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Book Review of The Germanic Tribes in Antiquity: The History and Legacy of the Ancient Peoples Who Spread across Europe

The Germanic Tribes in Antiquity: The History and Legacy of the Ancient Peoples Who Spread across Europe
jjares avatar reviewed on + 3299 more book reviews


Although I love history, this book was unreadable, in my opinion. I tried very hard to maintain an interest in it but was unsuccessful. I've set it aside and gone back to it so many times. In the end, I decided to abandon the story. These are the notes I wrote as I was reading along.

It was surprising to learn that the Germanic tribes were from Scandinavia, tall with light hair and eyes. Although originally herders and hunters, they were distinct groups who migrated at different times. They were called Goths, Gepids, Lombards, Vandals, and Visigoths. Other than their distinctive tribal names, the groups were essentially the same, sharing the same Arian faith and Gothic language.

Despite all their warring successes, the fact that the Romans could never subjugate the Germanic tribes eventually led to the fall of the Roman Empire. The constant warring with the violent German tribes finally drained the Romans.