PART TWO: SHORT ANSWER
Introduction In the late A.D. 300s, an Asian people called the Huns began invading the land of the Goths, who lived north and east of the Roman Empire. The Goth leader Alaric attacked Rome with his army. His capture of the city in A.D. 410 is described in document 1, written by a Byzantine historian around A.D. 550. Document 2 is a Roman’s description of the Huns, written around A.D. 390. In A.D. 452, the Huns, led by Attila, attacked the Western Roman Empire. The Hun leader is the subject of document 3.
Task Compare and contrast the Romans’ views of the Goths and the Huns.
A. Short Answer
Document 1: the Goths' capture of Rome, from History of the Wars by Procopius of Caesarea
After much time had been spent by [Alaric] . . . and he had not been able either by force or by any other device to capture [Rome], he formed the following plan. Among the youths in the army . . . he chose out three hundred whom he knew to be of good birth and possessed of valor [courage] beyond their years, and told them secretly that he was about to make a present of them to certain of the patricians in Rome, pretending that they were slaves. . . . Alaric straightway sent ambassadors to the members of the Senate, stating that he admired them for their loyalty toward their emperor, and that he would trouble [Rome] no longer, [and that] he wished to present each one of them with some domestics [servants].
After making this declaration and sending the youths . . . he commanded the barbarians to make preparations for the departure [from Rome], and he let this be known to the Romans. And they [were] exceedingly happy, since they were completely ignorant of the plot of the barbarians. For the youths, by being unusually obedient to their owners, averted [avoided] suspicion. . . . But when the appointed day had come, Alaric armed his whole force for the attack . . . by the Salarian Gate. . . . And all the youths at the time of the day agreed upon came to this gate, and, assailing the guards suddenly, put them to death; then they opened the gates and received Alaric and the army into the city. . . . And they set fire to the houses which were next to the gate . . . and after plundering the whole city and destroying most of the Romans, they moved on.
Source: Excerpt from History of the Wars by Procopius of Caesarea
What did Alaric do to prepare for the attack?
What did he do to Rome?
What does this plan suggest about Alaric's character?
Document 2: description of the Huns by Ammianus Marcellinus (A.D. c. 330–395)
The people of the Huns . . . have squat bodies, strong limbs, and thick necks, and are so . . . ugly and bent that they might be two-legged animals. . . . They wear garments of linen or the skins of field mice stitched together. . . . Once they have put their necks into some dingy shirt they never take it off or change it til it rots and falls to pieces from incessant [constant] wear. They have round caps of fur on their heads and protect their hairy legs with goatskins. Their shapeless shoes . . . make it hard to walk easily. In consequence they are ill-fitted to fight on foot, and remain glued on their horses. . . . When they join battler, they advance in packs, uttering their various war cries. Being lightly equipped and very sudden in their movements, they can deliberately scatter and gallop at random, inflicting tremendous slaughter. . . . None of them plows or ever touches a plow handle. They have no fixed abode, no home or law or settled manner of life, but wander . . . with the wagons in which they live. . . . This wild race, moving without encumbrances [moving freely and easily] and consumed by a savage passion to pillage [plunder] the property of others, advanced robbing and slaughtering over the lands of their neighbors.
Source: Excerpt by Ammianus Marcellinus
How does the writer describe the physical appearance of the Huns?
Does the author view the Huns negatively or positively? Why do you feel this way?