EMISPHER, BERLIN

BERLIN

1. Berlin generally
   "Berlin is today a capital of a united Germany and one of the most important cities in the world. It is the only city over last century or so that it has come to enjoy anything like the same status as, for example, London or Paris.
   The major challenge facing Berlin in the years ahead is how to balance financial prudence with the ambition of providing a united Germany with the dynamic, internationally-minded capital city it deserves".[1]
   "Berlin is the capital and the biggest city of Germany. It has a population of about 3.5 million and extends over 889 square kilometers." [2]
   "Of strategic importance since it first straddled the Spree River in the 13th century, Berlin went on to hog centre stage in the turbulent twentieth. Today the city, restored as the nation's capital, is the focus of a mammoth project of reunification and the barometer of Germany's moods."[3]
   "Berlin is the capital city and seat of government of united Germany. Reunification in 1990 ensured that Berlin began to emerge from the ravages of post-war Europe as an exciting and dynamic force in the German political and economic arena. 'New Berlin' is at the heart of commercial growth, with many corporations basing their headquarters in this international metropolis" [4.]
   

2. History of Berlin
   "By the half of XIII-th century Berlin was rapidly developing into a major trading centre in the Brandenburg region. It is not until 1244 that Berlin is mentioned by a name, and it is only in 1251 that it is first referred to as a town. In the XVIII-th century, Berlin had become the centre of the German textile industry and was the political, economic, and cultural capital of a Prussia which had been transformed into a major European power.
   The modernization process which began with the onset of the Industrial Revolution in the 1830s brought with it the construction of a sophisticated railway system.
   In 1871 Berlin became the capital not only of Prussia but of the new German Reich." [1.]
   

3. Culture in Berlin
   "This is the heart of Germany, with a stoic beat that echoes through grand public buildings, glorious museums and theatres, urbane restaurants, bustling pubs and raucous nightclubs. The Wall is gone but Berlin is still divided: there's a distinct segue from the glitz of the west to shabby East Berlin."
   "Since the Reunification in 1990, Berlin has undergone a process of continual redefinition and change. This richness, created from the injection of the new into a potent historical structure, has become one of Germany's and Europe's premiere cultural attractions."
   "The restored identity as the nation's capital has been a driving force in both urban design and cultural diversity. Berlin is now world-famous for its international architecture, fine and performing arts."
   "With more than 150 museums, Berlin is the perfect city for wet-weather sightseeing. From the huge state run archaeological and art collections to more specialized quirky exhibitions, there is something here for everyone's area of interest, whether it be Islamic Art, sugar, police history, piano making or gay life."[3.]
   "The face of Berlin was transformed by the building of the Opera, St. Hewig's Cathedral, Prince Henry's Palace (later to become the main building of the University), a library (known toady as the 'Kommode'), and a theatre, and by the development of both Unter den Linden as a major thoroughfare and of the Tiergarten park."
   "Many of the leading intellectuals of the day, including Lessing, Nicolai, Moses Mendelssohn and Voltaire, were part of the cultural blossoming ushered in by his region. "[1.]
   "Major construction projects are underway to redevelop areas like Potsdamer Platz, which already has over 120 shops, 20 cinemas (including one IMAX) and a musical theatre. Stylish Kurfürstendamm is a 3.5-kilometre (2-mile) boulevard filled with superb hotels, fashionable restaurants, cafes and boutiques. " [5.]
   

   BIBLIOGRAPHY:

   • Wallace I., Berlin, Oxford 1993.
   • http://userpage.chemie.fu-berlin.de/adressen/berlin.html
   • Schulte-Peevers A., Parkinson T., Lonely Planet Berlin, Lonely Planet 2004.
     http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/destinations/europe/germany/berlin
   • http://www.worldexecutive.com/cityguides/berlin/index.html
   • http://www.worldexecutive.com/cityguides/berlin/index.html
   • Berlin: Ergebnisse der heimatkundlichen Bestandsaufnahme/von einem Autorenkoll.unter Leitung von Joachim Herrmann, Berlin 1987.
   • Lindenberg P., Berlin in Wort und Bild, Leipzig 1985.
   • Rice Ch., Rice M., Berlin, Warszawa 1996.
   • Omilanowska M., Berlin, Warszawa 2000.