What event was most responsible for Germany becoming an independent nation?

In 1871, Germany became a nation-state when most of the German states unified into the Prussian-dominated German Empire. After World War I and the German Revolution of 1918–1919, the Empire was replaced by the semi-presidential Weimar Republic.

Explanation:

adopted the practice of proskynesis, a persian court custom that involved bowing down and kissing the hand of others, depending on their rank.