How often do you think about the Prussian empire?

While we were hiking a beautiful trail in Zion National Park on a company outing, Trent brought up a question: "What is Prussia?"

This is a very "Trent" thing to ask; it happens daily. Some in the group said it was once part of Germany, while others had never even heard of it. We then made a rule that we couldn't look up answers on our phones, instead opting to find out by talking to other people.

Unfortunately, no other hikers had more of an answer than us, but it did make for some great ice-breaking conversations while resting and chatting with strangers. Being asked on a hiking trail what you know about Prussia does seem like the least likely question you could ever be asked.

The game went on all day; no one we met had a satisfactory answer. We began to ask “Is Prussia fake news?” Even that evening, we asked our European server at the restaurant, "What happened to Prussia?" She didn't know. Apparently, many people must have had the same question because when we finally Googled it that evening, we found many YouTube explanations like this one.

So there we were, a team of seven, binging Prussia videos until a video of Mr. Beast giving away 100 rescue dogs grabbed 30 minutes of our time. This was then followed by comedians who can say things no one else can. We did get some real work done outside of the Prussia obsession.

ME: Can you summarize Prussia in a paragraph?

ChatGPT: Sure thing! Prussia was a historically significant state in Europe, primarily located in what is now Germany and Poland. It started as a small duchy in the early 16th century and grew into a powerful kingdom by the 18th century. Prussia was known for its strong military and efficient bureaucracy, becoming a major player in European politics. It played a central role in the unification of Germany in 1871 under the leadership of Otto von Bismarck. Prussia's influence in military, administrative, and legal reforms had a lasting impact on German and European history. However, following World War I, the Treaty of Versailles in 1919 led to the dissolution of Prussia, marking the end of its prominence as a distinct state.

ME: Can you draw a scene from what Prussian party life would look like?

ChatGPT: Here's a scene depicting a lavish 18th-century Prussian ballroom. It captures the elegance and vibrancy of party life during that era.

Stay Thirsty My friends,

SP

Above is my Prussia, below is how it probably happened