Rhineland

Rhineland, region of Germany along the Rhine River and its tributaries. From the Roman Empire through World War II, the Rhineland was strategically important; whoever controlled the river often exercised power over Western Europe. During the Middle Ages, Rhineland cities were political and religious centers of the Holy Roman Empire and, later, for the breakaway Protestant churches. For protection against raiding armies, heavily fortified castles—now tourist attractions—were built on hills overlooking the Rhine. In the Napoleonic Wars, the Franco-Prussian War, and both world wars, the Rhineland was a key battleground. Rich mineral deposits there, especially iron and coal, led to Germany's development as a world power in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Rhineland is still a key industrial region, and has some the world's most productive vineyards.

See also: Germany.