Prussian Socialism Episode 5: First Reich, Best Reich? The Holy Roman Empire

Prussian Socialism Podcast on Odysee

The first German Reich lasted for 1000 years. From Charlemagne to 1806, the Holy Roman Empire was the keystone of Europe. But was it really an empire? The HRE is notorious for being fractured and weak, but it was not always so. From Otto I to Frederick II (936-1250) it was a powerful and mostly unified state that contended with Popes and foreign kings and expanded Western civilization into the wild East. Join Gregory Conte and William as we discuss the legacy of this forgotten chapter of European history.
Books discussed:
Heart of Europe by Peter Wilson
The Origins of Modern Germany by Geoffrey Barraclough
Books mentioned:
Byzantium (trilogy) by John Julius Norwich
Danubia Simon Winder
Die Reichsidee by Otto Habsburg
Die Deutschen Kaiser Alfred Mühr
War and Peace and War by Peter Turchin
Dictionary of the Holy Roman Empire by Jonathan Zophy