The Romans saw themselves as having a highly advanced civilization, and they looked down on the cultures of the people who lived beyond the borders of their empire. The Romans saw themselves as having a highly advanced civilization, and they looked down on the cultures of the people who lived beyond the borders of their empire.

Sprechen Sie Deutsches? The people who lived northeast of the Roman Empire spoke languages similar to modern German. The people who lived northeast of the Roman Empire spoke languages similar to modern German. These “Germanic tribes” included the Vandals, Lombards, Alamanni, Goths, Franks, and Burgundians. These “Germanic tribes” included the Vandals, Lombards, Alamanni, Goths, Franks, and Burgundians. Most of the tribesmen did not know how to read, but unlike the Huns, they tended to farms and were not nomadic. Most of the tribesmen did not know how to read, but unlike the Huns, they tended to farms and were not nomadic.

War and Peace By 100 CE, some Germans began to come into contact with Roman civilization at border garrisons. By 100 CE, some Germans began to come into contact with Roman civilization at border garrisons. They greatly admired the material aspects of Roman culture, such as arms, domestic wares, etc. Small numbers were accepted for service with Roman legions, and small scale German- Roman trade relations emerged involving cattle and slaves.

For the first century CE, they were not a real danger to Rome: 1)Poverty ensured poor armor and weapons; 1)Poverty ensured poor armor and weapons; 2) they had limited tactics, consisting of ambushes and a mass charge; 2) they had limited tactics, consisting of ambushes and a mass charge; 3) Divisions into numerous small tribes meant a lack of political cooperation; 3) Divisions into numerous small tribes meant a lack of political cooperation; 4) There was no real, continual government beyond the clan. 4) There was no real, continual government beyond the clan. –In peacetime, tribal assemblies made up of all free men and warriors decided issues of peace and war. They would elect temporary war chiefs, whose legitimacy ended after hostilities.

Gradually, changes occurred in the tribes over the next 250 years:

Though kinship remained the primary bond, a new kind of political formation evolved Older, successful warrior chieftains took in younger aspirants, Older, successful warrior chieftains took in younger aspirants, –who then raided and shared the booty with each other. This arrangement produced a professional, more lethal warrior group, This arrangement produced a professional, more lethal warrior group, –where bonds were now between man and lord, –the latter signaling the beginning of a small aristocracy.

At the same time, as inter-tribe conflict increased, At the same time, as inter-tribe conflict increased, –spurred in part by the desire to partake of Roman material culture, tribes began electing fewer, longer serving war-chiefs. tribes began electing fewer, longer serving war-chiefs.

Romans recruit more Germans Increasing numbers of Germans began to serve as Roman auxiliary forces just beyond the Roman borders, learning new tactics, acquiring better materials, coming to admire Roman society even more. Increasing numbers of Germans began to serve as Roman auxiliary forces just beyond the Roman borders, learning new tactics, acquiring better materials, coming to admire Roman society even more.

Here come the Huns! In 376, the Huns forced the Visigoths (western Goths) to leave their homeland near the Danube River in modern Austria. In 376, the Huns forced the Visigoths (western Goths) to leave their homeland near the Danube River in modern Austria. The Visigoths asked Emperor Valens permission to settle inside the Roman Empire. The Visigoths asked Emperor Valens permission to settle inside the Roman Empire. Valens agreed, but charged the Visigoths unfair prices for food and other supplies. Valens agreed, but charged the Visigoths unfair prices for food and other supplies. When the Visigoths protested, Valens ordered them to leave. When the Visigoths protested, Valens ordered them to leave. The Visigoths refused, and formed an army. The Visigoths refused, and formed an army. Whatever Valens' reasons, he acted alone and engaged a massive Gothic force of an estimated 200'000 warriors near Adrianople. Whatever Valens' reasons, he acted alone and engaged a massive Gothic force of an estimated 200'000 warriors near Adrianople. The result was a catastrophe. Valens army was completely annihilated. Valens himself perished in the battle (9 August AD 378). His body was never found. The Visigoths pushed their way into the Roman Empire and settled down, and the Romans gave them refugee status and let them stay.

Theodosius Theodosius, a young Christian general of Spanish origin, was chosen to succeed Valens. Theodosius, a young Christian general of Spanish origin, was chosen to succeed Valens. –He ruled along with Gratian and Valentinian II,  By 388 both were killed by a rebellious general –Theodosius became the last emperor to rule both halves of the Roman Empire Theodosius was able to regain the upper hand militarily, Theodosius was able to regain the upper hand militarily, – by making treaties with both the Visigoths and the Sassanids. In 391 AD Theodosius made it illegal to practice pagan religious rituals even in your own house. In 391 AD Theodosius made it illegal to practice pagan religious rituals even in your own house. –Only Christianity (and to some extent Judaism) were now legal in the Roman Empire. By the time he died in 395 AD, he left a firmly Christian empire.

