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Hour 1: Hour 1: The Germanic Tribes The Germanic Tribes Identity Identity Culture Culture Language Language Customs Customs History History

Hour 1: The Germanic Tribes Identity Culture Language Customs History

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Hour 1:Hour 1:The Germanic TribesThe Germanic Tribes

IdentityIdentityCulture Culture LanguageLanguageCustomsCustomsHistoryHistory

The IndoeuropeansThe Indoeuropeans

Members of the Indoeuropean Family of Members of the Indoeuropean Family of Languages:Languages:

West-indoeuropeans: Celts, Germans, West-indoeuropeans: Celts, Germans, Italians, Greeks, Tocharians etc.Italians, Greeks, Tocharians etc.

East-indoeuropeans: Indians, Iranians, East-indoeuropeans: Indians, Iranians, Armenians, Albanians, Baltics, SlavsArmenians, Albanians, Baltics, Slavs

Centum / Satem divisonCentum / Satem divison

Proto-IndoeuropeanProto-Indoeuropean LanguageLanguage

- based on - based on similarities similarities among among known known languages: languages: for example, for example, Latin and Latin and GermanGerman

LatinLatin GermanGerman EnglishEnglish

paterpater VaterVater fatherfather

priorprior früherfrüher earlierearlier

pecuspecus ViehVieh cattlecattle

populuspopulus VolkVolk peoplepeople

princepsprinceps FürstFürst princeprince

pespes FussFuss footfoot

Proto-IndoeuropeanProto-Indoeuropean LanguageLanguage

- Not really an actual - Not really an actual language, but rather a language, but rather a reconstructed one.reconstructed one.

““Starred-forms” – Starred-forms” – there is no evidence there is no evidence that they existed, but that they existed, but they have been they have been deduced, based on deduced, based on what we know about what we know about language change.language change.

*P.I.E.*P.I.E. EnglischEnglisch

*pater*pater fatherfather

*penkwe*penkwe fivefive

*pet*pet footfoot

*pei*pei fat, fertilefat, fertile

*peku*peku wealth, cattlewealth, cattle

*porko*porko farrowfarrow

Indoeuropean: Homeland Indoeuropean: Homeland (5000-3000 B.C.E.)(5000-3000 B.C.E.)

The Germanic TribesThe Germanic Tribes

Homeland: Scandinavia, Northern Germany Homeland: Scandinavia, Northern Germany Around 500 BCE. – took over northern EuropeAround 500 BCE. – took over northern Europe East Germans: Goths, Burgundians, VandalsEast Germans: Goths, Burgundians, Vandals North Germans: Normans, Danes, Jutes, AngelsNorth Germans: Normans, Danes, Jutes, Angels West Germans: Frisians, Saxons, Langobards, West Germans: Frisians, Saxons, Langobards,

Cheruskers, Chattens, Alemanni, Swabians, Franks etc.Cheruskers, Chattens, Alemanni, Swabians, Franks etc. Archeological Digs (Moor Mummies) -> Agricultural basis, Archeological Digs (Moor Mummies) -> Agricultural basis,

domesticated animals; wool, linen and fur clothesdomesticated animals; wool, linen and fur clothes Hünen Graves – Tools, Weapons, Skeletons of HorsesHünen Graves – Tools, Weapons, Skeletons of Horses Musical Instruments – “Luren”Musical Instruments – “Luren”

Germans & the Roman Germans & the Roman EmpireEmpire

The Runic The Runic AlphabetAlphabet

Arose around the time of ChristArose around the time of Christ Etched in weapons and other Etched in weapons and other

objectsobjects Simple information and magical Simple information and magical

spellsspells ““The Golden Horn of Gallehus:”The Golden Horn of Gallehus:”

Ek Ek hlewagastiR :holtigar :horna hlewagastiR :holtigar :horna :tawido:tawido

““I, Hlewagastir, Son of Holt, made this horn.”I, Hlewagastir, Son of Holt, made this horn.”

Runic Alphabet (futhark)Runic Alphabet (futhark)

First Reports First Reports

Greek historian, PythiasGreek historian, Pythias Julius Caesar, Julius Caesar, De bello gallicoDe bello gallico Tacitus, Tacitus, GermaniaGermania

- emphasized the virtues of the Germans- emphasized the virtues of the Germans - chastity of the women, loyalty, bravery- chastity of the women, loyalty, bravery

The Land of the Germans:The Land of the Germans:

Dense primitive forests, swamps, Dense primitive forests, swamps, moors moors

Only the coastal regions were easily Only the coastal regions were easily reachable, and were therefore reachable, and were therefore inhabited inhabited

Weather: cold, wet, dark and foggyWeather: cold, wet, dark and foggy

The appearance of the The appearance of the GermansGermans

Tall and strongTall and strong Light complexion, Light complexion,

reddish-blond hair, blue reddish-blond hair, blue eyes, a longish face and eyes, a longish face and skullskull

Weapons: the spear, the Weapons: the spear, the throwing axe, slings, bow throwing axe, slings, bow and arrow, daggers, and arrow, daggers, swords, shields. swords, shields.

