In 1640, Berlin was little more than a soggy, war-ravaged afterthought—plagued, depopulated, and clinging to relevance. Enter Frederick William, The Great Elector: twenty years old, recently promoted, and deeply bothered by the ruins he inherited.

In this episode, GS and the Assistant explore how one ambitious young ruler laid the groundwork for (future) Prussia’s rise by rebuilding his capital—brick by brick, tax by tax, refugee by refugee.

From fortress-building and bureaucratic scheming to Huguenot pastries and the quiet birth of café culture, it’s Berlin’s 17th-century reinvention—complete with ominous government councils, alleged wolves, and a hangout spot called the Lusthaus (yes, really!)