Germany before and after the Thirty Years' War

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Emperor Maximilian I represents the last knight, marking the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity. His death coincides with Martin Luther's pivotal theses, igniting the Reformation that reshapes Christianity. This division leads to the devastating Thirty Years' War, which ravages Germany, erasing settlements and causing widespread suffering. The aftermath leaves Germany fragmented into numerous independent states, with the Netherlands and Switzerland gaining autonomy. Austria and Prussia emerge as significant powers, with Prussia rising alongside Austria as a German great power. Germany faces threats from the Turks, culminating in the 1683 siege of Vienna, which ends with a Turkish defeat and initiates the Austrian reconquest of the Balkans, establishing Austria as a superpower. During this period, conflicts arise between Prussia and Austria, ultimately favoring Prussia. Poland is partitioned among Russia, Prussia, and Austria, vanishing from the map. The narrative also addresses the impact of French revolutionary forces that occupy and devastate parts of Germany. Additionally, it explores cultural movements such as the Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo, Enlightenment, Classicism, and Mercantilism, alongside notable figures like Goethe, Schiller, and Mozart.