ShieldsShields

One may never lose one’s shield! – that would be a great loss of honor and the proof of cowardice.

Germanic habitationsGermanic habitations::

Reconstruction of a Germanic settlement

Typical Germanic longhouse

Way of Life: Regulated by Way of Life: Regulated by VirtuesVirtues

Hospitality: Tacitus, Hospitality: Tacitus, Germania, Germania, Ch. 21 – “Sociability Ch. 21 – “Sociability and Hospitality are practiced by the germanic and Hospitality are practiced by the germanic tribes to a far greater extent that any other people. tribes to a far greater extent that any other people. To send any person seeking shelter away from To send any person seeking shelter away from one’s front door is considered an injustice.”one’s front door is considered an injustice.”

Honor: the highest virtue of the Germans – the Honor: the highest virtue of the Germans – the honor of the individual is directly connected with honor of the individual is directly connected with the honor of the clan.the honor of the clan.

Loyalty – the relationship between lord and vassal, Loyalty – the relationship between lord and vassal, solemnized with a sworn oath. solemnized with a sworn oath.

Problematic: Blind Loyalty (WWII)Problematic: Blind Loyalty (WWII)

The ClanThe Clan - extended family, all male blood relatives plus - extended family, all male blood relatives plus

their wives and children and other relatives, their wives and children and other relatives, servants and maids – around 50-100 Families.servants and maids – around 50-100 Families.

Blood Revenge / the “Wergeld”Blood Revenge / the “Wergeld” Ethelinge = the most important men of the Ethelinge = the most important men of the

familyfamily Vasalls (Degen) = supporters and underlingsVasalls (Degen) = supporters and underlings Das Thing = assembly of free men – Das Thing = assembly of free men –

responsible for making the most important responsible for making the most important decisions.decisions.

The Religion of the The Religion of the GermansGermans

The gods: entities with personality, not The gods: entities with personality, not exemplary for human behavior, exemplary for human behavior, symbolize aspects of life, fate (especially symbolize aspects of life, fate (especially the Nornen).the Nornen).

The Religion of the The Religion of the GermansGermans

Donar – protector of the fields, symbolizes the raw power of Donar – protector of the fields, symbolizes the raw power of naturenature

< “Thursday”“Donner” = thunder

The Religion of the The Religion of the GermansGermans

Ziu / Tiw / Tyr – war god of the SaxonsZiu / Tiw / Tyr – war god of the Saxons

< “Tuesday”(martes, mardi)

The Religion of the The Religion of the GermansGermans

Friga: Wotan’s wife, protectoress of Friga: Wotan’s wife, protectoress of marriage and motherly love, the great marriage and motherly love, the great sky-mother sky-mother

The Religion of the The Religion of the GermansGermans

Wotan (Odin) – great father, god of the sky, lord Wotan (Odin) – great father, god of the sky, lord of the heavens, also the most unpredictable of of the heavens, also the most unpredictable of the gods.the gods.

< “Wednesday”

The Religion of the The Religion of the GermansGermans

Wotan’s Maidens of the battlefield = the Wotan’s Maidens of the battlefield = the Valkyrie, who collect the souls of fallen warriors Valkyrie, who collect the souls of fallen warriors in order to lead them to eternal honor in in order to lead them to eternal honor in Vallhalla.Vallhalla.

The Religion of the The Religion of the GermansGermans

- Freya: goddess of erotic - Freya: goddess of erotic love and sensual beauty, love and sensual beauty, propagation, fecundity, propagation, fecundity, love potionslove potions

- took part in battles, - took part in battles, accompanied the Valkyrieaccompanied the Valkyrie

- associated with cats- associated with cats - flies by the power of a - flies by the power of a

falcon feather dress. falcon feather dress. < Friday (vendredi, viernes)

Mythological BeingsMythological Beings

cobolds

Witches

Evil Spirts

Nymphs

Melusines

Undines

Mythological BeingsMythological Beings

Dwarves

Elves

Werwölves

Talking trees

The Twilight of the Gods The Twilight of the Gods (Götterdämmerung)(Götterdämmerung)

