Roman influences on Germanic tribes

[tehsojiro]

I'm to writing an essay about, as the topic title says, the Roman influences on the germanic tribes, in particularily the ones living on the border regions of the Empire (around 100 bc - 200 ad) in what are now the Netherlands and Germany. I need information on how the roman expansions and trades influences the culture and way of life in the germanic tribes that lived there, and what happened afterwards with those influences (did they disappear?). It has to be a high quality essay so I'll need sources as well.

[Primus Pilus]

I'm to writing an essay about, as the topic title says, the Roman influences on the germanic tribes, in particularily the ones living on the border regions of the Empire (around 100 bc - 200 ad) in what are now the Netherlands and Germany. I need information on how the roman expansions and trades influences the culture and way of life in the germanic tribes that lived there, and what happened afterwards with those influences (did they disappear?). It has to be a high quality essay so I'll need sources as well.

 

In 51 BC, the Romans attacked and conquered Germania Ulpterior. After that all Germanic tribes were forced to give annual tribute of Frankincense. Unfortunately for the Germanics, Frankincense was only available by trading with Judaean merchants (3 of whom held a monopoly on the product.) The difficulty in the trading process led to resentment between the two cultures and was the cause for the ultimate rise of antisemitism in early 20th century Germany, but that is another story. After much haggling, the Germanics successfully traded for the necessary Frankincense thereby securing their successful cohabitation with the Romans... at least for a time. It was after the Judaean conquests of Vespasian and Titus (circa 60s - 70s AD) and the suppression of the Jewish revolts during the reign of Hadrian and the Antonine's (circa 130s - 140s AD), that the frankincense trade routes had been irreparably eliminated despite the breakup of the so called "wise-man" monopoly.

 

The cessation of the Germanic tribute led to the punitive Marcomannic wars of Marcus Aurelius. Despite some successes the son of Aurelius, Commodus, ended the wars by challenging the Germanic King Axegrindorix to a single combat duel in the Colosseum. The overwhelming glorious defeat of Axegrindorix resulted in a permanent peace settlement called the Commodian Accord in AD 183. Among other settlements, as a contingency of that accord, the Germanics were forced to adopt the Roman custom of exposing one's genitalia as a standard form of greeting. This custom still exists today and is the single most directly traceable tradition from Roman times in modern western culture.

 

Sources:

Josephus, Ezekial: "The Jewish Wars" and the "Antiquities of the Jews"

Tacitus, Bill: "Agricola and the Germania"

Cassius Dio, Ronnie James: "Roman History"

Commodus, Joaquin: "My Egomaniacal Life as a Gladiator" and "The Day I Conquered Germania with One Swing of My Gladius"

Hitler, Dolph Lundgren: "How Frankincense Made Me a Little Crazy"

 

Seriously though, here are some suggestions to get you started in your research:

The Gallic War, Caesar

Germania, Tacitus

Roman Influence in the North, Dina P. Dobson (if you have access)

You may find recent works by Peter Heather to be particularly relevant despite the later period of his focus.

Another might be The Roman Empire and Its Germanic Peoples by Herwig Wolfram

Even the books by Peter S. Wells (Battle that stopped Rome) and Adrian Murdoch (Rome's Greatest Defeat) specifically focused on the Teutoberg disaster should offer some insight.

I haven't read it, but "Roman Germany's: Studies in Cultural Interaction (International Roman Archaeology Conference Series)" by J. D. Creighton and Roger John Anthony Wilson certainly sounds relevant.

[M. Porcius Cato]

Sources:

Josephus, Ezekial: "The Jewish Wars" and the "Antiquities of the Jews"

Tacitus, Bill: "Agricola and the Germania"

Cassius Dio, Ronnie James: "Roman History"

Commodus, Joaquin: "My Egomaniacal Life as a Gladiator" and "The Day I Conquered Germania with One Swing of My Gladius"

Hitler, Dolph Lundgren: "How Frankincense Made Me a Little Crazy"

 

LOL. I loved the Frankincense explanation for modern anti-Semitism. Priceless.

[tehsojiro]

Just on a side note, is that the actor Dolph Lundgren? Ivan Drago in Rocky 4?

[Primus Pilus]

Just on a side note, is that the actor Dolph Lundgren? Ivan Drago in Rocky 4?