Weak Succession En Theodosius died, he left the empire to his 2 sons En Theodosius died, he left the empire to his 2 sons –Honorius took the West –Arcadius the East This division of the empire into eastern and western parts was the decisive one, This division of the empire into eastern and western parts was the decisive one, –which sent the two on separate ways. When split in the past, the empire still functioned as a unit. When split in the past, the empire still functioned as a unit. –One of the two emperors had always enjoyed seniority over the other. –However, the accession of Arcadius and Honorius is widely seen as the division of the Roman empire into two completely separate parts. But like other Emperors brought up in a royal court, neither of them was very good at ruling But like other Emperors brought up in a royal court, neither of them was very good at ruling –Or even very interested

Step I to Disaster: Stilicho Most of Honorius' work was done by a Vandal named Stilicho. He had joined the Roman army and risen through the ranks to become and important general. Most of Honorius' work was done by a Vandal named Stilicho. He had joined the Roman army and risen through the ranks to become and important general. After three years of ever- increasing destruction of the West's imperial infrastructure, Honorius was persuaded to the arrest and execution of Stilicho, who despite his failure to stem the tide, had been an effective and skillful general of the legions.... After three years of ever- increasing destruction of the West's imperial infrastructure, Honorius was persuaded to the arrest and execution of Stilicho, who despite his failure to stem the tide, had been an effective and skillful general of the legions.... The effect of Stilicho's downfall was disastrous. Stilicho's many German soldiers thereafter all went over to Alaric, King of the Visigoths, in order to avoid persecution by the Romans. The effect of Stilicho's downfall was disastrous. Stilicho's many German soldiers thereafter all went over to Alaric, King of the Visigoths, in order to avoid persecution by the Romans. This left Honorius without any effective force to stand off the attack of Alaric in 410. This left Honorius without any effective force to stand off the attack of Alaric in 410.

Back in Italy, the Visigoths were attacking. The Visigoths had been living inside the Roman Empire since the battle of Adrianople in 378 AD. The Visigoths had been living inside the Roman Empire since the battle of Adrianople in 378 AD. But they had not been treated very well But they had not been treated very well – the Romans had kept them from getting food or building decent houses. Under their new king, Alaric (AL-arr-ick), the Visigoths demanded gold from Honorius. Under their new king, Alaric (AL-arr-ick), the Visigoths demanded gold from Honorius. –When he said no, the Visigoths marched on Rome. –Alaric’s soldiers formed a siege around Rome. When the city was close to starvation, the Roman citizens opened the gates and allowed the conquering army to enter. –in 410 AD they took the city and sacked it (break stuff, take stuff, kill people and leave). –The Visigoths did not stay, but eventually settled in the south of France

Step II to Disaster: Revolt Roman generals also saw that the new young emperors were weak and so this was a good time to attack. Roman generals also saw that the new young emperors were weak and so this was a good time to attack. –First, Constantine III, a general in England, declared himself emperor at York in 405 AD. –He took all the Roman troops out of England, across the English Channel to France, and he marched his army through France, collecting the French troops so they could all march on Rome.

Constantine III next tried to take over Spain. Constantine III next tried to take over Spain. –He sent his general Gerontius to Spain,  but then Gerontius decided to make himself Emperor instead of working for Constantine III. –In order to get a good-sized army together, Gerontius seems to have agreed to let the Alans, Vandals, and Sueves into Spain, and they promised to help him out.

Step III to disaster: Occupation But while Constantine III was doing this, nobody was watching the border. But while Constantine III was doing this, nobody was watching the border. Many Alans, Vandals, and Sueves crossed the Rhine (which was frozen solid) and came into the Roman Empire. Many Alans, Vandals, and Sueves crossed the Rhine (which was frozen solid) and came into the Roman Empire. There were no troops there to stop them, so they just travelled around France taking whatever they wanted. There were no troops there to stop them, so they just travelled around France taking whatever they wanted. Both women and men came, and they brought their children, so they seem to have meant to stay.

Then the Roman government sent out a general to stop Constantine III. Constantine III was killed, and so was Gerontius. Then the Roman government sent out a general to stop Constantine III. Constantine III was killed, and so was Gerontius. All of their soldiers (the ones from England and the ones from France, and maybe the ones from Spain too) were taken back to Italy to deal with the Visigoths. All of their soldiers (the ones from England and the ones from France, and maybe the ones from Spain too) were taken back to Italy to deal with the Visigoths. This left England, France, This left England, France, and Spain pretty much open for Germans to take over.

While the empire continued in the East, Rome was attacked again While the empire continued in the East, Rome was attacked again In 476 AD a Visigoth warrior named Odoacer Forced the emperor, Romulus Augustus, to abdicate his throne. In 476 AD a Visigoth warrior named Odoacer Forced the emperor, Romulus Augustus, to abdicate his throne. Odoacer chose not to Odoacer chose not to be Augustus himself, nor to serve another western Augustus, but to be the viceroy of one Roman emperor in Constantinople. The western Roman empire had ceased to be. The western Roman empire had ceased to be.