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Book Review of The Lombards: The History and Legacy of the Germanic Group that Dominated Italy after the Fall of Rome

The Lombards: The History and Legacy of the Germanic Group that Dominated Italy after the Fall of Rome
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During the Middle Ages (between the 200s and 600s CE), things were changing in Europe. The old slave society changed to a feudal system. The era started with continuous fighting between the Roman Empire and various nomadic groups. However, this is the history of Italy in the wake of Rome's fall.

This story concentrates on one Germanic nomadic group -- the Lombards. I was surprised to learn that most of these Germanic nomads originated in Scandanavia and pushed south and west into Italy over generations. As the Lombards settled in Italy, they gradually converted to Catholicism.

Most books concentrate on the fall of Rome, not what happened to Italy after the Roman Empire faltered and disappeared. This book explains how the Lombards, some of the later tribes to sack Rome and Italy, came to power and eventually were taken over by Charlemagne and the Carolingian Dynasty. There is a fairly extensive bibliography for further study.