Germany: In the 12th and 13th centaury German poets known as minnesingers performed and composed a piece of music for the love of there courtly love for the dukes known as Hohenstaufen of Franconia and Swabia. The traditional dance in Germany is known as the polka, It originated from a group called the Swabians, they came from Wurtemburg. In the 18th century they settled in a place known as the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The polka comes from the Czech word pulka which means half, this refers to short half steps in the dance. In the early 1840's the world polka was widely introduced in Europe and that is why many people now a days know how to dance the polka.  In 1800 Folk music of polka style appeared in written music.