I was looking in my text book for an upcoming history class and it had a map of industrial centers and coal deposists in Europe. A good deal of theseran right down the French-German boardes and near Prague. My first thought upon looking at this map was on how to make these areas indepedant... but then I thought what if these areas were under one power? Liege and the Ruhr under the Duchy of Burgundy would make an awesome industrial speculation, and Bohemia containing Silesia would also have a good deal of industrial prowess.
So how could this be achieved? Sure both France and Austria were in postions to have these areas in their control during the 1700s and into the 1800s if certain wars went bettter for them. France it seems is most likely to become a superpower if they are in a situation in which they can take advantage of it. (Though they have some social barriers) Likewise Austria had ruled both Bohemia and Silesia at the same time in the past but had Silesia taken away. Now from a later POD it makes more sense to have Austria and France rather than Bohemia and Burgundy, but it makes for a catcher title...
So how could this be achieved? Sure both France and Austria were in postions to have these areas in their control during the 1700s and into the 1800s if certain wars went bettter for them. France it seems is most likely to become a superpower if they are in a situation in which they can take advantage of it. (Though they have some social barriers) Likewise Austria had ruled both Bohemia and Silesia at the same time in the past but had Silesia taken away. Now from a later POD it makes more sense to have Austria and France rather than Bohemia and Burgundy, but it makes for a catcher title...