If all of the world s cultural heritage (sports, music,
fashion, architecture, literature, painting, etc..) was
contained in a time capsule, what would you include to
demonstrate the legacy of your country?
Germany‘s Golden Records
a presentation from
Carolin Kullmann
About 35 years ago a team of
researchers asked themselves the
same question.
They had the vision to conserve the
existence of humanity and inform
potential extraterrestrial life-forms of
our position in the universe.
Therefore they created golden records that contain a token of our sounds,
images, music, thoughts and feelings and fixed them to the probes
Voyager 1 and Voyager 2. The two probes are collecting data from our
solar system and everything beyond, since more than 35 years now.
Let me now introduce my
very personal golden
record to familiarize the
universe with a minute
part of Germany‘s
cultural heritage.
MUSIC
Germany is especially famous for its classical music. Until today renowned composers like Beethoven, Wagner and Bach have been paid great deference
to and their works are still serving as sources of inspiration for a lot of current composers and
musicians.
MusicLudwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven (* 1770, † 1827) was a German composer that brought the
Viennese Classic to its highest development. Moreover, he pioneered the age of
Romanticism. His most famous work are his nine symphonies (especially the 5th
and 9th).
MusicRichard Wagner
Wilhelm Richard Wagner (* 1813, † 1883) was a German composer, dramatist,
philosopher, theatre director and conductor. With his music dramas he is regarded
as one of the most eminent modernizer of the European music of the 19th century.
His most famous piece is: „Der Ring der Niebelungen“.
MusicJohann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach (* 1685, † 1750) was a German composer and virtuoso
pianist and organist of the baroque. After his death his works sank into oblivion.
However, they experienced a renaissance in the middle of the 19th century and have
been a constant part of classical music since then.
LITERATURE
Regarding literature the 18th century was the most important and remembered period in Germany. Until today the poets of this time like Goethe,
Schiller and Lessing play an important role for the worldwide literature and pupils are still reviewing
their works at school.
LiteratureJohann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (* 1749, † 1832) is regarded as being the most
eminent German poet. His works belong to the highlights of the world literature.
Moreover, he researched and published in diverse natural-scientific fields.
Famous works: Faust; Der Erlkönig; Der Zauberlehrling
LiteratureFriedrich Schiller
Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller (* 1759, † 1805) was a German poet,
philosopher and historian. He is one of the most important German-speaking
dramatists and German theatres are not able to image without his plays until today.
Famous works: Wilhelm Tell; Maria Stuart; Don Carlos, Wallenstein-triology
LiteratureThe Brothers Grimm
Jacob (* 1785, † 1863) and Wilhelm Grimm (* 1786, † 1859) published fairytales
that have been delighting people around the world until today. They travelled
through the country and tried to meet people that were good storytellers.
Famous fairytales: Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Hansel and Gretel, Rumpelstiltskin
SCIENCE
Especially the 19th and the early 20th century are marked by a great amount of German geniuses in scientific fields like physics, medicine, mechanics
and technics.
ScienceAlbert Einstein and Rudolph Diesel
Albert Einstein (* 1879, † 1955) was a theoretical physicist. His scientific research
regarding the structure of time and space and the gravitation significantly changed
the physical world view. Rudolph Diesel (* 1858, † 1913) was a German engineer
and the inventor of the Diesel engine. In 1912 the first oceangoing ship „Seelandia“
left its harbor in Copenhagen.
Einstein Diesel
ScienceCarl Benz and Gottlieb Daimler
Carl Friedrich Benz (* 1844, † 1929) and Gottlieb Wilhelm Daimler (* 1834, † 1900)
are German engineers, who are the official inventors of the automobile. While
Benz„s „Patent-Motorwagen Nummer 1“ of 1885 is regarded as the first modern
automobile, Daimler developed the first fast running petrol engine and the first four-
wheeled motor vehicle with an internal combustion engine.
Benz Daimler
ScienceConrad Röntgen and Heinrich Hertz
Conrad Röntgen (* 1845, † 1923) and Heinrich Hertz (* 1857, † 1849) are two of the
most eminent physicists of the 19th century. In 1895 Röntgen discovered the X-
Rays. His discovery not only revolutionized the medical diagnostics, but also the
exploration of radioactivity. Hertz became famous for his experimental proof of
electromagnetic waves, which are named after him (1 wave per sec = 1 Hz).
Röntgen Hertz
ART
In terms of painting the most significant issue of Germany‘s history is the documenta. No other
nation hosts an exhibition of modern art of such importance.
