Germany from the Earliest Period, Volume 4

"Germany from the Earliest Period, Volume 4" by Wolfgang Menzel is a historical exploration of Germany in the mid-1800s. It tells about the important happenings and cultural changes in Germany, mainly the growing power of Prussia and how art, fashion, and writing helped create a German identity. The story begins by revealing how art and buildings in Germany were changed by ideas from other countries, especially France, which led to a drop in quality. Menzel talks about different artists and what they added, pointing out a change from older styles to more showy ones. The account highlights how the Reformation and French ideas changed German writing, explaining how poems were written differently and how culture shifted toward home life and deep feelings, all set against Germany's tough political situation, with revolutions and wars with France causing chaos.