The History of English Podcast Episode 23: Tacitus and Germanic Society
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Apr 2, 2013 Exploring the society and language of the early Germanic tribes through Tacitus' 'Germania'. Discussion on the borrowing of words between Romans and Germans. The use of iron technology and the concept of kingship in Germanic tribes. Social structure, conflict resolution methods, and the practice of ordeal in Old English.
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Tacitus Shapes Early Germanic Image
- Tacitus' Germania is the earliest detailed written account of the Germanic tribes and heavily shaped later scholarship and identity.
- Modern historians read it skeptically because Tacitus used secondhand sources and idealized the Germans to critique Rome.
Rediscovery Fueled Misuse Of Tacitus
- Germania was rediscovered in 1455 and its portrayal of Germanic 'purity' was later misused by nationalist movements.
- Tacitus exaggerated virtues like chastity and bravery to contrast Rome's decadence, skewing historical reception.
Three Western Germanic Groupings
- Tacitus groups western Germanic tribes into three clusters near the North Sea, Rhine, and Elbe, reflecting regional affiliations around 98 AD.
- These groups included the ancestors of the Angles, Saxons, Jutes, Frisians, and Franks, who influenced later English and Dutch.