Dinosaurs fascinate people of all ages and amaze both amateurs and scientists. Our knowledge of the long-gone eras when reptiles dominated our planet is constantly growing. This book provides answers to the most important questions about dinosaurs: Where do they come from? How did their unprecedented success story come about? How did they spread across the primordial continent, and what role did the exotic climate play? How did they manage to conquer not only the land but also the seas and even the skies? This book traces the development of dinosaurs from their beginnings to the end of the Jurassic period. Over these 150 million years, one encounters not only the presumed ancestors of birds, crocodiles, lizards, and turtles but also many strange animals that have only been excavated in recent years. The focus is on Germany and neighboring countries.