Where in the world is Renderosity? Our next stop is Deutschland - Germany! This cornerstone of Europe will be our destination for the next two weeks, so come and learn about Germany and some of the things that make it great.

Renderosity offers the German language in the Renderosity MarketPlace, as well as several other international languages.

Part of this showcase will take a look at some of the German members that make Renderosity THE home for digital artists! Those who have ever visited Germany are also welcome to share stories or experiences right in the Opinions section on this page. Also, we welcome you to use the Video Center to upload any German related videos into the Spotlight section.

Congratulations to allnaydi, robson_luke and Biscuits. They were randomly selected from the correct entries in the Where in the World? Quiz. Our next stop in the Renderosity Travels will be around again before you know it, so stay tuned! In the meantime, we give you...Germany.

Germany derives its name from Germania. It is said that the name was given by Julius Caesar himself, using a Gaelic term possibly meaning "neighbor".

Tribes that occupied what is now Germany can be traced as far back as the First Century B.C. Aside from expansion south in to mainland Europe and meetings with the Romans, little is known about the earliest part of German history. Despite many battles between the Romans and Germanic tribes, the land representing modern Germany remained out from under the control of the Roman Empire. Recently an ivory sculpture of a woman was found in Germany. Scientists estimate its age to be around 35,000 years old, making it one of the world's oldest known sculptures of a human being.

The area was controlled by the Frankish Empire for several centuries which culminated with the rule of Charlemagne in the early 9th Century. This eventually led to the rule of the Holy Roman Empire from that point on through the 19th Century. This period saw the beginning of the Protestant Reformation with Martin Luther in 1517.

In the 1300s Germany and the rest of Western Europe was ravaged by the Black Death. One third of the entire European population was estimated to have died at the time. Germany itself was said to have lost between 20-40% of its entire population in a four year span.

In more modern times, the country saw political turmoil from the creation of the German Empire in 1871 up until after the Second World War. This time included Germany being defeated in World War I, political unrest with the Weimar Republic and the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Third Reich.

Post World War II saw Germany in near ruin. A scramble for occupation of the country by allied countries created two German states - the republic of West Germany and the communist controlled East Germany. The lasting icon for the uneasy existence between these two entities was the Berlin Wall, which separated Germany's capital into Eastern and Western pieces. The fall of the Berlin Wall paved the way for German reunification that formed the Germany we know today.

Germany is now a member of the European Union, and launched the euro as their currency in 1999.

Germany has been at the center of European civilization for centuries, so it stands to reason that there are many remarkable sites to see - both ancient and modern. Here are a few places to see while you are there:

The capital city of Germany. It's population of 3.4 million makes it the second most populous city in the entire European Union. One of the largest tourist destinations in the EU, Berlin is the major cultural hub in Europe. In addition to experiencing the nightlife and modern amenities offered by a city with such a high standard of living, you can also see reminders of Berlin's past, including part of the Berlin Wall and the Brandenburg Gate. For the naturalist, the outlying areas of Berlin contain woodland and stunning lakeviews.

The birthplace of Beethoven. Bonn was the capital of West Germany for 31 years, and still remains a political center for the country. Along with Beethoven's birthplace you can also see one of the country's oldest churches, Bonn Minster, and an extinct volcano, Rodderberg.

The "village of a million people", Munich is home to automaker BMW, whose headquarters is actually a national landmark. You can catch a football match at the amazing Allianz Arena, which actually hosted World Cup matches in 2006. For those with finer tastes, one can see opera performed at the National Theater.

Along with Berlin, Hamburg is a city-state within Germany. It is the second largest city in Germany, and has the second largest port in all of Europe. If you love sports, Hamburg is the place for you. No other place in Germany boasts as many professional league teams and internatiol sporting events. Tennis, field hockey, equestrian, football and more can be found at the elite level in this city. You can also have an authentic hamburger, although it's not going to be anything like the one you can get at McDonald's.

Two things that go together are Germans and sausage. Over 1,500 different types of sausage are made within Germany's borders. They also know beer. The average German consumes almost 31 gallons of beer per year. That's one of the highest rates in the world!

If you're dining in Germany, make sure you are prepared. There is a popular German saying: Breakfast like an emperor, lunch like a king, and dine like a beggar. Bread, rolls, cold meats, cheese and more will end up on your plate at breakfast alone! A lot of traditional vegetables can be found along with a nice German sausage.

One popular food in Germany is the Bratwurst. From fast food to home prepared, there are multitudes of recipes for this sausage treat for you to try. Popular side dishes you can find with a good "brat" are sauerkraut and fried potatoes.

For those who like fish, you can try the uniquely German rollmops. It consists of a pickled herring fillet wrapped around a pickle or onion. Delicious!

For dessert, German cuisine offers you a large selection of tarts and cakes made with fresh fruits. Cheesecake is a popular treat, as is the Black Forest Cake - a wonderful confection with chocolate cake, whipped cream and cherries. Another interesting food you can find is Spaghettieis, which is ice cream that looks like real spaghettie and sauce, but tastes like delicious fruity ice cream!

Germans love their beer, so much so that you can find not only top quality drinks such as Koelsch and Altbier, but also specialty beers that mix together concoctions that include lemonade or cola! One thing that you won't find in Germany is a can of beer. In most places you will only find it in a bottle or draught.

As with many developed countries, Germany has cuisine that is influences from other countries found in Europe and beyond.

Part of Germany's meteoric rise out of the ashes of World War II can be attributed to their advances in science and technology. Some of the brightest minds of the 20th century came out of Germany, such as Albert Einstein.

Some of the oldest universities in the entire world are located in Germany, and over the centuries many forward thinking individuals flocked to Germany to learn there. The University of Heidelberg has existed for over 600 years.

In addition to Einstein, Germans arguably contributed more to 20th century physics than any other country can claim. Max Planck, Werner Heisenberg and Erwin Schrödinger were just a few of the bright minds to come out of Deutschland. Another German, Johannes Gutenberg, invented moveable type - moving civilization light years ahead in the dissemination of information for the masses.

Germany was, and still is, a forerunner in the transportation industry. Some of the most well known names in transportation are German: Benz, Diesel, Zeppelin, Von Braun and Daimler.

Some of the most popular automobiles in the world originate in Germany, such as Volkswagen, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche. The technology for some of the new battery operated vehicles currently being tested was developed in Germany. Such is the reputation of German quality and precision that the term "german engineering" is used to denote something of superior design and functionality.

The Nobel Prize has been awarded to 102 Germans, only behind the UK and the United States in the number of laureates. German influence can be seen in a variety of major scientific fields. As such, some of the premier research institutions in the whole world can be found within the borders of Germany.