History of Berlin

The development of Berlin from two medieval settlements into Prussia’s capital, a divided Cold War city, and the reunified capital of Germany.

Connect

Cölln: A medieval town on an island in the River Spree that joined with Berlin to form the city’s early core. Cölln was Berlin’s partner settlement before the two towns were united.
Edict of Potsdam: A 1685 decree inviting Huguenot refugees to settle in Brandenburg-Prussia. Refugee settlement helped expand Berlin’s population and commercial life.
Kingdom of Prussia: A European kingdom established in 1701 under the Hohenzollern dynasty. Berlin became the kingdom’s capital and a center of Prussian state power.
East Berlin: The Soviet-occupied sector of Berlin that became the capital of East Germany. East Berlin embodied the city’s socialist government and eastern political alignment.
Berlin Palace: A former Hohenzollern residence in central Berlin, rebuilt as the Humboldt Forum after its postwar demolition. Its destruction and reconstruction reflect contested choices about Berlin’s historical architecture.
Margraviate of Brandenburg: A medieval and early modern principality that became the territorial foundation of Prussia. Berlin developed as Brandenburg’s principal town and later its capital.
Prussian reforms: A series of political, military, and social changes in Prussia after its defeats by Napoleon. Reforms strengthened the state institutions centered in Berlin.
German Empire: The federal German nation-state established in 1871 and dissolved after World War I. Berlin became the empire’s capital, accelerating its growth and political prominence.
West Berlin: The western sectors of Berlin, politically tied to West Germany but surrounded by East Germany. West Berlin developed as a western enclave distinct from the East German capital.
Alexanderplatz: A major public square in central Berlin, reshaped extensively during the German Democratic Republic. Its socialist-era redevelopment remains visible in Berlin’s urban landscape.