Before the 19th Century, there was no such thing as Germany. Not yet. The German people were scattered across dozens of separate countries, dominated by Austria and Prussia. But an idea was loose in Europe - that a people should rule themselves, that a nation should be free - and that idea was about to catch fire.

In Part 1 of the Wars of German Unification series, our big "context" episode, we trace the origins of German nationalism, the epic rivalry of Austria and Prussia, the influence of the French Revolution and Napoleon on German history, and the rising tide of revolution that led to the European Spring.

Because to understand the Wars of German Unification, the battles and the iron and the blood, we have to start with the first attempt to unify Germany, the one that failed.

We have to start with the road not taken.

W ...