Chapter 17: The Germans

Study Guide – Accommodated

Germanic Migartion

  • The Germans left the forests and marshes of orther Europe looking for warmer climate and better grazing land.
  • They were also attracted to Rome by its wealth and culture.

Village Life

  • The Germans lived in villages surrounded by farmlands and pastures.
  • Homes were long, thatched-roof huts with open space around them. One end of the hut was divided into animal stalls used to heat the hut during winter months.
  • Villagers made their living by herding, farming and raiding.
  • The Germans believed strongly in hospitality.

* It was against the law to turn away anyone who

came to their door.

  • Germans learned to speak and write Latin. They began to use Roman letters to write their own language.
  • The Germans originally gave their greatest loyatly to their clan, but later developed a strong feeling of loyalty toward their chieftain.
  • German warrior bands did not have fixed plans of fighting.

*They fought on their own, making surprise attacks

on their enemies, yelling in loud voices to frighten

their foes.

* The Germans had many gods who liked to fight and

hunt.

  • Their chief god was Wodan who was the god of war, poetry, learning and magic.

* Thor was also the god of war and thunder

* Warriors who died in battle went to the hall of

Wodan, called Valhalla, where the warriors would

feast and fight forever.

  • Reckless fighting caused by too much drinking often became blood feuds, or quarrels in which families of the fighters sought revenge.
  • German courts could impose fines called wergeld if a person was judged to be guilty.

The Conquerors

  • The Goths were a Germanic people who lived in the Balkan Peninsula of Europe.

* They were divided into two groups: The Ostrogoths or East

Goths, and the Visigoths or West Goths.

  • The Huns, led by Attila, came from central Asia and conquered the Goths.
  • The West Goths defeated the Romans at the Battle of Adrianople.

* In 410, led by their chieftain Alarie, they captured Rome.

  • The West Goths ended Roman rule in Spain. They drove out of the Vandals and set up their own kingdom.
  • The Vandals relocated to North Africa and became pirates attacking cities along the Mediterranean coast.

* The word “vandalism” meaning willful destruction of property

comes from their attacks.

  • Germanic generals found Rome weak and easy to fight because of political and economic problems.

* Odoacer ruled Rome after the last roman emperor.

* A group of East Goths invaded Italy and set up a kingdom under

their leader, Theodoric.