The concept of Germany as a distinct region in central Europe can be traced to Roman commander Julius Caesar, who referred to the unconquered area east of the Rhine as "Germania", thus distinguishing it from Gaul (France), which he had conquered. The victory of the Germanic tribes in the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest (AD 9) prevented annexation by the Roman Empire, although the Roman provinces of Germania Superior and Germania Inferior were established along the Rhine. Following the Fall of the Western Roman Empire, the Franks conquered the other West Germanic tribes. When the Frankish Empire was divided among Charlemagne's heirs in 843, the eastern part became East Francia. In 962, Otto I became the first emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, the medieval German state. 

In the High Middle Ages, the regional dukes, princes and bishops gained power at the expense of the emperors. Martin Luther led the Protestant Reformation against the Catholic Church after 1517, as the northern states became Protestant, while the southern states remained Catholic. The two parts of the Holy Roman Empire clashed in the Thirty Years' War (1618–1648), which was ruinous to the twenty million civilians living in both parts. The Thirty Years' War brought tremendous destruction to Germany; more than 1/4 of the population and 1/2 of the male population in the German states were killed by the catastrophic war. 1648 marked the effective end of the Holy Roman Empire and the beginning of the modern nation-state system, with Germany divided into numerous independent states, such as Prussia, Bavaria and Saxony.
when was the Frankish empire divided among Charlemange's heirs?
where did the two parts of the holy roman empire clash?
when did that happen?
what did it mark the end of?
how was germany divided after that?
how far back can the concept of Germany be traced?
what did he refer to the area as?
is it different than Gaul?
list some of the independent German states
are there any others?
what?
what battle prevented annexation of the Germanic tribes
when did it happen?
who was the first emperor of the holy roman empire?
what year?
who led the Protestant reformation?
did the norhtern states remain catholic?
did the southern states?
what country was destroyed in the 30 years war?
how much of the male population died?
843
divided among Charlemagne's heirs in 843
Thirty Years' War
The two parts of the Holy Roman Empire clashed in the Thirty Years' War
1618–1648
Thirty Years' War (1618–1648)
Holy Roman Empire
effective end of the Holy Roman Empire
numerous independent states
Germany divided into numerous independent states
to Julius Caesar
traced to Roman commander Julius Caesar
Germania
area east of the Rhine as "Germania"
yes
"Germania", thus distinguishing it from Gaul (France)
Prussia & Bavaria
independent states, such as Prussia, Bavaria
yes
 independent states, such as Prussia, Bavaria and Saxony
Saxony
independent states, such as Prussia, Bavaria and Saxony
Battle of the Teutoburg Forest
Battle of the Teutoburg Forest 
AD 9
Battle of the Teutoburg Forest (AD 9)
Otto I
Otto I became the first emperor of the Holy Roman Empire
962
962, Otto I became the first emperor 
Luther
Martin Luther led the Protestant Reformation
no
as the northern states became Protestant
yes
southern states remained Catholic
Germany
The Thirty Years' War brought tremendous destruction to Germany
1/2
1/2 of the male population in the German states were killed