How did our ancestors live? And what shaped them? Matthias Brandt travels back in time—from the last Ice Age to the late Middle Ages—and experiences what everyday life was like for people in what is now Germany.

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Terra X: The History of the Germans

Genes and Bones

From the Ice Age hunters and gatherers to the Celts at Heuneburg. How did we become sedentary? Where does our language come from? What rituals did we have? For the…

Terra X: The History of the Germans

The Romans and the Germanic Tribes

About 2,000 years ago, two worlds collided here: the highly developed Roman culture and the diverse Germanic tribes on the right bank of the Rhine. What was life like for…

Terra X: The History of the Germans

Cross and Crown

After the Romans, the Franks became the dominant power in Europe during the early Middle Ages. Our ancestors, too, were subjugated by them and converted to Christianity. But it takes…

Terra X: The History of the Germans

Knights and Cities

In the 12th century, the medieval empire expanded to the northeast. Settlers arrived in what had once been Slavic territories. Powerful cities such as Lübeck were founded there. But it…

Terra X: The History of the Germans

Plague and Profit

Long-distance trade brings wealth to the cities. Erfurt, too, benefits from close trade ties. Christians and Jews have lived together peacefully here for a long time. But along with goods…

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Terra X: The History of the Germans

With Matthias Brandt