The Early Germans (Peoples of Europe) (Paperback)

by Malcolm Todd (Author) "The heartland of the immense area of northern Europe occupied by the early Germanic peoples was the great expanse of lowland which extends from the..." (more)
Key Phrases: northern coastlands, furnished burials, furnished graves, Roman Iron Age, Black Sea, Roman Empire (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
The Germanic tribes are known to us as the inheritors of the Western Roman Empire. Between AD 400 and 600 Germanic migrants spread over Europe and beyond to north Africa, and the nature of early medieval Europe was largely determined by these adventurous and warlike peoples.

The author makes use of archaeological and literary sources to trace the ethnogenesis and early history of the Germanic people. The book, now available in paperback, offers a broad and comprehensively researched account that will be of value and interest to both historians and general readers.

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. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Blackwell Publishers (October 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0631199047
• ISBN-13: 978-0631199045
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #986,220 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

78 of 78 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

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.

13 of 13 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 (REAL NAME)

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.

16 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Single best introduction, January 4, 2003

By	Rick A. Riedlinger (United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Todd's book is the single best introduction to the subject of Germanic peoples I have found. It contains an accurate summery of the current state of scholarship and is an easy read.

If you can have only one book on the subject, this should be it.
The latest edition of this book is ISBN 1405117141.