Germania is a book written by the Roman historian Tacitus in the 1st century AD. In this work, Tacitus provides a detailed description of the Germanic tribes that lived in what is now modern-day Germany and surrounding areas.
Tacitus begins his description of the Germanic tribes by noting their physical characteristics, such as their tall stature, fair hair, and blue eyes. He also notes their strong sense of individual freedom and their disdain for luxury and excess. Tacitus describes the Germanic tribes as being fiercely independent and highly egalitarian, with no central government or ruling class. Instead, they were organized into small, autonomous clans led by chieftains who were chosen based on their strength, bravery, and wisdom.
Tacitus also describes the Germanic people's religious beliefs, which revolved around a pantheon of gods and goddesses, as well as their belief in the power of magic and divination. He notes that the Germanic tribes were deeply superstitious, and that their religion played a central role in their daily lives.
Despite their lack of a centralized government, Tacitus describes the Germanic tribes as being highly cohesive and unified, with a strong sense of community and shared values. He notes that they were fiercely loyal to their clans and families, and that they were willing to defend their lands and way of life against outsiders.
Overall, Tacitus' depiction of the Germanic tribes in Germania paints a picture of a people who were fiercely independent, highly egalitarian, and deeply connected to their traditions and way of life. While his description may be biased or incomplete, it remains an important source of information about the ancient Germanic peoples and their culture.
Tacitus’ Germania: the Mythology Behind German Nationalism
They choose their kings by birth, their generals for merit. Upon the spiritless, cowardly and unwarlike, such deformity of visage still remains. Nay, of their ancient renown, many and extensive are the traces and monuments still remaining; even their entrenchments upon either shore, so vast in compass that from thence you may even now measure the greatness and numerous bands of that people, and assent to the account of an army so mighty. Tacitus and the Boudican Revolt. And having a good life did not necessarily mean having a value towards society. When they go into battle, it is a disgrace for the chief to be surpassed in velour, a disgrace for his followers not to equal the velour of the chief.
Tacitus' Description of Germanic Society Essay Example
In order to back-up this grand claim, Dr. Agricola was spared those later years during which Domitian, leaving now no interval or breathing space of time, but, as it were, with one continuous blow, drained the life-blood of the Commonwealth. Of all the Suevians, the Semnones recount themselves to be the most ancient and most noble. For my own part, I agree with those who think that the tribes of Germany are free from all taint of intermarriages with foreign nations, and that they appear as a distinct, unmixed race, like none but themselves. .
Tacitus’ Germania: Insights Into the Origins of Germany
In their councils an accusation may be preferred or a capital crime prosecuted. Lest the woman should think herself to stand apart from aspirations after noble deeds and from the perils of war, she is reminded by the ceremony which inaugurates marriage that she is her husband's partner in toil and danger, destined to suffer and to dare with him alike both in in war. Its first publication in central Europe occurred at Nuremberg in 1473—74; the first commentary on the text was written by Renaissance humanist Beatus Rhenanus in 1519. Nor are they as easily persuaded to plough the earth and to wait for the year's produce as to challenge an enemy and earn the honor of wounds. Although this kind of insight has earned him praise, he has also been criticized for ignoring the larger context. Next to the Chatti, dwell the Usipians and Tencterians; upon the Rhine now running in a channel uniform and certain, such as suffices for a boundary. By them in all engagements the first assault is made: of them the front of the battle is always composed, as men who in their looks are singular and tremendous.
The Germania has been the most influential source for the early Germanic peoples since the Renaissance. The Annales of Cornelius Tacitus. Dies kann aber bei dieser Kernfrage nur bedingt helfen. They would support their menfolk issuing blood-curdling curses and shrieks at their enemies. They inhabit not much territory upon the Rhine, but possess an island in it.
Germania used old money, and did not have much value for gold and silver; not as much as Rome. . Over it a Priest presides appareled like a woman; but according to the explication of the Romans, 'tis Castor and Pollux who are here worshipped. This is the measure of their decline, I will not say below freedom, but even below decent slavery. It remains unknown whether Tacitus had any children. Pliny, the foremost authority on science in ancient Europe, had served in the army in Germany. .
Originally from Scotland, Colin studied Ancient History and Civilizations before completing an MLitt distinction in Roman history from the University of Newcastle. Some could draw fighters from across tribal and clan lines. What little is known comes from scattered hints throughout his work, the letters of his friend and admirer Tacitus was born in 56 or 57 to an Gaius, but in the major surviving manuscript of his work his name is given as Publius. Robinson: The Germania of Tacitus. In the conservative tradition of Cato the Elder, Tacitus believed that Rome was rotting from the inside due to its easy acceptance of the Greek philosophies of Hedonism and Epicureanism.
This vast and especially to the east and north ill-defined and fluid region spanned what today comprises multiple modern countries from the Netherlands to Poland, and from Scandinavia to the Danube. Many characteristics set it apart from the other works of Tacitus, so that its authenticity has at various times been questioned. It is thus the Suevians are distinguished from the other Germans, thus the free Suevians from their slaves. Besonders diese Bemerkung fĂ¼hrte zur Annahme, die Germania stelle einen Sittenspiegel dar, der an die Adresse der römischen Gesellschaft gerichtet sei. Her they believe to interpose in the affairs of man, and to visit countries.
Critical Analysis on Tacitus: Germania, Sample of Essays
Third major comparison between Rome and Germania was their use of money. . But every man's children are his heirs and successors, and there are no wills. That none of the several people in German live together in cities, is abundantly known. But the real thrust of Germania is this: it is partially a politically-minded critique of Roman society that uses the Germanic barbarians as a counter-example, while at the same time upholding Roman civilization as the one culture that undertakes war and adventure for more complex reasons than simple rites of passage. For a long time, indeed, it lay unheeded like any other refuse of the sea, until Roman luxury made its reputation. In the territories of the Hermondurians rises the Elbe, a river very famous and formerly well known to us; at present we only hear it named.
She must live and die with the feeling that she is receiving what she must hand down to her children neither tarnished nor depreciated, what future daughters-in-law may receive, and may be so passed on to her grandchildren. They do not heap garments or spices on the funeral pile. Gift-giving often of weapons , hunting, and feasting were central to the culture. The Roman Way Summary 895 Words 4 Pages In the book, The Roman Way, by Edith Hamilton, the author intends to show a lense into early Roman societies. Before a young man or woman gets married they have to become ready for it. From 69—70 AD, Roman Germania was heavily affected by the In the late 1st century AD, under the leadership of the Germania 98 AD by Tacitus provided vivid descriptions of the peoples of Magna Germania. Thus what was the name of a tribe, and not of a race, gradually prevailed, till all called themselves by this self-invented name of Germans, which the conquerors had first employed to inspire terror.