Artdocumenta
The „documenta“ is the most eminent exhibition of contemporary art worldwide. It
takes place every fifth year and lasts 100 days. In 1955 Arnold Bode was the
initiator of the first documenta, ever since it has been taken place in Kassel.
dOCUMENTA (13) closed with a record of 860,000 visitors in September 2012.
ArtCaspar David Friedrich
Caspar David Friedrich (* 1774, † 1840) was a German Romanic artist. Even if one
doesn„t know his name one knows his paintings. The majority of this paintings is
focused on nature.
Wanderer above a sea of smog
Chalk cliffs on Rügen
ArtGerhard Richter
Gerhard Richter (* 1932 in Dresden) is a German artist, sculptor and photographer.
He is the most expensive German artist alive and regarding the Manager-Magazine
one of the 500 richest persons in Germany.
Candle Abstract Painting
SPORTS
With its professional structure and commercialization Germany is one of the most
successful sport nations worldwide. Especially in terms of football, tennis and Formula One the
country has been presented excellently by outstanding sportsmen and -women.
SportsFootball
1996 Football World Championship in England – Oliver Bierhoff shot the first
Golden Goal in history and Germany won the finale against the Czech Republic.
SportsFormula 1
Michael Schumacher broke all the records in Formula 1. He won seven world
championships in eleven years. His colleague Sebastian Vettel is the youngest
world champion ever. He has been holding the title since three years in a row now
(2010, 2011 and 2012).
SportsTennis
Stefanie Graf is one of the most successful tennis players of all times (22 Gran-
Slam Championships and number one of the world rankings for 377 weeks). In
1988 she won the Golden Slam. Together with Boris Becker she helped her
discipline to become a very popular sport, especially in Germany.
FASHION
Germany contributes to the global fashion industry with renowned designers like Wolfgang Joop, Jil
Sander and Karl Lagerfeld, who is one of the most eminent and influential persons in the whole
fashion industry.
Karl Lagerfeld is one of the most impressive geniuses in the whole fashion sector.
Not only did he design for brands like Fendi, Chloé and Chanel but he is also a
person that stands for creativity and sophistication. Lagerfeld is admired by many
people especially by those who are working in the fashion industry.
FashionKarl Lagerfeld
Claudia Schiffer is one of the most popular and best paid fashion models ever. In
the 90ies she has been Karl Lagerfelds muse and modeled for almost every big
fashion brand like Chanel, Louis Vuitton and Dolce & Gabbana. Until today she has
always been a role model for many young models around the world.
FashionClaudia Schiffer
Heidi Klum became internationally famous as a supermodel. At the age of 39 she is
still modeling for brands like McDonalds, L‟Oreal and Schwarzkopf and at the same
time a very successful TV presenter. Moreover, she hosts her own Casting show
„Germany„s next Topmodel“.
FashionHeidi Klum
ARCHITECTURE
As in a lot of European countries the architecture in Germany is quite diverse. However, there are
several buildings that attract thousands of tourists every year. Some of the most famous are: Schloss
Neuschwanstein, the Kölner Dom and the Brandenburger Tor.
ArchitectureSchloss Neuschwanstein
“Schloss Neuschwanstein” is the most famous castle of King Ludwig II. It is
designed by Christian Jank and built by Eduard Riedel and George von Dollmann
around 1869. Today it is one of Germany„s most popular sights, which is visited by
more than 1,3 Million people every year.
ArchitectureKölner Dom
The „Kölner Dom“ is a roman-catholic church that has been belonging to the
UNESCO-World cultural heritage since 1996. Since the construction had begun in
the 13th and was completed in the 19th century, it combines the architecture of the
gothic and the neo-gothic period.
ArchitectureBrandenburger Tor
The „Brandenburger Tor“ is the most famous sight in Germany. It is the landmark of
Berlin, Germany„s capital and a national symbol that reminds of important events in
Berlin, Germany, Europe and the world. It was built from 1788 until 1791 and its
architecture is classicist.
RELIGION
In Germany the denominations are spread quite equally on catholics (29 %), protestants (29 %) and people that are not belonging to any denomination
(33 %).
ReligionMartin Luther
Martin Luther (* 1483, † 1546) was the theological, spiritual father and one of the
teachers of the Reformation. His sermons and writings and especially his translation
of the bible, the Luther bible, made a lasting change on the society. Against his
intention and due to the insufficient readiness to reform of the catholic church, he
splitted the church and started the forming of the Lutheran-Protestant church.