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HOUSING

Layout of a typical German village

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

A. Outbuildings – Homesteads, baker, a blacksmith's workshop,

and barns for storage

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 enslaved people.

The Germans left northern Europe in search of warmer climates and better grazing land. They were attracted by Rome’s wealth and culture.

HOME LIFE

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.

Clothing

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.

WARRIORSThe 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.

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.

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

• The duel

• The cross

• The hot iron

• Hot water

• Cold water

• The suspended loaf

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.

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.

Sometimes guilt or innocence would be decided by ordeal, a severe trial,

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.

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.

The West Goths rebelled against the Romans and defeated them at the Battle of Adrianople in 378.

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.

By 550, the Roman Empire in the West had faded away, replaced by six major and a great many minor Germanic kingdoms.

The East Goths, led by Theodoric, took Italy, killed Odoacer, and set up their own kingdom.

In 455, the Vandals attacked and burned Rome, but spared the lives of the Romans.

In 476, a German general named Odoacer took control and ruled the western empire in his own name for almost 15 years.

Germanic Tribes Overwhelm the Roman Empire