The Reform Efforts of Maximilian I

According to Hagen Schulze, many of the reform efforts taking place in the 1400’s were aimed at making Germany more like the nation states of France and England.  Schulze argues that “had these attempts succeeded, the German nation would have had the chance to establish itself as a nation state” (45).  When reading, I was especially intrigued by Emperor Maximilian’s ideas for reform.  I believe that his ideas were revolutionary and that some of his ideas parallel what the American political system eventually evolved into almost 300 years later.

Emperor Maximilian I

The emperor’s plans for reform included “establishment of an imperial court of law in 1495, in combination with a proclaimed state of ‘lasting law and order’ throughout the empire…division of the entire empire into ten administrative districts…a representative body for the estates” (45).  It appears that Emperor Maximilian I was attempting to move away from the select group of princes that had been established to work with the emperor in making decisions, towards a more representative body.  Also, the separation of the empire into ten administrative districts would have allowed the emperor greater control over the activities of certain areas of the empire since another ruling body would be in place.  Unfortunately, the emperor died before many of his ideas were set in place, and his reforms were replaced with a vision of a “universal monarchy” (45).  

The ideals held by Emperor Maximilian I are important to note because they show that there were those in Germany in the late 1400’s and early 1500’s that were focused on creating a distinct nation state that defined the German lands.  It seems that some of the Germans were interested in giving individuals a voice through a more representative form of governing, shifting the concentration of power from the aristocracy towards the working class.

United States System of Checks and Balances

It is possible to draw connections between Emperor Maximilian’s concepts for reform, and the early American political system.  The imperial court of law could be seen as a sort of Supreme Court, set in place to oversee the smaller courts throughout the empire, and to ensure that laws and punishments are fair.  The division of the empire into administrative districts is an early concept that later came into play in America with the development of individual state governments sending House Representatives and Senators to nation’s capital.  With Emperor Maximilian’s idea of a representative body coming out of the ten administrative districts and the creation of the imperial court, he was developing a system of checks and balances, similar to what is seen in the American political system, which would have set Germany on an earlier course towards becoming a nation state.  In this sense, the emperor would've been the executive, the imperial court of law the Supreme Court, and the representatives of the administrative districts would've made up Congress.  The emperor's concept for reform, if carried out, could've developed an early form of Democracy in Germany which I find intriguing.

Schulze, Hagen, and Deborah Lucas Schneider. Germany: A New History. Harvard University Press, 2001. 31-69. Print.

So, Why Germany?

I am beyond excited about studying abroad for 17 days in December!  This will be my first time outside of the United States, and I have no idea what to expect.  So, you’re probably wondering, why did I choose Germany for my first abroad experience? 

 I first became interested in Germany when I was very young, probably seven or eight years old.  I remember sitting at the dinner table with my family and hearing my half-sister, Erica, talk about the many times that she’d spent in Germany.  Her mother lived there, and Erica had traveled to visit her.  After hearing several stories, I remember going to my bedroom to retrieve a notebook, and asking my half-sister to give me some basic German phrases to learn.  Unfortunately, my knowledge of the German language ends there, but I’m looking forward to taking a German language class in the fall.

Gate to Concentration Camp in Auschwitz

My interest in Germany peaked again in middle school when I first started learning about the World Wars.  This intrigue continued through high school, where I actually did an independent study focusing on the Holocaust.  Looking back, I’ve come to realize that, throughout my life, my conceptions of Germany have been stuck in the 1940’s.  I feel that far too many Americans share this same negative perception of Germany, but it is now clear to me that this is unfair.  If a country is judged only by its past history, so much of the beauty and value of the world and various cultures would be overlooked.  I chose to travel to Germany because I want to learn what the Germany of today is like and to embrace the culture that the country has to offer.

Through studying abroad in Germany, I expect to learn how to be more open-minded.  My exposure to other cultures has been minimal, especially spending my high school years in a small town where I graduated with a class of 99 students.  When you spend most of your time with people just like you, it’s easy to miss out on the uniqueness of different cultures.  I expect to experience what it’s like to talk to people from a completely different background than my own, and to hear how they talk about their own culture as well as their perceptions about American culture.  I hope to learn how others perceive Americans, and expect to be motivated to change some aspects of myself and my personal beliefs as a result of this experience.

  Bertolt Brecht

As a theater performance major and broadcast communications minor, it is important for me to travel abroad, and Germany is a great place to start.  As an actor, being familiar with German culture and language gives me a wider performance range.  In the past when I’ve played characters from other cultures, my research has come straight from books and photos.  I have no idea what it’s like to live life in another country, and I’m excited to scrape the surface of what this could mean.  Also, Germany offers its own unique form of theatre and its history includes some important theorists.  One of which I’ve done research on in the past is Bertolt Brecht and his theory: "verfremdungseffekt,” or the “alienation effect.”  I find it exciting to learn about the country that was home to Brecht and the types of performance that are still prevalent throughout Germany.

I can’t wait to go to Germany!  I know that this experience will impact me in more ways than I could possibly know, and I think that’s what I’m most excited about.