What Is Tacitus Effect On Germania

Tacitus was a first century (CE) Roman aristocrat, civil official and historian. He wrote one of the oldest recorded descriptions of the barbarian tribes of antiquity who lived along the northern frontier of the Roman Empire, next to the province of Gallia, that encompassed present-day Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, northern France and parts of Germany. Tacitus’ written work On the Origin, Location, Customs, and Inhabitants of Germany, more commonly known as Germania, included his own firsthand knowledge of the Germanic peoples as well as information from earlier oral and written accounts. Germania, on the surface, appears to be an ethnographic work, and served as a primary source for its historical period, as it included detailed descriptions

Germania is not an unbiased study or presentation of Germanic ethnic groups, but rather Tacitus’ attempt to exploit Germanic “noble” culture to sustain his own outrage at Rome’s lack of moral rectitude. At the beginning of Germania, Tacitus wrote in true ethnographic fashion, describing the climate and geography of Germany and its effects on the Germanic populations. He also discusses their military strategy in battle in detail, as Romans perceived these Germans as a grave threat to their security. But later in the text, detached observation of these Germanic populations gives way to unnecessary praise and adulation. It’s pretty obvious, from reading the latter part of the text, that Tacitus’ main interest was critiquing Roman culture instead of advancing knowledge about early Germanic

The early Germans, like other barbarian tribes, were essentially seminomadic groups of peoples, loosely held together by kinships that were presided over by chieftains and kings. They were warrior societies that greatly valued heroism and sacrifice in battle, and loyalty to your kinsmen. Barbarian warriors didn’t tolerate cowardice on the battlefield; deserters that fled the battlefield were put to death. These were male-dominant cultures where women and girls were subordinate to men and boys. Gender roles were strict: women and girls took care of the home, produced needed offspring and were cheerleaders for men on the battlefield. Men labored outside of the home, and spent much time preparing and training for war. Men occupied all the positions of power within the tribe. These tribes greatly valued and protected women of child-bearing age, out of necessity. Life was harsh, external threats were everywhere (like the Romans), and life expectancy was short. So, many children were needed to support and ensure a stable population. Obviously, daughters were needed for their ability to produce offspring. Sons were needed to serve in combat, and to get married and continue the male