The Zollverein: Austria's Lost Economic Empire

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the Zollverein, the German customs union that shaped Central Europe's economic future—and left Austria behind. They trace the union's creation from Friedrich List's vision to Prussian leadership, the exclusion of Austria at the 1834 customs conference, and the long-term consequences for the Habsburg Empire. Along the way, they discuss the role of the Bundestag, the tariff war between Austria and Prussia, and the Great Depression of the 1870s that finally broke Austrian resistance. The conversation also touches on the Kleindeutsch vs. Großdeutsch debate and how the Zollverein paved the way for Bismarck's unification of Germany without Austria. A must-listen for anyone interested in economic history, 19th-century Europe, and the forces that led to the collapse of the Habsburg monarchy. #Zollverein #Austria #Prussia #FriedrichList #GermanCustomsUnion #Bundestag #Kleindeutsch #Großdeutsch #EconomicHistory #19thCentury #Habsburg #Metternich #TariffWar #GreatDepression #Bismarck #GermanUnification #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo