Commerce and Industry in a United Germany, 1871–1914

Abstract

The nineteenth century is sometimes referred to as the long nineteenth because of events that clearly marked the beginning and end of this era. It began abruptly in May of 1789 with the storming of the Bastille and the start of the French Revolution and ended in 1914 with the advent of the World War I. When this period began, there was no German state as we know it today. Rather, Germany was still a diverse agglomeration of large and small independent states, free cities, and tiny principalities. At the close of the period, however, a fully unified Germany felt strong enough to take on most of Europe in the first truly modern, industrialized war.