History
The Zollverein and German Economic Unification
Quick fact
In 1834, 18 million Germans became part of a customs union that eliminated internal tariffs among 18 states, allowing goods to travel nearly 500 miles without duties—a feat that would only be possible again after German unification.
Why this is interesting
Imagine driving through a modern country and having to stop at a border crossing for every province or state, paying a toll each time. That was the reality for German merchants in the early 1800s—until a clever trade agreement changed everything.