 

No, its Dolph Lundgren Hitler, who wrote "How Frankincense Made Me a little Crazy". It was written while sitting in an over perfumed outhouse in the Jewish section of Berlin in 1925. In the original German it was simply "Mein Weihrauch". The alteration in the English title was due largely to Winston Churchill who said, ""Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that if the British Empire and Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, This was their finest book."

[Gaius Octavius]

Among other settlements, as a contingency of that accord, the Germanics were forced to adopt the Roman custom of exposing one's genitalia as a standard form of greeting. This custom still exists today and is the single most directly traceable tradition from Roman times in modern western culture.

 

Yes!, this custom is still practiced here in Brookfordshiresexingham amongst the inhabitants of the Germanic and Italic communities.

[Primus Pilus]

Among other settlements, as a contingency of that accord, the Germanics were forced to adopt the Roman custom of exposing one's genitalia as a standard form of greeting. This custom still exists today and is the single most directly traceable tradition from Roman times in modern western culture.

 

Yes!, this custom is still practiced here in Brookfordshiresexingham amongst the inhabitants of the Germanic and Italic communities.

 

Though, legend would suggest that the tradition never gained much support in neighboring Dacia, as the native population was naked most regularly anyway. It would seem that differentiating between the standard greeting and the routine of daily life caused mass confusion and played a pivotal role in opening the door to later invasions under Atilla the Nun and the armies of the Christ.

[docoflove1974]

Among other settlements, as a contingency of that accord, the Germanics were forced to adopt the Roman custom of exposing one's genitalia as a standard form of greeting. This custom still exists today and is the single most directly traceable tradition from Roman times in modern western culture.

 

I thought it was only the silly French knnnnnnnnnnigits who waved their private parts at our aunties?

[Rameses the Great]

Thank God I'm from Egypt.

[Pertinax]

I am sorry to have come so late to this erudite thread . I thank GO for his personal initiative.

 

Indeed even today Frankinscence is noted for its ability to render grown men insensate, inhaling the fragrant olibanum gum causes massive nasal decongestion (and consequent effluxion of fluids), one should always inhale dressed in a loose toga so that retirement to the bed chamber is expiditious.

 

 

sources:

A Dalby "Dangerous Liasons"

B Marley "A Pompeian/Jamaican Herbal"

Galen "Food , Diet and Hot Slave Girls".( A users guide).

[Primus Pilus]

Among other settlements, as a contingency of that accord, the Germanics were forced to adopt the Roman custom of exposing one's genitalia as a standard form of greeting. This custom still exists today and is the single most directly traceable tradition from Roman times in modern western culture.

 

I thought it was only the silly French knnnnnnnnnnigits who waved their private parts at our aunties?

 

Is this simply not further evidence of the advancement of the original Roman culture? The French certainly learned from their Frankish conquerors, who in turn were introduced to this by the tribes of the Danubian border region.

 

Interestingly enough, in Scandanavia the custom spread rapidly due to a pre-existing ritual involving the goddess Freyr. It was so popular that the Norse decided to name Friday after the ritual. Unfortunately, it passed from the lore of Scandinavian custom as the Vikings rose to prominence. Old futhork runes found in Iceland indicate that frost bite and chafing (apparantly from rowing, though the runes are partially illegible) seemed to have discontinued the classic Roman greeting.

[Gaius Octavius]

As you know, the Germanic hordes gained power in England. I have it first hand (pardon the expression) that this custom is still practiced in isolated communities of Brigantia.

[Primus Pilus]

sources:

A Dalby "Dangerous Liasons"

 

Hmm, I'm afraid I must dispute you slightly on this Pertinax. I believe you might be citing "Everything you ever wanted to know about Frankincense" by the esteemed Andrew Dalby rather than his work on skin sores, "Dangerous Lesions". (which appropriately includes an entire chapter dedicated to the "private" regions of the human body)

 

With the close relationship of the subject matter at hand, I can see the ease at which one can slip into such a simple yet honest mistake.

[tehsojiro]

This custom (NEVER heard of it before and my school is supposed to give good education about the classical times) will make some interesting material. Wonder how my supervising teachers will think about it

[Pertinax]

Due to one or two textual inaccuracies I must move this thread to the Hora Postillia area.