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Settlement in what is now Germany began in the [[Lower Paleolithic]], with various tribes inhabiting it from the [[Neolithic]] onward, chiefly the [[Celts]]. Various [[Germanic peoples|Germanic]] [[List of early Germanic peoples|tribes]] have inhabited the northern parts of modern Germany since [[classical antiquity]]. A region named [[Germania]] was documented before AD 100. In 962, the [[Kingdom of Germany]] formed the bulk of the [[Holy Roman Empire]]. During the 16th century, [[Northern Germany|northern German regions]] became the centre of the [[Reformation|Protestant Reformation]]. Following the [[Napoleonic Wars]] and the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire in 1806, the [[German Confederation]] was formed in 1815.
Formal [[unification of Germany]] into the modern nation-state commenced on 18 August 1866 with the [[North German Confederation Treaty]] establishing the [[Kingdom of Prussia|Prussia]]-led [[North German Confederation]] later transformed in 1871 into the [[German Empire]]. After [[World War I]] and the [[German Revolution of 1918–1919]], the Empire was in turn transformed into the [[Semi-presidential republic|semi-presidential]] [[Weimar Republic]]. The [[Adolf Hitler's rise to power|Nazi seizure of power]] in 1933 led to the establishment of [[Nazi Germany|a totalitarian dictatorship]], [[World War II]], and [[the Holocaust]]. After the [[end of World War II in Europe]] and [[Allied-occupied Germany|a period of Allied occupation]], in 1949, [[Inner German relations|Germany as a whole]] was organized into two separate polities with limited sovereignty: the Federal Republic of Germany, generally known as [[West Germany]], and the German Democratic Republic, known as [[East Germany]], while Berlin continued its ''[[de jure]]'' [[Four Power Agreement on Berlin|Four Power status]]. The Federal Republic of Germany was a founding member of the [[European Economic Community]] and the [[European Union]], while the German Democratic Republic was a communist [[Eastern Bloc]] state and member of the [[Warsaw Pact]]. After [[Peaceful Revolution|the fall]] of the [[Socialist Unity Party of Germany|communist led-government]] in East Germany, [[German reunification]] saw the [[New states of Germany|former East German states]] join the Federal Republic of Germany on [[German Unity Day|3 October 1990]].
Germany has been described as a [[great power]] with [[Economy of Germany|a strong economy]]; it has the [[List of countries by GDP (nominal)|largest economy in Europe]]. As a global power in industrial, [[Science and technology in Germany|scientific and technological]] sectors, it is both the world's [[List of countries by exports|third-largest exporter]] and [[List of countries by imports|importer]]. As a [[developed country]] it offers [[Social security in Germany|social security]], [[Healthcare in Germany|a universal health care system]], and [[Education in Germany#Tertiary education|tuition-free university education]]. Germany is a member of the [[United Nations]], European Union, [[NATO]], [[Council of Europe]], [[G7]], [[G20]], and [[OECD]]. It has the [[List of World Heritage Sites in Germany|third-greatest number]] of UNESCO [[World Heritage Site]]s.
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