What unites the three states of Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia? What separates them? These questions are answered by the historian Steffen Raßloff in his overall account of Central German history. He spans the arch from prehistory and early history to the most recent times.

He reports on the kingdom of the Thuringians as well as on the Wettin nobility, which once dominated large parts of the region. The historical diversity of Central Germany is also impressive: from classical Weimar to the Dessau-Wörlitz Garden Kingdom and the baroque Dresden of Augustus the Strong, a uniquely dense cultural landscape has developed. Numerous impulses emanated from the land of Luther, Bach, Goethe and the Bauhaus and still shape our culture today.

In an entertaining way, the author reviews important places, events and personalities of the three countries, gives references to important museums and memorials and reflects today's culture of remembrance.