The juxtaposition of differences and commonalities was a key characteristic of the Austro-Hungarian Empire for centuries, and was particularly evident in cultural life. The intermingling of cultural codes and symbols can be seen to this day in the architecture, music and cuisine. At the same time, in around 1900, an increasing push towards nationalism became evident, manifesting itself in the juxtaposition of cultural developments, in competition and also through mutual ignorance and confrontation. Collected in two books, 50 comprehensive contributions by Austrian and international authors are presented, dealing with various aspects of this topic: the cultural policy of the state and the dynasty; cultural input through education and religion; and cultural output in the form of painting, architecture, music, literature, theatre and in the legal culture. The various forms of expression of the everyday culture of ways of life, home décor and fashion which, due to the fast-moving social dynamic, was changing, are also addressed copiously in this work, and the whole is rounded off by a historiographical essay on the culture of the turn of the century.