Germania Andrew Marose David Neidlinger Dominic Wells Tom Tran Josh Baker Geography • Settled from west bank of the Rhine to the steppe and forested regions of the borders of modern day Russia and Ukraine • There were many different types of terrain including thick forests, large open fields, and mountains. Climate • To the west there was lots of precipitation. • Climate was not good for fruit but was very good for grain. • Temperature was close to modern day Europe, with a temperate climate. • Cold winters with relatively hot summers. Creation Myth • At the start of time two worlds existed, one of fire and one of ice separated by a gap called the Ginnungagap • The two then combined and formed the first the first god named Borr Creation Myth • Borr then created three brothers Odin, Villi, and Ve and the hermaphrodite Ymir • The brothers grew angry at Ymir and eventually killed him • From his body they then formed the world as we know it • People were then carved out of wood and brought to life by the gods 2000-1000BC • Germans migrate into an area stretching from eastern Germany to Poland from Scandinavia 1000-133BC • Germanic tribes form and begin to fight against other factions. – They fight against the Romans, Gauls, and with other tribes. • *113BC: Germanic tribes start major fighting within themselves. Political Hierarchy • Early tribes started out with a democratic political system. • Mid tribes had issues with governments that often lead to indecision for up to 10 years. • Late tribes had Warlords with totalitarian power. Political Hierarchy • Main social groups: – Warrior aristocracy • The intellectual class – Female Shawmen • Religious leaders – Poets, Jurists, everybody else Gods • Woden- Considered supreme god, lord of wisdom and war (Woden’s day = Wednesday) • Thor- God of thunder and battle (Thor’s day = Thursday) • Freyr- God of fertility (Freyr’s = Friday) • Tyr- God of warfare (Tyrs’s day = Tuesday) Gods • Hel – God of the underworld (Hel = Hell) • Sol – Goddess of the sun, rides a golden chariot around the world giving off light • Mani – God of the moon that runs around the world chased by the wolf Hati Role of Women • Women were more “divine” than men – Most Pagan religions considered women the giver of life and were revered for their “powers” Role of Women • Women fought in the military too. • Some even commanded their armies to victory. :) Women fought naked too. :) - They filled the enemy troops with mixed emotions. - How? Imagine being charged at by shrieking, naked women with swords. :) Practice of Slavery • There were two different levels of slaves. – Servant slaves and working slaves • Servant slaves were household slaves for taking care of children, making dinner, etc. • Working slaves worked on farms, built buildings, did manual labor. Slaves • Slaves were rarely punished. • Instead they were killed. :) Art and Architecture • Spread out communities of small houses made of clay. • They often had art or paintings on the outside walls • Some houses were dug into subterranean caves • They also didn’t have building materials like the Romans, they only had mud and logs Art and Architecture • The only art that Germans cared much about was the paintings on their shields, horses, and themselves. • Jewelry was made out of brass. Major Leaders • Because Germania consisted of many tribes, there were no major unified leaders. Major Leaders • However, some leaders’ names were recorded from different tribes. • For example, Anion from the Lombard tribe helped to unify the Lombards. – However, he died and the Lombards did not select a new leader for another 10 years. Technological Developments • They had horses, small hand held weapons, archers, and shields. – No heavy weaponry like catapults or ballistas, such as the Romans. – Spears were their main weapon, few used swords or lances. Technological Developments • No real social technologies like sewers. – They invaded Roman cities to try to steal the technology. – They never figured it out for their own cities.