Germanic History Germanic Kingdoms This Is a

Germanic History Germanic Kingdoms This is a paper that analyzes the role of Germanic Tribes in the development of European civilizations. It has 2 sources in MLA format. When Rome was beset with social, economical and political problems Germanic tribes from the Scandinavian regions invaded territory by territory and exploited the weakness of the Western Empire. Gradually, these tribes replaced the Roman Kingdoms and formed kingdoms of their own. From small tribes of no consequence they began to grow into rulers to be rued.

The Germanic people did not emerge suddenly but had been in existence since the 2 BCE. These people were former farmers and slaves who lived peacefully with the Romans. However, with the passage of time the Germanic people began their exploration from the Rhine and Danube areas and began to settle there. A short while later they were forced to flee and seek refuge in the Roman Empire when the Huns attacked them.

They would not have later rebelled against their protectors had the Roman Empire not been so beleaguered with corrupt administration which was causing the social conditions to deteriorate. The Visigoths particularly rebelled and took over the Roman Empire during the battle of Adrianapole in 378 CE. From that point onward the Germanic people expanded into areas that are today Italy, Greece and Spain. The Visigoths settled and established their first kingdom at Aquitaine.

Successors of the Visigoths later moved onto Spain, conquered the kingdom at Toledo and finally furthered their Kingdoms to Britain. The Roman Empire's decline came about with this invasion [Coffin 2002]. The Germanic Kingdoms played a great role in the establishment and development of the European culture, politics and society in the later centuries. The Germanic tribes with each of their expansionary steps extended their culture into that region. In the 5-century BCE for example the Vandals settled in France and Belgium and established the Vandal kingdom.

While another Germanic tribe the Burgundians established their kingdom in the Gaul area. With the establishment of each of these kingdoms the Germanic tribes brought with them tribal cultures such as community life and democracy [Coffin 2002]. The head of the clan is also the government while the society is structured in such a manner that the king is not actually the leader but rather the most physically able, skilled in military tactics as well as having leadership qualities.

The Germanic tribes also kept their women in high esteem and allowed them to take on a leadership role. Maidens were given as wives to their male partners and marriages were considered an essential part of their lives. Any violation of the sanctity of marriage was severely punished. But above all the family unit to the king was the most important aspect of the Germanic society.

The bond between the wife and husband, the sense of courage and commitment in the elected leader as well as the bond between tribal members was strong and this was the reason hey had been able to expand their kingdoms into foreign.