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Germanic peoples

The term Germanic peoples or Germanic tribes applies toancient Germanic peoples. The concept"Germanic" asdistinct ethnic identity was hinted at by such early geographers as StraboPtolemy, who distinguishedbarbarian groupnorthern Europe separate fromCelts. Julius Caesar,our knowledge, isfirsthave usedname,his work on The Gallic Wars (De bello Gallico).

In ancient times, many barbarian tribes were givenbroad labelGermanic (Latin: Germanicus) byRomans. Inabsencelarge-scale political unification, such as that imposed byRomans uponpeoplesItaly, itdoubtful that mostthese groups viewed themselves as connectedany direct cultural, linguistic, or political sense. The idea ofsingle German people, or Volk, isrelatively recent development, largely invented by 19th century Nationalist writers afterdisastrous Napoleonic Wars.

They did, however, havenamenon-Germanic peoples, Walha, from whichlocal names Welsh, Wallis, Walloon,Wallachia have been derived. They also spoke mutually intelligible dialectssharedcommon mythologystory telling as testified by f.i. Beowulf andSaga ofVolsungs.

Tablecontents
1 Origin
2 Migration period
3 The conceptVolk
4 Christianization

Origin

Regardingquestiontheir origins, evidence developed by both archaeologistslinguists suggests thatpeople or grouppeoples sharingcommon material culture dweltnorthern Germany, Jutland,Danish Islandssouthernmost Scandinavia duringlate European Bronze Age (1000-500 B.C.E.) This west-Baltic cultural grouping, which emerges, without sudden breaks, inarchaeological record ofNorthern European Plain, can be distinguished fromculture ofCelts inhabitingmore southerly DanubeAlpine regions duringsame period. Cultural features at that time included small, independent settlementsan economy strongly based onkeepinglivestock.

Linguists, working backwards from historically-known Germanic languages, suggest that this group spoke proto-Germanic,distinct branch ofIndo-European language family.

Many detailsearly movementchange within this group remain obscure, but bylate 2nd century, B.C.E., Roman authors recount, Gaul, ItalySpain were invaded by migrating Germanic tribes, culminatingmilitary conflict witharmiesrepublican Rome. Julius Caesar, six decades later, invokedthreatsuch attacks as one justificationhis annexationGaulRome. By1st century ofCommon Era,writingsCaesar, Tacitusother RomanMediterranean writers indicatedivisionGermanic-speaking peoples into tribal groupings centred on:

These groups all developed separate dialects,basis fordifferences among Germanic languages down topresent day.

As Rome advanced her borders toRhineDanube, incorporating many Celtic societies intoEmpire,tribal homelands tonortheast emerged collectively inrecords as Germania, whose peoples were sometimes at war withEmpire but who also engagedcomplexlong-term trade relations, military alliancescultural exchangestheir neighbours tosouth.

Migration period

During5th century, asRoman Empire drew toward its end, numerous Germanic tribes began migrating en masse (Völkerwanderung)fardiverse directions, taking themEnglandnorthern Scandinavia atnorthern tipEuropeas far south through present day Continental Europe toMediterraneanAfrica. Over time,wandering meant intrusions into other tribal territories andensuing warsland claims escalated withdwindling amountunoccupied territory. Nomadic tribes then beganstaking outpermanent homes asmeansprotection. Muchthis resultedfixed settlements from which many, underpowerful leader, expanded outwards. A defeat meant either scattering or merging withdominant tribethis continuedbe how nations were formed. In England,example, we now most often refer toAnglo-Saxons rather thantwo separate tribes.

Germanic tribes

Role ofGermanics inFallRome

Some ofGermanic tribesfrequently blamedpopular conceptions for"Fall" ofRoman Empire inlate 5th century. Professional historiansarchaeologists have since1950s shifted their interpretationssuchway thatGermanic peoplesno longer seen as invadingdecaying empire but as being co-opted into helping defend territorycentral government could no longer adequately administer. Individualssmall groups from Germanic tribes hadbeen recruited fromlimes (i.e.border regions) ofRoman world,had risen high incommand structure ofarmy - Odoacer, who deposed Romulus Augustulus,an example. Latergovernment ofEmpire beganrecruit whole tribal groups under their native leaders as officers. Assistingdefence eventually shifted into administration,then outright rule, as Roman traditionsgovernment passed intohandsGermanic tribal leaders.

The presencesuccessor states controlled bynobility from one ofGermanic tribesevident in6th century - evenItaly,former hearth ofEmpire, where Odoacer was followed by TheodoricGreat, leader ofOstrogoths, who was regarded by Roman citizensGothic settlers alike aslegitimate successor toruleRomeItaly.

The conceptVolk

Perhaps more important inlast decade of20th century andfirst decade of21st has beendebate about exactly what "tribe" or "people" meantthese groups, whose fluiditywillingnesssometimes blendseen while atsame time forced mergers asresultwar were taking place andtribe ashas been known vanished. The late classical sourcesespecially clear inmatter ofblended nature ofAlamanni.

Christianization

The Ostrogoths, Visigoths,Vandals were convertedChristianity whilewere still outsidebounds ofEmpire; however,were converted toArianism rather thanorthodox Catholicism,were soonbe seen as heretics. The one great written remnant ofGothic language istranslationportions ofBible made by Ulfilas,missionary who converted them. The Lombards were not converted until after their entrance intoEmpire, but received Christianity from Arian Germanic groups.

The Franks were converted directly from paganismCatholicism without an intervening time as Arians. Several centuries later, Frankish missionarieswarriors led by Charlemagne undertookconversiontheir northern Saxon neighbours by armed force, inseriescampaigns directly parallel withincorporationSaxon lands intoFrankish empire.
See also: ConfederationsGermanic Tribes


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