Battle at the end of Battle at the end of the World between the World between gods and giants gods and giants

Complete Complete annihilation of the annihilation of the world, Valhalla, gods, world, Valhalla, gods, giants, the universe, giants, the universe, everything everything

Pessisimism: Pessisimism: pointless-ness & pointless-ness & purposelessness of purposelessness of existenceexistence

The Roman Empire & The Roman Empire & Germanic TribesGermanic Tribes

Hermann the Cherusker Hermann the Cherusker (Arminius)(Arminius)

A Prince of the A Prince of the Cherusker tribe, Cherusker tribe, reared in Romereared in Rome

9 AD: attacked 3 9 AD: attacked 3 Roman legions Roman legions under Varus in the under Varus in the Teutoburger Forest Teutoburger Forest and destroyedand destroyed

Marked the end of Marked the end of Roman plans for Roman plans for imperial expansion.imperial expansion.

Das Hermannsdenkmalbei Detmold

The LimesThe Limes Roman defensive structures on Roman defensive structures on

the Rhine and Danube riversthe Rhine and Danube rivers 550 km = after the Great Wall 550 km = after the Great Wall

of China, the world’s longest of China, the world’s longest construction project of its kind.construction project of its kind.

Essentially a wall, secured by Essentially a wall, secured by palisades and stone palisades and stone reinforcementsreinforcements

Watchtowers, up to twenty Watchtowers, up to twenty feet in height, spaced at feet in height, spaced at regular intervals along the regular intervals along the wall. wall.

The The “Völkerwanderungen”“Völkerwanderungen” 375 (invasion of the Huns 375 (invasion of the Huns

in Europe) until 568 (defeat in Europe) until 568 (defeat of the Langobards in of the Langobards in Northern Italy)Northern Italy)

Huns -> Ostrogoths -> Huns -> Ostrogoths -> Visigoths -> the Eastern Visigoths -> the Eastern Roman EmpireRoman Empire

378 Adrianopel – Alarich 378 Adrianopel – Alarich (King of the Visigoths) (King of the Visigoths) defeated the Eastern defeated the Eastern Imperial armyImperial army

August 24, 410 – Alarich August 24, 410 – Alarich conquered Rome.conquered Rome.

Die Eroberung Roms 410

The Völkerwanderungen: The Völkerwanderungen: the Tribes attack and the Tribes attack and

conquer the Roman Empire conquer the Roman Empire

The VandalsThe Vandals -cross the Rhine at the beginning of the 5-cross the Rhine at the beginning of the 5thth

cent.cent. - 429 Geiserich (leader of the Vandals) - 429 Geiserich (leader of the Vandals)

conquers Northern Africaconquers Northern Africa - 439 – Fall of Carthage- 439 – Fall of Carthage - captured the roman battle fleet, undertook - captured the roman battle fleet, undertook

campaigns of plunder in the Mediterranean campaigns of plunder in the Mediterranean up until the death of Geiserich (477).up until the death of Geiserich (477).

- 534 –Kingdom of the Vandals is destroyed - 534 –Kingdom of the Vandals is destroyed by imperial soldiers of the Eastern Empire. by imperial soldiers of the Eastern Empire.

The Huns and the The Huns and the OstrogothsOstrogoths

Attila dies in 453 – his people Attila dies in 453 – his people disappear as a unified group disappear as a unified group (but some remain in (but some remain in Hungary)Hungary)

The eastern Goths free The eastern Goths free themselves – conquer Italy, themselves – conquer Italy, their leader Theodoric their leader Theodoric murders Odovakarmurders Odovakar

Theodoric sucessfully rules Theodoric sucessfully rules until his death (526)until his death (526)

Thereafter, the eastern Thereafter, the eastern Roman Emperor Justinian Roman Emperor Justinian defeats defeats the defeats defeats the Ostrogoths and they Ostrogoths and they disappear from European disappear from European history.history.

The BurgundiansThe Burgundians

- establish a - establish a Burgundian court in Burgundian court in WormsWorms

- King Gundahari- King Gundahari - 437: the king and - 437: the king and

20 000 warriors are 20 000 warriors are annihilated by annihilated by Romans and HunsRomans and Huns

Das NibelungenliedDas NibelungenliedKriemhild shows Hagen Gunther’s severed head

The LangobardsThe Langobards

- after long after long migration, they migration, they settle in upper settle in upper ItalyItaly

- 568 they establish 568 they establish the last Germanic the last Germanic kingdomkingdom

- rule until 774rule until 774

Angels and SaxonsAngels and Saxons

The VikingsThe Vikings