German History Lesson 2: Germanic Tribes

• These are study notes for German History Lesson 2, covering Germanic tribes, the Roman Empire, the Migration Period of the Goths, and the Conversion to Christianity.

Germanic Tribes

• No exact date exists regarding the origin of the Germanic people.
• References to Germanic tribes appear in Julius Caesar's "Commentaries" (51 BC) and Cornelius Tacitus' "Germania" (98 AD).
• The Celts were also a group present during this time.
• Traces of the Germanic people have been found in Southern Sweden, Southern Scandinavia, Jutland (western part of Denmark), and Northern Germany.
• There were many small and large Germanic tribes including: Goths, Vandals, Chatten, Kimbern, and Teutons
• Germanic tribes never formed a unified people/nation.

Germanic Society

• Society structure from top to bottom: Volksthing (people's assembly), Stammhäuptling (tribal chief), Stammesrat (tribal council), Sippen (clans), Adlige (nobility) + Freie Männer (free men) + Sklaven (slaves).

Germanic Economy

• As herders, they produced dairy products like butter, buttermilk, cheese, sour milk products, quark, and whey.
• The origin of the meat came from their herds.
• Plant production included: grains, root crops, and vegetables.
• Metal was a luxury material; alternatives were wood, leather, or clay.
• Metal was mostly bronze.

Runes

• Runes are the ancient characters of the Germanic people.

The Roman Empire

• Ruled the largest part of Europe, North Africa, and the Near East.
• The city of Rome was the largest in the world, with 1 million inhabitants.
• The government consisted of an Emperor and Senate.
• The economy was based on slavery.
• Religion included gods like Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva.

Interactions Between Germanic Tribes and the Roman Empire

• It was crucial for the Roman Empire to secure the Rhine River frontier against aggressive tribes, which repeatedly invaded Gaul.
• The Romans built military fortresses along the Rhine and Main rivers, such as Vetera (Xanten) and Mogontiacum (Mainz).
• In 12 BC, Drusus (stepson of Emperor Augustus) invaded territories after the Sugambri and Usipetri attacked Gaul, subjugating tribes like the Chatti, Cherusci, and Marcomanni.
• Roman armies were stationed in Germania imposing heavy taxes.
• A rebellion formed under the leadership of the Cherusci nobleman, Arminius, against Varus.
• In 9 AD, the Cherusci, Chatti, Bructeri, and Marsi defeated three Roman legions in the Battle at Teutoburg Forest around modern day Teuteborg.
• Using guerilla-tactics Germans destroyed the Roman armies, which were most effective in open-field battles, resulting in about 30,000 Roman deaths including Varus.
• The Romans withdrew back to the Rhine River.
• The Germanic tribes were free again.
• After Rome established its frontiers, commercial and cultural contacts between Germanic peoples and the Roman Empire were as important as direct conflict.
• The frontier was never a barrier to trade or travel.
• Around 50 AD, tribes settled along the Rhine, learned to use Roman money, and Germanic graves then included Roman goods like pottery, glass, and metalwork.
• Raw materials, amber, leather, and slaves went back across the frontier.
• Germanic tribesmen also served in Roman armies.
• Along the rivers, Romans built towns such as Trier, Xanten, Bonn, Mainz, Koblenz, Augsburg, Regensburg, and Wien.
• Latin became part of the Germanic dialects.
• Reasons for these movements were the desire to live like the Romans, seek warmer climates for their livestock and crops, seek land and treasure.
• From the East nomadic tribes pushed Germanic tribes out of their territories; Germanic tribes crossed the border into the Roman Empire often.

Völkerwanderung von Goten (Migration Period of the Goths)

• Huns from the East pushed Germanic tribes in waves over the border of the Roman Empire.
• The West Goths were allowed in by Emperor Valens.
• A large group could not be accommodated, leading to the Conflict of the West Goths, known as the Gothic War (376-382).
• Rome's border was under pressure; the Huns moved west, and there was an invasion by the Germans (386, 395, 405, 406).

Bekehrung zum Christentum (Conversion to Christianity)

• Image showing the baptism of a King, symbolizing the Conversion to Christianity.

Study notes covering the origin of Germanic tribes, references in Roman texts, and their societal structure. Key aspects include the absence of a unified nation and the organization of society. The notes also delve into Southern Sweden, Southern Scandinavia, and Northern Germany.