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The Germans left northern Europe in search of warmer
climates and better grazing land. They were attracted
by Rome’s wealth and culture.
HOUSING
A. Outbuildings – Homesteads,
baker, a blacksmith's
workshop, and barns for
storage
A. Wattle - Woven wood
panels covered with
mud to prevent drafts
B. Stone wall - Used for the
lower part of walls;
fitted together
C. Thatched roof – Covered
with long reeds from the
area
D. Roads – Pathways made
of timber
Layout of a typical German
B. Animals – stalls provided
warmth during the winter.
They traded cattle for
Roman vessels, table
articles and jewelry.
C. Farmers grew cereals such
as oats, barley, and rye.
Most farm work was done
by women, children and
village enslaved people.
HOME LIFE
Clothing
A. They used iron pots, wooden plates, spoons,
knives and ate with their hands.
B. In the center of the house was an open
fireplace, called a hearth.
C. They ate much meat and fish, but they also
grew vegetables.
D. Clothes were mostly made from wool. Men
wore short woolen tunics and close fitting
trousers. These were covered with cloaks and
fastened on the right shoulder with a brooch.
At first, they could not read or write,
because their language had no
alphabet. Gradually, they began to use
Roman letters to write their own
language.
A. FIERCE FIGHTERS - The Germans
were fierce fighters. They were
divided into clans based on family
ties. They had no special battle
plan. It was an all-out fight of man
against man.
B. German swords usually had
skillfully decorated hilts (handles).
The part gripped by the hand was
wooden.
C. HEAD PROTECTION - Only the
chief warriors had iron helmets.
Other men probably wore tough
leather caps that would blunt a
blow from a sword.
WARRIORS
The drighten was the
warlord of a clan, in
charge of waging raids on
other tribes. The chieftains
provided their men with
leadership, weapons, and
adventure in return for
loyalty (and credit for
brave deeds).
The German’s love of battle was closely
linked to their religion. Warriors who died in
battle were carried by spirits into the hall of
Woodan, called Valhalla where they would
feast and fight forever.
PASTIMES
Gaming – Dicing was a
popular diversion
during the winter
months
Feats of Skill Glima was a form
of wrestling in
which two men
wearing belts
would try to throw
the other out of a
large circle.
Climbing, archery
and axe-throwing
were common
events
Brewing/Vinting Many barbarians
spent their
winters preparing
ale, mead, and
wine for the
coming year.
Lapidary - Some
barbarians skilled in
jewelry-making would
spend the better part of
the winter months
making brooches, pins,
armbands, necklaces,
and ankle bracelets.
LAW
Germans who were accused of a crime would
profess their innocence in an oath, and that oath
would be defended by an oath-helper who swore
the accused was telling the truth.
The Germans believed that the law
came from the people, requiring
public approval for any changes.
Hospitality
German courts
wanted to keep
drunken fights
from becoming
blood feuds for
revenge.
Sometimes guilt or innocence would
be decided by ordeal, a severe trial,
• The duel
• The cross
• The hot iron
• Hot water
• Cold water
• The suspended loaf
A person who was judged guilty was not always punished
physically. Courts could impose fines called wergeld. The
legal system did not treat all people fairly.
The Goths were a Germanic
people who lived in the
Balkan Peninsula of Europe.
The West Goths rebelled
against the Romans and
defeated them at the Battle of
Adrianople in 378.
In the late 300s the Huns, led by
Attila, or “Little Daddy,” attacked
both the Ostrogoths (East Goths)
and the Visigoths (West Goths).
After the Huns conquered the East
Goths, the West Goths asked the
Roman emperor for protection.
In 410, led by
Alaric, they
captured and
looted Rome
and
continued on
to Gaul and
then to
Spain,
ending the
Roman rule
in Spain and
driving out
the Vandals.
In 455, the Vandals attacked and
burned Rome, but spared the
lives of the Romans.
The East Goths, led by
Theodoric, took Italy, killed
Odoacer, and set up their
own kingdom.
In 476, a German general
named Odoacer took control
and ruled the western empire in
his own name for almost 15
years.
By 550, the Roman Empire in the
West had faded away, replaced
by six major and a great many
minor Germanic kingdoms.
Germanic Tribes Overwhelm the Roman Empire