The Early Germans (The Peoples of Europe) [Paperback]

Malcolm Todd (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1405117141 | ISBN-13: 978-1405117142 | Publication Date: November 29, 2004 | Edition: 2

For many centuries Germanic peoples occupied much of northern and central Europe. From the fourth century onward migrant groups extended their power and influence over much of western Europe and beyond to North Africa. In so doing, they established enduring states in France, Spain, Italy and Britain. This illustrated book makes use of archaeological and literary sources to outline the ethnogenesis and history of the early Germanic peoples. It provides an overview of current knowledge of these peoples, their social structure, settlements, trade, customs, religion, craftsmanship and relations with the Roman Empire.



In this second edition, the author incorporates important new archaeological evidence and reports on advances in historical interpretation. In particular, he offers new insights into developments in central and eastern Europe and the implications for our understanding of migration and settlement patterns, ethnicity and identity. Ten new plates have been added featuring significant new sites discovered in recent years.

Editorial Reviews

Review

‘This book delivers on its claim to be an overview of what is currently known about the early Germanic tribes and their impact on the declining classical civilizations. It is a good, up-to-date overview of the Germanic impact on Western civilization.’

Choice

‘The text is clear and compact, the maps, figures and photographs are apt and profuse, … thoroughly efficient work is rounded off with a thoughtful chapter on the treatment of the German past from antiquity to present.’

History

‘This very readable and most handsomely produced book provides a general introduction to the social structure, trade, customs, religion and craftsmanship of the Germanic peoples in northern Europe until about the end of the Roman Empire.’

Medium Aevum --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Book Description

For many centuries Germanic peoples occupied much of northern and central Europe. From the fourth century onward, migrant groups extended their power and influence over much of western Europe and beyond to North Africa. In so doing, they established enduring states in France, Spain, Italy, and Britain. This illustrated book makes use of archaeological and literary sources to outline the ethnogenesis and history of the early Germanic peoples. It provides an overview of current knowledge of these peoples, their social structure, settlements, trade, customs, religion, craftsmanship, and relations with the Roman Empire. The second edition incorporates important new archaeological evidence and reports on advances in historical interpretation. In particular, it offers new insights into developments in central and eastern Europe and the implications for our understanding of migration and settlement patterns, ethnicity, and identity. New plates have been added featuring significant sites discovered in recent years.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell; 2 edition (November 29, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1405117141
• ISBN-13: 978-1405117142
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #666,103 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

93 of 94 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Essential Introductory Text, June 16, 2001

By 

Tim O'Neill "Bibliophilius" (Sydney, NSW Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Early Germans (The Peoples of Europe) (Paperback)

Todd's book has become the standard introduction to the history and archaeology of the early Germanic peoples in English. In a remarkably clear and concise work, Todd manages a comprehensive overview of much of the main evidence regarding the Germanic tribes which goes a long way to correcting the popular conception that they were the filthy grunting savages seen in the opening sequence of the movie 'Gladiator'.

In the first part of the book he covers most of the important aspects of the culture of these tribes, covering the physical landscape of forest and marshland in which they lived, their general social structure, trade and diplomacy with Rome, burial customs, art, technology and (of course) warfare. He draws on both literary and archaeological sources of information and uses both judiciously to present a concise picture of these complex and warlike peoples.

Part Two gives brief but useful summaries of the history of the major tribes who took part in the 'Age of Migrations' from the Third to the Seventh Centuries AD. He presents information on the Goths, Seubi, Vandals, Franks, Alemanni, Burgundians, Gepids, Lombards, Thuringians, Bavarians and the Scandinavian tribes, with mentions of many other minor peoples. Each of these is little more than a useful sketch ranging from four to forty pages each (consider that Herwig Wolfram's 'History of the Goths' checks in at over 600 densely packed pages), but each of these is enough to introduce the essential information about each these peoples and direct the interested reader to more extensive information. It also shows that these tribes differed from each other culturally and, to an extent, linguistically and that what is true about the Germanics in the First Century may not be so in the Sixth.

The book is well illustrated with maps, diagrammes, photos of artefacts (both Germanic and Roman) and line drawings and its bibliography, while not comprehensive, is an excellent jumping off point for the reader who wishes to know more.

While the Celts have become a topic of keen interest in recent years, with a plethora of books on them ranging from fine academic works through coffee table books to arrant New Age nonsense, the ancient Germanics are, in a way, the neglected peoples of the ancient world. Given that England was established by Germanic tribes and that they were in many ways the successors of the Roman world, it is a little surprising that these vibrant, warlike and artistic 'barbarians' are not far better known and understood in the English-speaking world.

An excellent book for both the undergraduate student and the general reader. Along with his 'The Northern Barbarians' I can recommend this work very highly.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Early Germans, February 24, 2006

By 

Thomas Stadtmiller "Germanicist" (Greenville, NC USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Early Germans (The Peoples of Europe) (Paperback)

I have read many books re: this subject, but they have treated the subject in a picemeal manner. This book combines many aspects of those other works into one general history. I liked it very much and have read it three times already!
I would recommend this book to anyone with an interest in early Europe and/or an interest in things relating to German history.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Good Read, July 26, 2006

By 

Jeremy M. Mattern "History Guy" (Idaho, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Early Germans (The Peoples of Europe) (Paperback)

Todd's work is an absolute must for German scholors and enthusiasts. It makes an excellent companion to Tacitus and many of the book's sitations are in German. I did not find the language to be at all cumbersome, finishing in only a few days. Excellent begining to any serious study of Germany and its people.