The assumption of a close transatlantic relationship between Germany and the United States is dissolving – a sufficient reason to inquire about historical roots that go deeper than politics and diplomacy, and much further back than contemporary history since 1945. The contributions of the Berlin historian, many of which have not been published before, focus on the fundamental structures of Western modernity from the Early Modern period to the present. They explore revolutionary movements since the 18th century, the establishment of market society, the origins of republicanism and democracy, and the reactions of intellectuals to the crises of the 20th century. Paul Nolte's analyses connect materialities and mentalities, and they also programmatically explore ways to link social history and intellectual history. This creates a multifaceted picture of transatlantic modernity that restores depth to snapshots of German-American relations.