars’, first published between 58 and 49 BC. In 60 BC Rome was not yet an empire, but soon it would be. The momentous events of the next decades, many of which were put into motion by the famed politician Julius Caesar, were some of the most important and formative of the Western World.

We tell this story directly from the words of Caesar himself. Starting with his masterpiece ‘Commentaries on the Gallic Wars’ – first published over two thousand years ago yet still widely read all over the world today.

2,000 year history

German history dates back over two thousand years. Back to when the Romans controlled the German lands west of the Rhine River. The history of the Germanic tribes, however, goes back centuries further.

From 2000 BC to German unification

This one hour documentary unravels the history of the Germans from their prehistorical arrival on continental Europe in 2000 BC up to the unification of the German people under the flag of the German Empire, orchestrated by Otto von Bismarck of Prussia in 1871, followed by the horrrors of the 20th century – the first and second world wars, which resulted in the final unification of Germany as we know it today.

Medieval Germany

The Middle Ages. Germany has a lot to offer when it comes to this time period: Historic city gates, church towers and half-timbred houses.

In German cities and towns, you’ll find a lot of well-preserved Medieval architecture, much of it on the UNESCO World Heritage list. From Lübeck in the North to Bamberg in the South – we show you seven cities and towns which will make you feel like you’re in a fairytale.

Nürnberg – Nuremberg

Nürnberg was one of Germany’s — in fact Europe’s — leading cities 500 years ago, and was an industrial marvel. The scenic remnants of its hard medieval past are now just an added dimension of a delightfully people-friendly historic center.

Rothenberg

Rothenburg ob der Tauber is a town in the district of Ansbach of Mittelfranken (Middle Franconia), the Franconia region of Bavaria, Germany. It is well known for its well-preserved medieval old town, a destination for tourists from around the world. It is part of the popular Romantic Road through southern Germany.

Kant on planning

“Making plans is at times a luxuriant, boastful pursuit of the mind by which one gives oneself an air of creative genius, demanding what one cannot do, criticizing what one cannot do better, and suggesting what one does not know where it is to be found.”

“Pläne machen ist mehrmalen eine üppige, prahlerische Geistesbeschäftigung, dadurch man sich ein Ansehen von schöpferischem Genie gibt, indem man fordert, was man selbst nicht leisten, tadelt, was man doch nicht besser machen kann, und vorschlägt, wovon man selbst nicht weiß, wo es zu finden ist.”

Immanuel Kant (1724 – 1804), German philosopher.

“small minds whine”

“Kleine Geister jammern über mißlungene Pläne, große eilen zu neuer Tätigkeit. Doch wenn das Ziel, worauf man losstrebt, der Menschenvernunft nicht würdig ist, so sinkt der große Geist zum kleinen herab. Er wandelt mit Kraft, aber nicht im Lichte; er ist der Verschwender seines Vermögens, wenn er nicht Menschenwohl damit einlöset.”

“Small minds whine about failed plans, great ones rush to new activities. But if the goal towards which one is striving is not worthy of human reason, then the great mind sinks down to the small. He walks with power, but not in the light. He is the squanderer of his wealth if he does not redeem it for the good of mankind.”

Sebastian Mutschelle (1749 – 1800), Roman Catholic priest from Germany and writer during the Enlightenment.

German vs. American

Watch the video. Then ask yourself the following: If this video was about the American approach to short- and long-term goals, what would be the maximum length of short-term and of long-term? Then answer the same question if the video was about the German approach to short- and long-term goals.

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