01:510:209 Chapter : Barbarians and the Western Empire

• School: Rutgers University
• Department: History, European
• Course: 01:510:209
• Professor: Anthonydi Battista

Document Summary

Barbarians and the western empire (p. 19: while the roman empire was adjusting to christianity, it was also accommodating to the settlement of barbarian peoples, the term barbarian meant foreigner. Initially, the greeks even called the romans barbarians : sometimes these new settlers are called germanic , barbarians both challenged the culture of the western empire and reinvigorated it. Army, and some barbarian bands were allowed to settle in the roman territory and then defend it against other barbarians: by the 370s, the barbarians have absorbed roman culture and many had been converted to arian. If a barbarian was killed or injured, kinfolk had to avenge the deed which led to feuds. If the hand healed properly, the accused was innocent. If not, he/she was guilty: eventually, barbarians began to form more permanent tribal kingdoms, created myths and tales, custom of election for kings! (assembly of tribe"s warriors chose ablest member of royal family to be the next king)