Nature and German History

Published in the series “Naturkunden” by Matthes & Seitz Berlin

“Nature” is a complex and multifaceted term that has undergone surprising changes throughout German history. From Hildegard von Bingen's concept of “green power” to the anti-nuclear movement of the 1970s: caught between faith, biology, and power, governments and a wide variety of political and religious movements have defined and claimed their own concept of nature. Nature and German History shows the upheavals and shifts in ideas about nature over 800 years. Using examples from the Middle Ages and early modern period, the era of industrialization, National Socialism, and divided Germany, history is told through stories, framed by conversations with prominent historians. Each historical epoch is introduced with an animal or plant: from the wolf and beluga whale to the oak tree, the potato, the African violet, and the Burgundy grape. Historical recipes reflect the importance of food and eating habits. A richly illustrated coffee-table book that vividly illustrates the contrasting transformations of ideas about nature in German history from the Middle Ages to the 1970s through selected milestones. Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

Reading sample

Published by: Raphael Gross and Julia Voss for the Deutsches Historisches Museum

Berlin 2025, 248 pages, Matthes & Seitz Berlin

ISBN 978-3-7518-4041-5

28,00€, Available soon