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.